West Acton Residents' Constitution
1 Name
1.1 The name of the association shall be West Acton Residents Association (WARA).
2 Aims and Objectives
2.1 To promote, protect and further the rights and interests of West Acton residents, and to preserve and enhance the amenities of the area and encourage facilities for recreational, social and leisure activities.
2.2 To ensure residents and tenants have an influential voice in the management of areas and homes.
2.3 To liaise and consult with the Local Authority and any other bodies further to the above objectives.
3 Area Represented by WARA
3.1 For simplicity and clarity the boundaries are described by the main roads nearest to the actual boundaries as described in the Residents Association’s boundary map, rather than get into difficulty describing railways and rear gardens.
4 Powers
4.1 The Association shall have the power to raise funds and to employ staff (funding) permitted if this is thought to be necessary for the fulfilment of its objectives. These powers are delegated to the Management Committee of WARA.
4.2 The Management Committee shall be responsible for the use of any premises owned or used by the Association and shall manage any employees. Use of the premises will confirm with the objectives of the Association.
5 Membership
5.1 Membership shall be open to all freeholders, leaseholders and tenants of West Acton Residents Association regardless of gender, sexuality, ethnic and national origin, mental or physical ability or religious persuasion.
5.2 The association shall not be affiliated to nor be connected to directly or indirectly with or support any party political organisation.
5.3 Members shall have one vote per household at General Meetings of the Association and at Annual General Meetings.
5.4 Membership of the Association is by means of annual subscription. The amount of annual subscription shall be recommended by the Management Committee and approved at the Annual General Meeting. The fee recommended for 2004 is £5.00 per household (£2.50 for OAP).
5.5 The Association shall be managed by a Management Committee to be elected at the Annual General Meeting.
5.6 The Management Committee shall consist of a Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and a Treasurer, known as officers, and up to eight members.
5.7 The Management Committee may meet six times per year. The minutes of these meetings shall be kept and made available on request (unless of a confidential nature).
5.8 The Management Committee has the power to co-opt up to 2 additional members to the committee to ensure a balance between residents and tenants.
5.9 If vacancies occur among the officers, the Management Committee will have the power to fill them from among their number on the committee.
5.10 The Management Committee has the power to nominate representatives from amongst the committee to any joint working party established by the Local Authority or any other body.
5.11 The Management Committee shall have the power to establish sub-committees with responsibility for specific matters and or projects. Sub-committees will report to the Management Committee at each meeting.
5.12 Any funds raised by sub-committees shall be managed by the main Association accounts.
6 General Meetings
6.1 The Management Committee may call three General Meetings per year, one of which shall be an AGM, to report to members. A minimum of 14 days notice will be given.
7 Special General Meetings
7.1 The Management Committee may at any time call a Special general Meeting of the Association to consider matters of importance. A minimum of 10 members of the Association may request that the Management Committee may call a Special General Meeting. Such a request shall be in writing at least 14 days previous to the meeting.
8 Annual General Meeting
8.1 The Management Committee shall arrange an Annual General Meeting of the Association for the purpose of receiving the Chair’s report, Secretary’s report and the audited statement of accounts and to elect the Management Committee including all its officers.
8.2 The AGM will be held every 12 months, but not more than 15 months after the previous AGM.
9 Amendments to the Constitution
9.1 Amendments to the constitution can be made at any General Meeting of the Association. Proposed alterations must be submitted in writing to the Secretary three weeks in advance of the General Meeting at which it will be discussed. Proposed amendments will be circulated with the notice of the meeting. The Management Committee prior to the General Meeting should consider amendments.
10 Dissolution
10.1 If the Management Committee decides by a simple majority vote that it is necessary to dissolve the Association, a General Meeting will be called to discuss the proposal. The notice of the meeting will state the reasons for the proposed dissolution of the Association. The Management Committee shall have the power to dispose any assets held by the Association after payment to lenders or claims from funding bodies, to benefit members of the Association.
