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KINGS HEATH NEIGHBOURHOOD FORUM CONSTITUTION |
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1. NAME AND AREA The Neighbourhood Forum shall be known as Kings Heath Neighbourhood Forum. It shall cover the area outlined on the attached map. 2. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES The purpose of the Kings Heath Neighbourhood Forum is to promote the highest quality of life for those living in the area, without distinction of sex, disability, sexual orientation, race or political, religious or other opinions and promote the general well being of the residents of the area. In furtherance of this purpose, the Forum will:- 1. Bring together residents and others in the Neighbourhood Forum area on a regular basis in order to address community issues of common concern. 2. Ensure that issues of concern to its members are drawn to the attention of Birmingham City Council, including Councillors and city officers, and other organisations (e.g.. Police, Health Authority, Centro etc.) as appropriate. Intelligent use will be made of the media. 3. In the event of the City Council rejecting any proposal put forward by the Neighbourhood Forum, the Forum shall reserve the right to promote their ideas in other legitimate ways. 4. Work in partnership with other local community organisations. 5. Write, print and publish materials, which further the aims of the Forum. 6. Do all such other lawful things as are necessary for the attainment of the said aims. 3. MEMBERSHIP Any resident who lives within the area covered by the Neighbourhood Forum will be entitled to become a member of the Neighbourhood Forum. Councillors from the local Wards may attend as observers with the right to speak. Local Government Officers and council employees who are relevant to the existing meeting may also be invited to attend with the right to speak. The Member of Parliament relating to the Wards should also be invited on the same basis. Membership of the Neighbourhood Forum shall be open irrespective of political party, religious opinion, race, colour, disability, gender or sexual orientation. a). All persons over 16 living in the Kings Heath Neighbourhood Forum area shall be eligible for full membership. b). Persons under the age of 16 will be admitted into junior membership. Junior members shall not have voting rights. c). Other persons not living in the area but having an interest in the area, e.g. community, voluntary and statutory organisations; shop keepers; business owners; doctors; dentists; vets; religious leaders; etc., shall be invited to attend meetings at the discretion of the Officers of the Neighbourhood Forum, but without the right to vote. 4. MANAGEMENT OF THE NEIGHBOURHOOD FORUM The Neighbourhood Forum will be run, solely by the members of the Management Committee. The Neighbourhood Forum will elect annually a Management Committee comprising of a core of 12 Management Committee members. The Neighbourhood Forum will seek to achieve the widest possible representation from all sections of the local community. Subject to endorsement at a subsequent Neighbourhood Forum Public Meeting the Management Committee will be able to recommend co-option of under represented groups to either vacant places or additional places as appropriate. The Management Committee, will then from amongst their own number elect: Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and any other officers as they see fit. Management Committee Members will be expected to attend Committee meetings or extend their apologies. Should a member not attend or send their apologies for 3 consecutive meetings, they will be deemed as having resigned. One third of the members with power to vote shall form a quorum at meetings of the Management Committee and all other committees and sub-committees of the Forum. Management Committee meetings would normally be held monthly. The Neighbourhood Forum will ensure the greatest possible involvement at public meetings and will use the most appropriate methods to advertise them. The local Neighbourhood Office will be used as post box and all appropriate City Council’s facilities within the area will carry publicity about the meetings. The Neighbourhood Forum will ensure that its meeting places are adequate to providing the needs of the community. The Neighbourhood Forum will encourage a representative to attend and report on the local Ward Committees. The Neighbourhood Forum will be helped to carry out the activities by a grant given by the Ward Committee. 5. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The Neighbourhood Forum shall convene an Annual General Meeting between 11 and 15 months from the previous Annual General Meeting. At least 21 clear days notice shall be given, using the most appropriate methods to advertise it, and by way of publicity boards provided by the local resource centre. The business conducted at the Annual General Meeting shall include:- a). Consideration of the annual report of the work done by or under the auspices of the Neighbourhood Forum. b). The submission and adoption of an examined income and expenditure account and balance sheets for the previous financial year. c). Election of the committee. d). Appointment of an auditor who must not be a member of the Management Committee. e). Consideration of any other relevant business of which the due 14 days notice has been given. f). Wherever necessary, consideration of and voting on proposals to alter the constitution in accordance with clause ll. 6. FORUM MEETINGS The meetings of the Kings Heath Neighbourhood Forum will be held, at a minimum, on a quarterly basis. 7. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS Special General meetings are called to discuss business usually considered at the Annual General Meeting or issues seriously affecting the Neighbourhood Forum, such as change to the constitution. Special General Meetings may be called by The Chair or by a simple majority of the Management Committee normally entitled to vote, or within 21 days of receiving a written request signed by not less than 30 residents living within the Forum area. The advertisement of a Special General Meeting will be in line with the methods used for an Annual General Meeting. 8. RULES OF PROCEDURE a). VOTING - All questions arising at any meeting shall be decided by a simple majority of those people present and entitled to vote. No member shall have more than one vote. In the case of an equality of votes, The Forum will maintain a status quo. b). SPEAKING RIGHTS - If more than 5 members wish to speak on any subject, the Chair may impose a time limit for speakers at his/her discretion. c). QUORUM - The quorum for Annual or Special meetings of the Neighbourhood Forum shall be 1% of the population aged 16 years and over, resident in the area or 35, whichever is the least. d). MINUTES - Minutes recording all proceedings and resolutions shall be kept by the Secretary of the Neighbourhood Forum for any committee or public meeting of the Forum. The minute book shall be open to public inspection. 9. SUBSCRIPTIONS AND FUND RAISING The Neighbourhood Forum may not levy any subscription on members. The Neighbourhood Forum may undertake other fund raising to further the aims and objectives of the Neighbourhood Forum. 10. FINANCE Each Neighbourhood Forum will be entitled to a grant from within the budget available to the Ward Committee. The Neighbourhood Forum may raise funds and receive donations and all monies raised by or on behalf of the Neighbourhood Forum shall be applied to further the objectives of the Neighbourhood Forum and for no other purpose. The treasurer shall keep proper account of the finances of the Neighbourhood Forum and shall open a bank account in the name of the Neighbourhood Forum. The accounts shall be examined at least once a year by the auditor and submitted to the City Council. If the Neighbourhood Forum lapses by not holding a meeting for 6 months, the City Council shall be entitled to recover, from the bank account, the grant aid paid to the Neighbourhood Forum in that financial year, subject to such funds being available. 11. ALTERATIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION The constitution of the Neighbourhood Forum should normally only be changed at the Annual General Meeting, but can also be changed at a Special General Meeting. Changes should be in sympathy with the model constitution supplied by the City Council. 12. DISSOLUTION If the Officers or Management Committee, by a simple majority, decide at any time that it is necessary to dissolve the Neighbourhood Forum, they shall call a Special General Meeting of all the members of the Neighbourhood Forum who have the power to vote. Notice should be not less than 21 days and should state the terms of the resolution to be proposed. If such a decision shall be confirmed by a simple majority of those members present and voting at such a meeting, the Officers shall have power to satisfy any proper debts and liabilities, any assets held by or in the name of the Neighbourhood Forum shall be applied towards charitable purposes for the benefit of the residents of the area. 14. STANDING ORDERS The conduct of the Neighbourhood Forum, Officers, Committee and members shall be subject to simple standing orders. These will ensure that each meeting has a Chairperson, only persons entitled to attend are present and rules of procedure are conformed with. Standing orders must not be seen to be in conflict with the terms of the spirit of the Constitution. This Constitution was adopted, pursuant to clause 11 of the Constitution on 8th February 2000 at an Annual General Meeting of The Kings Heath Neighbourhood Forum held on that date, having been approved at a Management Committee Meeting held on 8th December 1999 Amended to include "disability" in clause 2 at an Annual General Meeting of the Kings Heath Heath Neighbourhood Forum held on 21st October 2003 |
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