Constitution of The Spen Lane and West Park Residents Association

1 NAME
The name of the Association shall be the Spen Lane and West Park Resident's Association ( "the Association").

2 OBJECTIVE
The objects of the Association shall be to maintain and improve the environment and amenities of the West Park area of Leeds, to represent the view of residents, and to take action to prevent any deterioration in living conditions in the area.

The Association shall be non-party in politics and non-sectarian in religion.

3 MEMBERSHIP
Membership of the Association shall be open:
3.1 To all persons over 18 living in the area, irrespective of political party, nationality, religious opinion, race or colour.
3.2 To others whose membership will in the opinion of the Committee be of benefit to the Association and are elected by majority vote of the Committee. Members elected by such means shall be called Associate members and will not be liable for subscriptions nor have the right to vote at meetings.

4 SUBSCRIPTIONS
Members shall pay such subscriptions as the Committee may from time to time determine. Only fully paid up members shall be in good standing and eligible to vote at meetings.

5 TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP
The Committee shall have the right to terminate membership of an individual for good and sufficient reason provided that the member shall have the right to be heard by the Committee before such decision is made.

6 COMMITTEE
6.1 The policy and management of the affairs of the Association shall be controlled by a Committee ("the Committee").
6.2 The Committee shall consist of the Honorary Officers elected under Clause 7 hereof, and not more than ten nor less than three representatives of members, who shall retire (but be eligible for re-election) at each Annual General Meeting.
6.3 If vacancies occur among the Honorary Officers or members of the Committee, the Committee shall have the power to fill these from amongst members of the Association.
6.4 In addition the Committee may co-opt further members (up to the maximum number in clause 6.2 above, who shall be members of the Association.

7 HONORARY OFFICERS
The Annual General Meeting shall elect a Chair, from amongst those eligible for election to the Committee, a Secretary, a Treasurer and such other Officers as it may from time to time determine.

8 SUB-COMMITTEES and WORKING GROUPS
The Committee shall have the right to delegate any powers and terms of reference with the exception of control of the Association's funds to such sub-committees and/or working groups as it considers necessary to conduct the Association's business.

9 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Once in each year the Committee shall convene an Annual General Meeting of the Association for the purposes of:
9.1 receiving the Annual Report of the Committee and the audited Statement of accounts;
9.2 electing the Honorary Officers and representatives to the Committee;
9.3 voting, whenever necessary, on proposals to amend the Constitution.

10 SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING
The Chair of the Association or the Secretary may at any time at their discretion, and shall within 21 days of receiving a written request so to do signed by not less than twenty members in good standing and giving reasons for the request, call a Special General Meeting of the Association for the purpose of altering the Constitution in accordance with Clause 14 hereof or of considering any other matter which may be referred to it.

11 RULES OF PROCEDURE
11.1 VOTING - Subject to the provision of Clause 14 all questions arising at any meeting shall be decided by a simple majority of those present and entitled to vote. In the case of equality the Chair shall have a second or casting vote.
11.2 QUORUM - One half of the members shall form a quorum at meetings of the Committee and all other Sub-Committees. Twenty members shall form a quorum at General Meetings.
11.3 MINUTES - Minute Books shall be kept by the Association, the Committee and all Sub-Committees and the appropriate Secretary shall enter therein a record of all proceedings and resolutions.

12 FINANCE
12.1 All monies raised by or on behalf of the Association shall be applied to further the objects of the Association and for no other purposes.
12.2 The Treasurer shall keep proper account of the finances of the Association and shall open a bank account in the name of the Association.
12.3 The accounts shall be audited at least once a year.

13 DISSOLUTION
If the Committee by a simple majority decides at any time that 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 of which meeting not less than 21 days notice shall be given. If such decision shall be confirmed by a simple majority of those present and voting at such meeting the Committee shall have the power to dispose of any assets held by or in the name of the Association, consistent with the objects of the Association, at their discretion.

14 ALTERATION TO THE CONSTITUTION
Any proposal to alter this constitution must be delivered in writing to the Secretary of the Association not less than 28 days before the date of the meeting at which it is to be considered.
An alteration will require the approval of a two-thirds majority of individual members of the Association present and voting at a General Meeting. Notice of each such meeting must have been given in accordance with normal procedure but not less than 14 days prior to the meeting.

Adopted at the annual general meeting in March 1982'

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