Constitution
Friends of St Katharine Docks Constitution
Amended by resolutions passed at an AGM on 12 September 2011
1 Name
The Association shall be called “Friends of St Katharine Docks”
2 Objects
The objects of the Association shall be
(a) to enhance the quality of life in St Katharine Docks, London E1W and its surrounding areas (“the Dock”);
(b) to promote the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment in the Dock;
(c) to promote high standards of development, planning and architecture in the Dock;
(d) to promote and develop interest in features of historic or community interest in the Dock;
(e) to preserve and improve the amenities of the Dock;
(f) to foster and encourage the growth of the community spirit among the residents of the Dock; and
(g) to provide a forum for the residents of the Dock to express their views on matters relevant to the objects of the Association.
3 Membership
The objects of the Association shall be
(a) to enhance the quality of life in St Katharine Docks, London E1W and its surrounding areas (“the Dock”);
(b) to promote the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment in the Dock;
(c) to promote high standards of development, planning and architecture in the Dock;
(d) to promote and develop interest in features of historic or community interest in the Dock;
(e) to preserve and improve the amenities of the Dock;
(f) to foster and encourage the growth of the community spirit among the residents of the Dock; and
(g) to provide a forum for the residents of the Dock to express their views on matters relevant to the objects of the Association.
4 Subscription
The annual subscription shall be £20 or such other amount as may be determined from time to time by the Executive Committee and shall be due on joining the Association and thereafter on the 1st day of April each year.
5 Resignation
(b) A member whose subscription is more than three months in arrears shall be deemed to have resigned.
6 Expulsion
7 Executive Committee
(b) The Executive Committee members shall be proposed, seconded and elected at the Annual General Meeting each year and shall remain in office until the next Annual General Meeting when they shall retire or until their earlier resignation or cessation of membership of the Association. Any vacancy occurring by resignation or otherwise may be filled by the Executive Committee. Retiring members of the Executive Committee shall be eligible for re-election.
(c) Executive Committee meetings shall be held not less than once a quarter and the quorum at each such meeting shall be three.
The Chairman and the Secretary shall each have discretion to call further meetings of the Executive Committee if they consider it to be in the interests of the Association. The Secretary shall give all the members of the Executive Committee not less than seven days oral or written notice of an Executive Committee meeting. The Chairman shall chair all meetings of the Executive Committee, except that if he or she is not present within 10 minutes after the time appointed for holding a meeting the members of the Executive Committee present may choose one of their number to be chairman of that meeting. Decisions of the Executive Committee shall be made by a simple majority and in the event of an equality of votes the Chairman (or the acting Chairman of that meeting) shall have a casting or additional vote. The Secretary, or in his or her absence a member of the Executive Committee, shall take minutes.
(d) The Executive Committee shall be responsible for the management of the affairs of the Association and shall have power to enter into contracts for the purposes of the Association on behalf of all the members of the Association.
(e) The members of the Executive Committee shall be entitled to be indemnified out of the assetsof the Association against all expenses and other liabilities properly incurred by them in the management of the affairs of the Association.
8 Officers
(b) The Officers shall be proposed, seconded and elected at the Annual General Meeting each year and shall remain in office until the next Annual General Meeting when they shall retire or until their earlier resignation or cessation of membership of the Association. Any vacancy occurring by resignation or otherwise may be filled by the Executive Committee. Retiring Officers shall be eligible for re-election.
9 Annual General Meeting
i. to receive the Chairman’s report of the activities of the Association during the previous year;
ii. to receive and consider the accounts of the Association for the previous year and the Secretary’s report as to the financial position of the Association;
iii. to elect the Officers and other members of the Executive Committee; and
iv. to decide on any resolution which may be duly submitted in accordance with Rule 9 (c).
(b) The Secretary shall send to each member of the Association at his or her last known email address written notice of the date of the Annual General Meeting together with the resolutions to be proposed thereat at least 21 days before the meeting.
(c) Nominations for election of members to any office or for membership of the Executive Committee shall be made in writing by the proposer and seconder to the Secretary not less than 28 days before the Annual General Meeting. Notice of any resolution proposed to be moved at the Annual General Meeting shall be given in writing to the Secretary not less than 28 days before the meeting.
10 Special General Meeting
11 Procedure at the Annual and Special General Meetings
(b) The Chairman, or in his or her absence or disinclination to act, a member selected by the Executive Committee, shall take the chair at all General Meetings.
(c) Each member present shall have one vote and resolutions shall be passed by a simple majority except as might be otherwise specified in these Rules. In the event of an equality of votes the Chairman shall have a casting or additional vote.
(d) Votes may be given either personally or by proxy. A proxy must be a member of the Association.
The instrument appointing a proxy must be in a form prescribed by the Committee, must be signed by the appointor and must be produced at the meeting at which it is to be used.
(e) The Secretary, or in his or her absence a member of the Executive Committee, shall take minutes at Annual and Special General Meetings.
12 Alteration of the Rules
13 Finance
(b) The income and property of the Association shall be applied only in furtherance of the objects of the Association and no part thereof shall be paid by way of bonus, dividend or profit to any members of the Association, save as set out in Rule 14 (c).
(c) The financial transactions of the Association shall be recorded in such manner as the Executive Committee think fit by the Secretary.
14 Dissolution
(b) The dissolution shall take effect from the date of the resolution and the members of the Executive Committee shall be responsible for the winding-up of the assets and liabilities of the Association.
(c) Any property remaining after the discharge of the debts and liabilities of the Association shall be given to a charity or charities nominated by the last Executive Committee.