CONSTITUTION
DENTON SOUTH NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING FORUM
1. Name.
The name of the Forum shall be the Denton South Neighbourhood Planning Forum (the Forum).
2. Area of Benefit.
The Area of Benefit in which the Denton South Neighbourhood Planning Forum will pursue its objects is the Denton South Neighbourhood Area, which is the area designated by Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council for which the Forum will produce a Neighbourhood Plan.
3. Denton South Neighbourhood Planning Forum Inclusion/Equalities Statement.
3a. The Denton South Neighbourhood Planning Forum shall not be affiliated to any political party or organisation.
3b. The Denton South Neighbourhood Planning Forum is committed to a policy of inclusion of all members of the community and to the prevention of any form of discrimination regarding age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religious belief or in any other form.
3c. The Denton South Neighbourhood Planning Forum is also committed to seeking out the views of those in the community who may be harder to reach, to maximise inclusion and participation in its activities and the decision making process.
4. Objectives.
The objectives of the Denton South Neighbourhood Planning Forum are:
4a. To prepare a Neighbourhood Plan for the Denton South area.
4b. To promote and improve the social, economic and environmental well-being of the Denton South area; including the carrying on of trades, professions or other businesses reflecting the character of the neighbourhood area.
4c. Any other appropriate purpose agreed by the Forum.
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CONSTITUTION - DENTON SOUTH NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING FORUM
5. Powers.
In furtherance of its objectives the Denton South Neighbourhood Planning Forum may:
5a. Invite and receive contributions and raise funds, where appropriate, to finance the work of the Forum, and to open a bank account to manage such funds;
5b. Publicise and promote the work of the Forum and organise meetings, training courses, events or seminars etc.
5c. Work with groups of a similar nature and exchange information, advice and knowledge with them, including cooperation with other voluntary bodies, charities, statutory and non-statutory organisations.
5d. Employ staff and volunteers as are necessary to conduct activities to meet the objects of the Forum.
5e. Take any form of action that is lawful, which is necessary to achieve the objects of the Forum, including taking out any contracts which it may see fit.
6. Membership.
6a. The Denton South Neighbourhood Planning Forum will comprise at least 21 individuals who live or work in the Denton South Neighbourhood Area or who are elected members of a district council, any of whose area falls within the Denton South Neighbourhood Area.
6b. Membership is open to all individuals who live or work in the Denton South Neighbourhood Area. It is also open to individuals who are elected members of Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council whose ward falls within the Denton South Neighbourhood Area.
6c. Membership shall be drawn from different parts of the Denton South Neighbourhood Area and different sections of the community in the Denton South Neighbourhood Area.
6d. Members shall be accepted by the Forum; resignations from membership shall be received by the Forum.
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CONSTITUTION - DENTON SOUTH NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING FORUM
7. Working Arrangements.
7a. The Denton South Neighbourhood Planning Forum shall act in accordance with best practice in the preparation of neighbourhood plans and in accordance with Government guidance for such preparation and seek to work collaboratively with the Local Planning Authority to achieve this
7b. All Members attending may:
Receive and comment on the reports from the Management Committee. Confirm the identity of the community organisations entitled to attend the Denton South Neighbourhood Planning Forum. Approve the annual report and accounts where relevant. Adopt constitutional amendments. At least 5% of the membership must be present at the start of the Meeting for it to be declared quorate. The meeting shall be chaired by a person it . All members are entitled to attend Meetings may propose and vote for motions and stand for election. Voting shall be by a show of hands. All decisions of Meetings will be minuted.
7c. All decisions taken by the Management Committee or the full membership will be proposed, seconded and recorded in the minutes for that meeting. Voting shall be by a show of hands and determined by a majority vote and shall also be recorded in the minutes.
7d. Properly constituted residents and business groups in the area who are members may appoint one individual (and alternates)to represent them at each meeting of the Denton South Neighbourhood Planning Forum.
7e. With regard to item 7d above: ‘Associate Membership’ category may be given by the Membership to such persons/organisations where there is a "conflict of interest". Associate membership does not confer voting rights at any meeting of the Denton South Neighbourhood Planning Forum, attendance by an Associate Member would not count towards a quorum for the meeting and provides no right to stand for any post on the Management Committee. An Associate Member can participate in discussion at meetings.
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CONSTITUTION - DENTON SOUTH NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING FORUM
8. The Management Committee.
8a. The Management Committee shall comprise up to 12 people, including the positions of Chair, ViceChair, Secretary and Treasurer who are all members of the Forum, who shall volunteer and be elected by the Membership. If there are more than 12 volunteers, elections shall be held at the first meeting of the Membership and the 12 volunteers receiving the most votes shall form the Management Committee. The Denton South Neighbourhood Planning Forum will undertake its work as it sees fit and may delegate powers on specific matters to such persons as it sees fit.
8b. The Chair shall be responsible for calling and chairing regular meetings (for which a quorum will be one half of its members) and havea casting vote on elections and resolutions. Act on behalf of the ‘Denton South Neighbourhood Planning Forum’ and represent it externally. Have the power to take decisions on urgent matters between meetings of the Denton South Neighbourhood Planning Forum. Interpret the constitution. Nb.The Chairs’ interpretation may be overturned by two thirds of those present at Meetings. Act as joint signatory on the ‘Denton South Neighbourhood Planning Forum’ bank account.
8c. The Secretary shall be responsible for organising meetings, maintaining the minutes and recording the decisions of the Management Committee and membership and Constitution of the Denton South Neighbourhood Planning Forum and making them available to members. Take the chair at meetings if both the Chair and Vice-Chair are absent. act as joint signatory on the ‘Denton South Neighbourhood Planning Forum’ account.
8d. The Treasurer shall be responsible for maintaining the accounts of the ‘Denton South Neighbourhood Planning Forum’. be responsible for presenting a budget, annually for the following year to an Annual General Meeting. Shall submit a summary of the accounts at every Meeting. Act as a joint signatory on the ‘Denton South Neighbourhood Planning Forum’ account. Take the chair at meetings if the Chair, Vice-Chair and Secretary are absent. Take the minutes if the Secretary is absent or in the chair.
8e. The following additional posts will be created from members of the Management Committee as and when required to further the objectives of the Denton South Neighbour hood Planning Forum:- ViceSecretary, Vice-Treasurer, Fundraiser, Press Officer, Membership Secreatary, IT (web-site and social media) Officer and Events Co-ordinator. If vacancies occur the Management Committee can co-opt new members subject to the endorsement of the Membership at the next meeting. [Elected Tameside councillors will not be eligible for membership of the Management Committee].
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CONSTITUTION - DENTON SOUTH NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING FORUM
8f. At least 7 days notification must be given to Members for an Ordinary Meeting. The Management Committee shall meet fortnightly or as it otherwise decides and will provide guidance on key decisions. The Chair shall also be allowed to invite observers. The Membership will elect, and if necessary dismiss, the Management Committee who will manage the Forum. The Members will scrutinise the work of the Management Committee and will have the right to amend the constitution at an Annual General Meeting or Extraordinary Meeting. All minutes and decisions will be proposed, seconded and subject to the approval of the members present.
9. Annual General Meeting.
9a. An Annual General Meeting must be held every twelve months. Notice to the membership must be given at least 14 days prior to the Annual General Meeting taking place.
9b. To allow the membership to hear reports from the Management Committee on the achievements and work of your group over the year.
9c. To elect the Management Committee for the next year.
9d. To make any changes to the constitution.
10. Extraordinary General Meeting.
10a. An Extraordinary General Meeting will be held as and when any issue arises which would require the input of the entire membership and is too serious or urgent to wait until the next Annual General Meeting. Notice to the membership and an outline of the purpose of a Extraordinary General Meeting must be given at least 14 days prior to the Extraordinary General Meeting taking place.
11. Alteration to the Constitution of the Denton South Neighbourhood Planning Forum.
11a. Any alteration or amendment to the constitution will require the support of least two thirds of the membership present at either an Annual General Meeting or at any Extraordinary Meeting called for such purpose.
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CONSTITUTION - DENTON SOUTH NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING FORUM
12. Duration of the Denton South Neighbourhood Planning Forum.
12a. The duration of the Denton South Neighbourhood Planning Forum is 5 years from the Denton South Neighbourhood Planning Forum designation date.
12b. Dissolution of the Denton South Neighbourhood Planning Forum.
13. The procedure for dissolving the Denton South Neighbourhood Planning Forum, in the event that it is not longer required.
13a. The management committee may recommend closure to all the members, at a Special General Meeting called - at a minimum of 14 days notice - for such purpose.
13b. It will be the responsibility of the Management Committee to inform any relevant bodies should be informed, such as funders, partners, service users etc. The committee should appoint someone or more than one person whose job it is to ensure that all assets and liabilities are identified.
13c. At least two thirds of the membership present being required to formally approve the decision to dissolve the Denton South Neighbourhood Planning Forum. How the assets (money, equipment etc) will be allocated after settling any outstanding liabilities will be decided at the discretion of the membership present.
Constitution completed: Tuesday 21st June 2016
Online Link - https://1drv.ms/w/s!AgMhw5Mg4XCxjEa2rUnmxf8OWKNT
Residents from Haughton Green came together in a Gathering
The Gathering to which just over 60 residents attended on Saturday. Eleanor, resident said, "Residents living in Haughton Green and the surrounding areas are worried that there are radical plans to redevelop the school fields". However, it has been confirmed 26th May, by the MP Andrew Gwynne for Denton and Reddish That no application to develop the Two Trees fields has been submitted to Central Government yet.
Residents in Haughton Green have been experiencing heavy traffic while on their daily commutes in and out of the village. Residents fear the traffic would be worse if a huge housing estate were to be built!
Margaret Smethurst from Haughton Green has been campaigning for over the last 5 months and has created an on-line and paper petition. The petition can be found on Change.org. LEAVE GREEN FIELDS OF TWO TREES SCHOOL ALONE.
So far the petition has gathered over 1,400 signatures and part of the petition has been handed to MP Andrew Gwynne, where on Wednesday 25th May he then gave it to the Secretaries of State for Education and Communities & Local Government for their attention.
Denton need new housing. The existing housing stock is very poor and regeneration is needed. I ask myself - where will my 2 daughters live in say 10 years....
ReplyDeleteThe fields are not even used - and when i went to Two Trees, the fields were never used at a weekend for recreational use anyway.