Constitution of North Laine Community Association

The constitution of the NLCA

How we operate

1.       NAME

The name of the Association shall be the "North Laine Community Association" (hereinafter called the "Association")

2.       OBJECTS

The objects of the Association shall be:

(a)      To promote the benefit of the inhabitants of the area bounded by Queen's Road, Trafalgar Street, the west side of Victoria Gardens and Church Street, including Bond Street, Portland Street and Windsor Street, and the neighbourhood (hereinafter called "the area of benefit") without distinction of sex or of political, religious or other opinions by associating the local authorities, voluntary organisations and inhabitants in a common effort to advance education and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation and leisure time occupation with the object of improving the conditions of life for the said inhabitants.

(b)     To establish or to secure the establishment of a Community Centre (hereinafter called "the Centre") and to maintain and manage, or to co-operate with any local statutory authority in the maintenance and management of, such a Centre for activities promoted by the Association and constituent bodies in the furtherance of the above objects.

The association shall be non-party in politics and non-sectarian in religion. The Association shall have power to affiliate to the National Federation of Community Associations and to other organisations with similar charitable objects.

3.          MEMBERSHIP

Membership of the Association shall be of two kinds:

(a)      All persons resident in the area of benefit, who shall be entitled to call themselves Full Members and who shall have voting rights.

(b)     Well-wishers anywhere, who may be elected by the Community Meeting to become Associate Members without voting rights.

4.          ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Once in each year, in the month of April, the Community Meeting shall convene an Annual General Meeting of the Association, which both full and associate members shall be entitled to attend, for the purpose of, among other things, receiving the Annual Report of the Community Meeting and the annual statements of accounts, electing the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and Street Representatives of the Association, of accepting resignations of Street Representatives and Officers, of ratifying the appointment of a registered auditor and of making recommendations to the Community Meeting.

5.          COMMUNITY MEETINGS

(a)       Community Meetings shall be open to all members of the Association.

(b)       The Community Meeting will attend to the running of the Association, will be responsible for carrying out the proposals and policy agreed upon by members, and will also be responsible for the allocation and correct spending of the monies of the Association.

(c)       The Chairperson for a particular Community Meeting may be distinct from the person elected Chairperson of the Association at the Annual General Meeting.

(d)      The Community Meeting shall have the power to elect associate members of the Association. Such an election shall be ratified by the next Annual General Meeting.

(e)       The Community Meeting shall have the power to set up working groups to explore various activities and to propose lines of action for endorsement by the Community Meeting.

(f)       The Community Meeting shall take place at least once per month.

6.         STREET REPRESENTATIVES

(a)     Street Representatives must be full members of the Association.

(b)     Street Representatives shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting.

(c)      The Street Representatives shall hold office until the next following Annual General Meeting and are eligible for re-election.

(d)     The Street Representatives shall be responsible of making themselves known to all persons in their street.

(e)      Street Representatives shall be expected to attend Community Meetings.

7.          OFFICERS

(a)      The election of the Chairperson,Vice-Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer (hereinafter called "the Officers") of the Association shall take place at the Annual General Meeting and no office shall be held for more than four consecutive terms.  Officers must be full members of the Association.

(b).      The Community Meeting shall have the power to elect an acting Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer or Street Representative if such posts fall vacant between Annual General Meetings.

(c).       The election of officers will take place one month before the term of the current officer has elapsed. Notice of such elections shall be circulated to all members of the Association at least 14 days prior to such elections.

8.          EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETINGS

Extraordinary General Meetings may be called at any reasonable time by any full member of the Association or by the Community Meeting, giving at least one week's notice and circulating the agenda to all members. The use of the resources of the Association for an Extraordinary General Meeting shall be subject to Clause 9.

9.      STANDING ORDERS AND RULES FOR THE USE OF RESOURCES OF THE ASSOCIATION

The Community Meeting shall have the power to adopt and issue Standing Orders and/or Rules, which shall come into operation immediately provided always that they shall be subject to review by an Annual General Meeting and shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Constitution.

10.            RULES OF PROCEDURE AT MEETINGS

(a)          Quorum 15 members shall form a quorum at Community Meetings; 25 members shall form a quorum at an Extraordinary General Meeting and at the Annual General Meeting, but no amendment shall be made to the Constitution unless it be carried by a majority of two thirds of those members present.

(b)         Voting Subject to the provisions of Clause 14, all questions arising at any meeting shall be decided by a simple majority of those present and entitled to vote thereat. No members shall exercise more than one vote, notwithstanding that (s)he may have been appointed to represent two or more interests. Only in the case of equality of votes shall the Chairperson have a vote.

(c)          Minutes Minute books shall be kept by the Association, the Community Meeting and all working groups and the appropriate secretary shall enter therein a record of all proceedings and resolutions. All minutes, correspondence and other records of the Association shall be open to inspection by members.

11.          FINANCE

(a)       All monies raised by or on behalf of the Association shall be applied to further the objects of the Association and for no other purpose.

(b)      The Treasurer shall keep proper accounts of the finances of the Association.

(c)       The Accounts shall be subject to an independent examination on an annual basis in accordance with the Charities Act 1993 by a registered auditor, who shall be appointed by a Community Meeting and ratified by the Annual General Meeting.

(d)      The statement of accounts for the last financial year which have been subject to an independent examination shall be submitted by the Community Meeting to the Annual General Meeting.

(e)       The Association's bankers shall be determined by the Community Meeting and all deposits shall be made with the bank as soon as monies are received. Except for day to day petty cash, no monies of the Association shall be kept in hand. The signature of the three officers will be deposited with the Association's bank and the signature of the Treasurer and one other Officer will be needed to issue any monies by cheque. The monies to be issued will be authorised only by the Community Meeting. All accounts will be open to inspection by members of the Association.

12.       TRUST PROPERTY

The title of all and any real property which may be acquired by or for the purposes of the Association shall be vested in Trustees who shall be appointed by the Annual General Meeting or by an Extraordinary General Meeting and who shall enter into a Deed of Trust setting forward the purposes and conditions under which they hold the said property in trust for the Association. The number of Trustees shall not be less than two nor more than three.

13.          DISSOLUTION

If the Community Meeting by a simple majority decides at any time on the grounds of expense or otherwise it is necessary or advisable to dissolve the Association, it shall call a meeting of all members of the Association who have the power to vote by circulating to all such members, giving not less than 21 days' notice (stating the terms of the motion to be proposed thereat), and by posting in a conspicuous place or places in the area of benefit, by advertising in a registered newspaper circulating in the area of benefit, and by giving notice in writing to the Charity Commissioners for England and Wales and the Secretary for the National Federation of Community Associations. If such a decision shall be confirmed by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting at such an Extraordinary General Meeting, that meeting shall have the power to dispose of any assets held by or in the name of the Association. Any assets remaining after the satisfaction of any proper debts and liabilities shall be applied towards charitable purposes for the benefit of the inhabitants of the area of benefit as the Extraordinary General Meeting may decide and as may be approved by the Charity Commissioners for England and Wales.

14.          ALTERATIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION

(a)          Subject to Clause 9 a motion to alter or amend the Constitution shall be circulated at least 14 days before any Extraordinary or Annual General Meeting. A motion to this end shall be effective only by securing a two-thirds majority vote of those present and voting at such a meeting.

(b)      No alteration to Clause 2 shall be made without the consent of the Charity Commissioners for England and Wales.

(c)       If Trustees have been appointed in accordance with Clause 12, any alteration shall not be made without the knowledge and consent of the trustees, but such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld by them.

15.          NEWSLETTER

There shall be a newsletter, the machinery of which shall be decided by the Community Meeting.

16.          ACCEPTANCE

This constitution was adopted as the Constitution of the North Laine Community Association at the Annual General Meeting, convened at Gloucester Place Baptist Church on 27th May 1980, together with adopted amendments thereto.