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Blackthorns Community Association
Constitution
Blackthorns Community Association
c/o 25 Blackthorns, Lindfield, West Sussex, RH16 2AX
1. Title:
The name of the group is the Blackthorns Community Association, hereinafter referred to as the Association.
2. Aims:
a) To foster a spirit of community amongst the residents, school, care home and others interested in the good of Blackthorns community.
b) To ensure the maintenance, safeguarding and improvement of the Blackthorns area environment and surrounds.
c) To share information and promote discussion on issues affecting residents,school, care home , and others interested in the Blackthorns community.
d) To make representations to local government and other bodies on behalf of members , by taking such action as may be agreed by the membership under 4 below .
3. Membership:
a) Membership of the Association shall be open, upon payment of a membership fee, to residents, school, care home and others interested in the Blackthorns community.
b) Only member households shall be entitled to vote at meetings.There will be a maximum of 2 votes per household, including the school and care home, each counting as one household.The care home right to vote shall not apply until the building is completed and it is occupied by residents.
c) Membership applications shall be received at BCA letterhead address, or at the end of each meeting.
d) Membership Fees shall be determined by the decision of the Annual General Meeting.
e) The Secretary shall maintain a register of members.
f) Committee Office holders, provided they are willing to continue, shall be confirmed in Office en bloc, at each Annual General Meeting, by the attending membership voting their approval. Alternative names for Office, who must be members of BCA, may be proposed by at least 2 BCA members, provided the names of candidate(s) and Office position(s) are notified in writing to the Secretary, for inclusion on the Agenda, by 31 st May preceding the Annual General Meeting.
4. Meetings:
a) Meetings shall be called by the Chair from time to time, at the request of Officers, or ten members.
b) Non-members shall be welcomed as guests or observers at the discretion of the Chair.
c) Only paid-up members shall be entitled to vote.
d) A Quorum shall be those Officers and members present in total , but not less than 6 persons in all .
e) An Annual General Meeting shall be held in July of each year .
f) N otice of the Annual General M eeting, with an Agenda, shall be notified by circular to each member 's address and shall also be displayed on the outside school notice board, not less than fourteen days prior to the meeting.
g ) At the Annual General Meeting the following Officers shall be elected by the members present: Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer and Secretary , plus one other member to examine the accounts annually .
5. Finance:
a) Bank accounts shall be maintained in the name of “Blackthorns Community Association”. Signatories to the bank accounts shall be both the Treasurer and one other Officer , per item 4 g.
b) Accounts shall be produced annually and presented to the Annual General Meeting for approval , after having been examined by a nominated member .
6. Amendments to the Constitution:
a) Any proposed amendment to the Constitution shall be notified in writing to the Secretary not less than 28 days prior to the Annual General Meeting.
b) Any amendment must have the support of a majority of two-thirds of members present and entitled to vote.
7. Dissolution:
In the event of the Association being wound up, any funds or assets remaining after the due discharge of proper debts and liabilities, shall be transferred to a local charity, as determined by the Membership present at the final meeting.
8. Procedural Items:
a) Minutes of each meeting and agenda for the next meeting, shall be made available as determined at the Annual General Meeting.
b) Correspondence: All correspondence will be under the Association's letterhead and will be originated through the Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary or Treasurer as determined at a general meeting.
Signed.......
John Richards
Secretary, BCA