Oulton and Woodlesford Neighbourhood Forum
Constitution
( adopted at second Annual General
Meeting, 27th April 2014 )
1.
The name of the Forum shall be Oulton and
Woodlesford Neighbourhood Forum.
2.
The objectives of the Forum shall be:
•
to agree a long term vision for
the Oulton and Woodlesford Neighbourhood Area.
•
to promote and improve the social, economic and environmental well-being
of the Oulton and Woodlesford Neighbourhood Area.
•
to represent the people who live, work or carry out business in the
Oulton and Woodlesford Neighbourhood Area.
•
to produce a Neighbourhood Plan for the Oulton and Woodlesford
Neighbourhood Area in conformity with the local development plan and the
national planning policy framework.
3.
The area to be covered by the Forum shall be the
Oulton and Woodlesford Neighbourhood
Area, as shown on the map.
4.
Voting membership of
the Forum shall be open to all those, aged 16 or over, who:
•
live in the Oulton and Woodlesford Neighbourhood Area.
or
•
work in the Oulton and Woodlesford Neighbourhood Area (whether
for businesses carried on there or otherwise).
or
•
are elected ward members for the Oulton and Woodlesford Neighbourhood
Area.
Non-voting membership shall be open to those who do not meet the requirements to be a voting member, but who have an interest in assisting the Forum to achieve its aims.
5. The Forum is designated for a period of 5 years.
However, the Forum can apply to have the designation renewed.
6. Communication
with the Membership shall be by e-mail, by
notices posted on the Neighbourhood's notice boards and on the Forum's website.
A written request for an alternative method of notification may be sent to the
Membership Secretary. The Steering
Committee will consider such a request and will approve it where practical.
7.
The Forum shall strive actively to involve young
people in discussions on all matters.
8.
The Forum shall not be affiliated to any
political party or organisation.
9.
Steering Committee.
9.1 The day-to-day management of the Forum shall be the
responsibility of the Steering Committee.
9.2 The Steering Committee shall consist of an Honorary Chair, Honorary Vice-Chair, Honorary Treasurer, Honorary
Minutes Secretary, Honorary Membership Secretary, Honorary Communications and Press Officer and ten
Ordinary Members.
9.3 At least five of the Ordinary Members of the Steering Committee
shall live in the area covered by the Forum
9.4 At
least four of the Ordinary Members of the Steering Committee shall work in the
area covered by the Forum (whether
for businesses carried on there or otherwise).
9.6 The quorum for meetings of the Steering Committee shall be eight
members.
9.7 Decisions of the Steering Committee shall be taken by a majority
of those voting.
9.8 Membership of the Steering Committee shall be open to all voting
members of the Forum
9.9 All members of the Steering Committee shall be elected at the
Forum’s Annual General Meeting to serve until the next Annual General
Meeting. Retiring members shall be
eligible for re-election.
9.10 Nominations for positions on the Steering Committee must be
submitted, in writing, to the Honorary Chair or Honorary Vice-Chair, seven days
before the commencement of the Annual General Meeting. The proposer, seconder and nominee must all
sign the nomination, and must all be voting members of the Forum.
9.11 The Steering Committee may co-opt members to the Committee to fill
any vacancies that arise.
9.12 The Steering Committee may co-opt additional members to the
Committee. Such co-opted members shall
not be entitled to vote.
9.14 Members of the Forum may attend meetings of the Steering Committee
as observers. They shall not be eligible
to vote nor to contribute to the meeting except when invited.
10.
General Meetings of the Forum.
10.1 Fourteen days notice
of General Meetings shall be given to the membership.
10.2 The Annual General
Meeting shall be held on or soon after April 1st each year, and
shall receive reports from the Honorary Chair and Honorary Treasurer.
10.3 The quorum for
the Annual General Meeting and any Special General Meeting shall be twenty one members.
10.4 Members unable to
attend a General Meeting may appoint another member as their proxy to vote on
their behalf at the General Meeting. The
document appointing the proxy must be signed by the member, and the proxy must
bring the document to the General Meeting.
10.5 Amendments to the
Constitution shall be considered by a General Meeting and shall require a two
thirds majority of members voting. All
other decisions shall be by a simple majority of members voting.
10.6 The election of
members of the Steering Committee shall be by written ballot. All other votes shall be by a show of hands
except where a majority of members present vote for a written ballot.
11.
The Forum’s bank account shall be known as Oulton
and Woodlesford Neighbourhood Forum. All financial
transactions must be authorised by any two of the Honorary Treasurer, the Honorary
Chair and the Honorary Vice-Chair.
12.
All money donated to or raised by the Forum
shall only be used to help achieve the aims of the Forum as set out in Article
2 of this constitution.
13.
If the Steering Group propose to disband the Forum
then a Special General Meeting shall be held and all members advised of the
reasons for the Steering Group’s proposal.
The decision to disband the Forum shall be taken if supported by two
thirds of members voting at the Special General Meeting.
14.
Upon being disbanded, any assets, after payment
of all debts and liabilities will be disposed of to other organisations having
similar objectives to those of the Forum.
Download the Constitution and view the area covered by the Forum on this map.
