Page 1 of 9 CONSTITUTION of the LOWER STREATHAM NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH and RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION 1. Name: The name of the Association shall be LOWER STREATHAM NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH and RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION (hereinafter called "the Association") 2. Objects and Powers: The objects of the Association shall be: 2.1.1 To promote good citizenship and greater public participation in the prevention and solution of crime so that effective liaison between the police and public can be achieved in order to promote the efficiency of the police in the Metropolitan Police for the Lower Streatham Area. 2.1.2 To promote, protect and be a voice for the common interest of the full and associate members. 2.2 The Association shall be non-party in politics and non-sectarian in religion and shall operate an equal opportunities policy. In furtherance of the said objects but not otherwise, the Association may: 2.3 Call for the holding of public meetings in pursuant of Clause 2.1.1 and 2.1.2. 2.4 Liaise with other Neighbourhood Watch Groups, the Police Crime Prevention Police Officer, Police Liaison Committees, and the London Borough of Lambeth and other voluntary and statutory bodies; 2.5 Arrange and provide for or join in arranging and providing for the holding of exhibitions, lectures, classes, seminars and training courses; 2.6 Promote and carry out or assist in promoting and carrying out research, surveys and investigations and publish results thereof; 2.7 Collect and disseminate information on all matters affecting the above purposes and exchange such information with other bodies having similar purposes whether in this country or overseas. 2.8 Undertake, execute, manage or assist any charitable trust, which may lawfully be undertaken, executed or assisted by the Association: 2.9 Procure to be written and print, publish, issue and circulate gratuitously a quarterly newsletter and relevant documents as, and when, the need arises. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 2 of 9 2.10 Purchase, take on lease or in exchange, hire or otherwise acquire any property and any rights and privileges necessary for the promotion of the said purposes and construct, maintain and alter any buildings or erections necessary for the work of the Association. 2.11 Make regulations for any property, which may be so, acquired and make rules for the conduct of the Association, its meeting and activities. 2.12 Sell, let, mortgage, dispose of or turn to account all or any of the property or assets of the Association, subject to such consents as may be required by law. 2.13 Raise funds and invite and receive contributions from any persons by way of subscriptions and otherwise, provided that the Association shall not undertake any permanent trading activities in raising funds for its primary charitable objects; 2.14 Accept gifts and borrow or raise money in such a manner, as the Association shall think fit, subject to such consents as required by law. 2.15 Procure contributions to the Association by personal or written appeals, public meetings or otherwise; 2.16 Invest the monies of the Association not immediately required for its purposes in or upon such investments, securities or property as may be thought fit, subject nevertheless to such conditions (if any) as may for the time being be imposed or required by law. 2.17 Subject to any consents required by law to borrow money and charge all or any part of the property of the Association with repayment of the money so borrowed. 2.18 Provide indemnity insurance to cover the liability of the Management Committee (or any member of the Management Committee) which by virtue of any rule of law would otherwise attach to them in respect of any negligence default breach of trust or breach of duty of which they may be guilty in relation to the Association provided that any such insurance shall not extend to any claim arising from any act or omission which the Management Committee (or any member of the Management Committee knew to be a breach of trust or breach of duty or which was committed by the Management Committee (or any member of the Management Committee) in reckless disregard of whether it was a breach of trust or breach of duty or not. 2.19 Appoint and constitute such sub-committees, as the Management Committee may consider necessary. 2.20 Do all such other lawful things as are necessary for the attainment of the said purposes. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 3 of 9 3. Membership: 3.1 Full and associate Membership of the Association shall be open to residents and businesses who live or operate within the area covered by the roads scheduled in the Appendix to this constitution. 3.2 Only full members of the Association shall be entitled to vote at General Meetings of the Association. A departure is for Public Meeting, when all those present are entitled to vote, as long as they live in Streatham. 3.3 The Management Committee will, in most cases, be satisfied with the information supplied by the applicant on the appropriate form and grant membership. 3.4 The Management Committee shall not reject an applicant without sufficient reason. 4. Subscriptions: 4.1 All full members shall pay a £1.00 annual subscription, and only be varied by the members at the Annual Meeting, or a Special Ordinary Meeting of the Association. 4.2 The Executive Committee may reduce or waive the subscriptions for any full member at its absolute discretion. 5. Termination of Membership: 5.1 A full member may resign by written notice to the secretary. 5.2 The Management Committee shall have the right to suspend or to terminate the membership of a full member, provided that the individual is given the right to be heard by the Executive committee before the final decision is made. 6. Officers: 6.1 At the Annual General Meeting hereinafter mentioned, the Association shall elect a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson, a Secretary, a Treasurer and General Co- ordinator. 6.2 The Officers of the Association shall hold office until the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting of the Association next after their election but shall be eligible for re-election. 6.3 The Association shall appoint one or more qualified auditors and may determine their remuneration (if any). ------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 4 of 9 7. Honorary Officers etc: 7.1 The Annual General Meeting, if it thinks fit, may elect a President and Vice President of the Association. A President or Vice President of the Association need not be a member of the Association. A President or Vice President of the Association may attend general meetings of the Association but shall not be entitled to vote. 7.2 The Committee may elect any person as a Patron of the Association for such a period as they think fit and such a person shall be entitled to all privileges of membership except that they shall not be entitled to vote at meetings nor serve as officers or on the Committee. 8. Management Committee: 8.1 Subject as hereinafter mentioned the policy and general management of the affairs of the Association, including the powers above mentioned, shall be directed by a Management Committee (hereinafter called "the Committee") which shall meet not less than three times a year which shall consist of not more than fifteen elected members including those elected in accordance with clause 6. 8.2 Up to ten full members shall be elected to the Committee by full members at the Annual General Meeting of the Association. 8.3 In addition the Committee may co-opt up to one third of the total number of elected members of the Committee, who shall be representative of members of the Association who shall serve until the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting after individual co-option. Co-opted members shall be entitled to vote. 8.4 In addition, the following shall be entitled to ex-officio, non-voting representation on the Committee: 8.4.1 the relevant Metropolitan Police Crime Prevention Officer. 8.4.2 the relevant Metropolitan Police Officer, i.e. the Officer responsible for the roads in the appendix at the end of this constitution. 8.5 The Committee may be entitled to elect an individual as a representative to the National and Regional Neighbourhood Watch Association Committees. 8.6 The Committee shall have power to enter into contracts for the purposes of the Association on behalf of the members of the Association. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 5 of 9 8.8 The Committee may appoint such sub-committees and standing committees as may be deemed necessary by the Committee and shall determine their terms of reference, powers, duration and composition. All acts and proceedings of such sub-committees or standing committees shall be reported back to the Committee fully and promptly, but see Clause 9.3. 9. Rules of Procedures at all Meetings: 9.1 Quorum: 9.1.1 The quorum at a meeting of the Committee shall be five, appointed under Clauses 6.1 & 8.2 hereof shall be eight or such other number as the Association may in General Meeting from time to time determine, subject to a minimum of three. 9.1.2 The quorum at an annual general meeting and special general meetings of the Association shall be ten members. 9.1.3 The quorum of any committee set up under Clause 8.8, shall depend on the size of the sub-committee or standing committee, and be determined by the management committee at the time the aforementioned committee is set up. 9.2 Voting: 9.2.1 Subject to Clause 16 and 17 hereof, all questions arising at any meeting shall be decided by a simple majority of those present and entitled to vote thereat. No person shall exercise more than one vote but in the case of any equality of votes the chairperson of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote. 9.2.2 All elections of officers and committee members shall be by show of hands unless the meeting decides otherwise. 9.3 Minutes: The Committee and all other committees shall keep minute books, and the appropriate secretary shall enter herein a record of all proceedings and resolutions. 10. Standing Orders: 10.1 The Committee shall produce a rule covering the collection of subscriptions and donations and a second one giving the duties and responsibilities of street co- ordinators. These and other rules, if required, are necessary for the conduct of its business and that of the Association as it may deem necessary PROVIDED THAT they shall be consistent with the requirements of this constitution. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 6 of 9 10.2 The Committee shall have the power to make, repeal and amend such rules as they may from time to time consider necessary for the well being of the Association PROVIDED THAT they shall be consistent with the requirements of this constitution, which rules, repeals and amendments shall have effect until set aside by the Committee. 11. Meetings of the Association: 11.1 There shall be an annual general meeting of the Association which shall be held in the month of October in each year or as soon as practicable thereafter at such time (not being more than fifteen months after the holding of the preceding Annual General Meeting) and at such place as the Committee shall determine. At least the Secretary shall give twenty-one clear day's notice in writing to each full member. 11.2 At such Annual General Meeting the business shall include: 11.2.1 the election of officers: 11.2.2 the election of members to serve on the Committee; 11.2.3 the appointment of an auditor or auditors as and when the need arises; 11.2.4 the consideration of an annual report of the work done by or under the auspices of the Committee and of the audited accounts; 11.2.5 wherever necessary, consideration of and voting on proposals to alter this constitution in accordance with Clause 16 hereof. 11.3 The Chairperson of the Committee may at any time at his or her discretion, and the secretary shall, within twenty eight days of receiving a written request to do so, signed by not less than seven members and giving reasons for the request, call a Special General Meeting of the Association. 12. Nomination of Officers and Committee Members: 12.1 Nomination for officers and members of the Committee must be made by full members of the Association and must be in the hands of the Secretary at least three days before the Annual General Meeting. Should nominations exceed vacancies, elections shall be decided by a simple majority of those present and entitled to vote. No member shall exercise more than one vote but in case of an equality of votes the Chairperson shall have a second or casting vote. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 7 of 9 13. Finance: 13.1 All monies raised by or on behalf of the Association shall be applied to further the purposes of the Association and not otherwise PROVIDED THAT nothing herein contained shall prevent the payment in good faith of reasonable and proper remuneration to any employee of the Association not being a member of the Committee or the repayment of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. 13.2 Any member of the Committee for the time being who is a solicitor, accountant or other person engaged in a profession may charge and be paid all usual professional charges for business done by him or her or his or her firm when instructed by the other members of the Committee to act in a professional capacity on behalf of the Association. Provided that at no time shall a majority of the members of the Committee benefit under this provision and that a member of the Committee shall withdraw from any meeting at which his or her own instruction or remuneration or that of his or her firm is under discussion. 13.3 The Treasurer shall keep proper accounts of the finances of the Association. 13.4 The auditor or auditors appointed by the Annual General Meeting shall audit the accounts at least once a year. This will only apply after an auditor is appointed – see clause 11.2.3. 13.5 An audited and/or Committee approved statement of the accounts for the last financial year shall be submitted by the Committee to the Annual General Meeting aforesaid. 13.6 A Bank Account shall be opened in the name of the Association with such bank as the Committee shall from time to time decide. The Committee shall authorize in writing any two out of three persons, one always being the Treasurer and two other Committee members of the Association, who shall from time to time determine to sign cheques on behalf of the Association. All cheques must be signed by two of the authorized signatories. 14. Borrowing 14.1 The Committee may borrow money on behalf of the Association for the purposes of the Association from time to time at their own discretion for the general upkeep of the Association or with the sanction of a General Meeting for any other expenditure, additions or improvements. 14.2 When so borrowing, the Committee shall have the power to raise in any way any sum or sums of money in such manner or on such terms and conditions as they think fit, and in particular by mortgage or charge upon or by the issue of debentures charged upon all or any part of the property of the Association. 14.3 The Committee shall have no power to pledge the personal liability of any member of the Association for the repayment of any borrowed sum. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 8 of 9 14.4 The Custodian hereinafter referred to shall, at the discretion of the Committee, make such dispositions of the Association's property or any part thereof, and enter into and execute such agreements and instruments in relation thereto as the Committee may deem proper for giving security for such monies and the interest payable therein. 15. Trust Property: 15.1 The Association may appoint a custodian trustee or a trust corporation or the Members of the Committee may incorporate as a body corporate in accordance with Sections 50 to 62 of the Charities Act 1993 (or any later enactment) ("the Custodian") to hold any property held by or in trust for the Association on terms as to remuneration and otherwise laid down in section 4 of the Public Trustee Act 1906 and rules made thereunder. 15.2 The property of the Association, other than cash at the bank, shall be vested in the Custodian who shall deal with the property as directed by resolution of the Committee and entry in the minute book shall be conclusive proof of such a resolution. 15.3 (a) A trust corporation may be appointed as Custodian upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed in writing between the Custodian and the Committee. (b) If the Committee shall give to the Custodian for the time being six months notice in writing requesting such Custodian to retire from the trust then upon the expiration of such notice the Custodian shall for all the purposes of the statutory power be deemed to have retired and to be desirous of being discharged from the trusts. 16. Alterations to the Constitution: Any alteration to this Constitution shall receive the assent of not less than two- thirds of the membership of the Association for the time being whether individual or representative present and voting at an Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting PROVIDED THAT notice of any such alteration shall have been received by the Secretary in writing not less than 21 clear days before the meeting at which the alteration is to be proposed. At least 14 clear days notice in writing of such a meeting, setting out the terms of the alteration, shall be sent by the General Secretary to each member of the Association PROVIDED THAT not alteration shall be made to Clause 2.1, Clause 17, or this Clause until the approval in writing of the Charity Commissioners or other authority having charitable jurisdiction shall have been obtained and no alteration shall be made which would have the effect of causing the Association to cease to be a charity at law. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 9 of 9 17. Dissolution: If the Committee by a single majority decides at any time that on the ground of expenses 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 that 2 days notice (stating the terms of the Resolution to be proposed thereat) shall be given. If such decisions shall be confirmed by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting at such meeting, the Committee shall have the power to dispose of any assets held by or on behalf of the Association. Any assets remaining after the satisfaction of any proper debts and liabilities shall be given or transferred to such other charitable institution or institutions having objects similar to the objects of the Association as the Committee may decide or failing that may be applied for some other charitable purpose. A copy of the statement of accounts, or account and statement, for the final accounting period of the Association must be sent to the Charity Commissioners for England and Wales. 18. Arrangements until first Annual General Meeting: Until the first annual general meeting takes place this constitution shall take effect as if references in it to the Executive Committee were references to the persons whose signatures appear at the bottom of this document. This Constitution was adopted on the date mentioned above by the persons whose signatures appear at the bottom of this document. SIGNED…………………………………….. Approved by AGM September 2002 APPENDIX. The roads covered by the Association are: - Buckleigh Road Ellison Road (1 to 93 & 2 to 120) Guildersfield Road Kempshott Road Northanger Road Penistone Road Prescott Close Tankerville Road Westwell Road