1. Name

The name of the group shall be Northbourne Action Group

2. Aims

a. To promote community awareness of the living environment

b. To promote and uphold equal opportunities

c.To work towards good relations amongst people on the estate

d. To promote and organise social and community activities for the benefit of people of all ages on the estate.

3. Membership

Open to all residents and their families living in the neighborhood of Northbourne who shall be called full members. Only residents over the age of 18 may be allowed to vote. Open to resident staff and their families living on the estate, who shall be called associate members. Organisations and individuals who are not residents may sit on the committee. They shall be called associate members

4. Equal Opportunities

Members must actively seek to represent the needs of the whole community and must not discriminate on the grounds of nationality, race, gender, sexual orientation, religion or political belief or disability.

The action group are opposed to discrimination in any form and fully support equal opportunities and the participation of cultural groups.

5. The Committee

a. The action group shall be managed by a general committee.

b. The general committee shall consist of a chairman, secretary, treasurer and at least 2 other members.

c. Any affiliated group or section sponsored by the committee shall have the right to be represented on the general committee but would not have a vote.

d. If vacancies occur among the officers or in the committee, the general committee shall have the power to fill them from among their members.

6. Annual General Meeting

The committee shall arrange an Annual General Meeting for the purpose of receiving the annual report of the committee and the audited statement of accounts, accepting the resignations of the committee, electing a new committee, making recommendations to the committee and voting, whenever necessary, on proposals to amend the constitution.

The Annual General Meeting will be held every September.

The action group will give at least 14 days written notice.

Each year the whole committee must resign and a new committee be elected, or existing officers may stand for re-election.

7. Special General Meeting

The chairman or secretary of the action group may at anytime call a special meeting of the action group, either to alter the constitution or for considering any matter the committee want referred to the members in general.

The Action Group will give at least 14 days written notice.

They shall also call such a meeting at the written request of not fewer than 10% of members, who shall give reasons for the request in writing with 14 days notice.

8. Quorum

No committee meeting shall take place with fewer than 5 committee members present.

9. Finance

All expenditure raised by or on behalf of the action group shall be applied to further the objects and aims of the action group and for no other purpose.

The treasurer shall keep proper account of all income and expenditure of the action group and shall open a bank account in the name of the action group.

The accounts shall be audited at least once a year by an individual external to the group.

The treasurer shall make the accounts available for any member for verification. A copy will be provided to James Butcher HA on request.

Three cheque signatories to be nominated by the committee, (one to be the treasurer) non to be from the same household or related.

Any expenditure over £20 shall be authorised by the committee at the meetings.

10. Dissolution

The group may only be dissolved at a special general meeting called for that purpose.

At least 51% of the members present at the special general meeting must agree to dissolution. Any funds and possessions shall be donated to a charity or charities of the meetings choice.

11.  Standing Orders

a. Members shall at all times conduct themselves in a reasonable manner at meetings.

b. Members shall be excluded if they contravene the aims of the action group, use abusive language and /or violent behaviour.