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Raynes Park and West Barnes Residents' Association
Serving the community since 1928

Constitution of the Association

Revised 2002

  1. The name of the Association shall be the "Raynes Park and West Barnes Residents' Association" (hereinafter called "the Association")
  2. The objects of the Association shall be:
    1. To protect and enhance the character and amenity of the districts of Raynes Park and West Barnes with the aim of improving the quality of life of their residents
    2. To foster a spirit of good fellowship among the residents of these districts in pursuit of service to the community
    3. To produce a periodical magazine to inform members about the activities of the Association.
  3. The Association shall be non-party-political and non-sectarian.
  4. The management of the Association shall be vested in a committee consisting of Officers who shall be elected annually and shall serve in an honorary capacity.
    1. The Officers shall comprise: Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, Minutes Secretary, Editor of the Association magazine, Advertising Manager, Distribution Manager, Website Manager and Planning Officer, and any others, including the Area Co-Ordinators, whom the Committee may wish to co-opt.
    2. Members of the Association shall be those who have paid an annual subscription.
    3. Five (5) members of the Committee shall form a quorum.
    4. The Association's independent (non-party) Councillors (if any) shall be ex-officio members of the Committee. If any vacancy occurs among the Officers of the Association during the year, the Committee has the authority to fill such a vacancy until the ensuing Annual General Meeting.
    5. There shall be a minimum of four (4) General Meetings per annum, including the Annual General Meeting, open to all members of the Association.
  5. The Committee shall be empowered to invite any person to attend any of its meetings to advise on subjects beneficial to the activities of the Association.
  6. Those eligible for full voting membership at any General Meeting shall be paid-up Members of the Association resident in the West Barnes Ward and those parts of the Raynes Park Ward of the London Borough of Merton and adjoining areas as agreed by the Committee of the Association.
  7. The financial year of the Association shall extend from the 1st day of March to the last day of February in the following year. The annual subscription is deemed to include the household of the Member and the sum shall be decided upon at the Annual General Meeting.
  8. The Annual General Meeting of the Association shall be held in March, and the following items of business shall be transacted:
  9. An auditor shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting to audit the accounts.
  10. The Committee shall be empowered to recommend the appointment of a President and up to four (4) Vice-Presidents, such recommendations to be confirmed at the Annual General Meeting. The President and Vice-Presidents (who will act in an honorary capacity) may attend all meetings of the Committee, but shall have no executive powers.
  11. The Committee shall be empowered to recommend the appointment of Honorary Life Members in recognition of past services, such recommendations to be confirmed at the Annual General Meeting.
  12. At the discretion of the Committee, the Treasurer shall pay all accounts under the direction of the Committee and prepare a balance sheet for each Annual General Meeting. At the discretion of the Committee, the Treasurer shall have authority to sign cheques, drawn from the Treasurer's Account, up to a limit of One Thousand Pounds (£1000) or such amount as shall be decided at the Annual General Meeting. All cheques in respect of transfers of monies from the Association's investment accounts shall be signed by any two of the following officers: the Treasuer, Chairman, Vice-Chairman or Secretary.
  13. The Committee may from time to time appoint Trustees for the purpose of holding any property or assets acquired for the use of the Association.
  14. The Secretary, at the request of the Committee or on a written request from not less than ten (10) Members of the Association, shall call a Special General Meeting to consider any urgent matter that may arise.
  15. At least twenty-one (21) days' notice shall be given for any General Meeting. The quorum for any General Meeting shall be twenty (20) Members entitled to attend and vote.
  16. For the purpose of voting at any General Meeting, on any special issue of which advance notice has been given, postal votes received by the Secretary not later than the day preceding the day of the meeting shall be as valid and effectual as if they were made at the meeting.
  17. The Committee shall reserve the right to suspend any Member whose conduct may in its opinion be detrimental to the welfare of the Association. At the next General Meeting of the Association those present shall have the right to decide by a majority vote whether he or she remain a member or not.
  18. The Committee may consider for Affiliate Membership those bodies whose acitvities will enhance those of the Association and be of benefit to its members.
  19. In the unlikely event that the Committee considers it necessary to dissolve the Association, a Special General Meeting shall be called of all the Members entitled to vote, and such meeting advertised in the Association's magazine with not less than 21 days' notice.
    If such a decision shall be confirmed by a simple majority of those present and voting at such a meeting, the Officers of the Association shall have the power to dispose of any assets held by or in the name of the Association, as determined by the Members. No other body shall have authority to effect such a disposal.
  20. No new rule shall be adopted, nor any alteration or addition to these rules be made, except at the Annual General Meeting or a Special General meeting called for that purpose.