CONSTITUTION OF THE HAGGERSTON, WHITMORE and KINGSLAND [Bryant Court 37 -78] TENANTS AND RESIENTS ASSOCIATION

Original HTA Constitution revised March 1988, + retyped March 1999 is available from the office. Amendments to be made in August 1999 which lead to this constitution are also available as a separate sheet.

1. NAME

The name of the organisation shall be "Haggerston, Whitmore and Kingsland [Bryant Ct. 37 -78] Tenants’ and Residents’ Association." or "HAWK TRA."

2. OBJECTIVES

A(i) To advance the interests and welfare of the tenants and residents of Haggerston, Whitmore and Bryant Ct. 37 -78 Estates and to increase the power of the tenants and residents over their environment and the decision making processes that effect their lives.

(ii)To provide a forum for the expression of the views of tenants and residents of Haggerston, Whitmore and Bryant Ct. 37 -78 Estates.

(iii)To negotiate with and discuss conditions on Haggerston, Whitmore and Bryant Ct. 37 -78 Estates with the London Borough of Hackney, Canalside, CHA, MHT or other Landlord, on behalf of the tenants and residents in individual cases, and generally, to foster a positive relationship with council, Canalside’s or other Landlord’s employees.

(iv)To provide a sense of community amongst the tenants and residents.

B(i)To take its full part in the Haggerston Area Trust per that organisation’s "Articles ofAssociation" to:

a] manage Haggerston Community Centre

b] provide recreational and educational facilities for residents of the Trust’s catchment area.

c] encourage and make provision for the young people of the area.

and affiliate to the HAT and appoint 3 of its members to the Board of Trustees in accordance with the Trust’s Articles of Association.

(ii)To provide recreational and educational facilities for the tenants and residents of Haggerston, Whitmore and Bryant Ct. 37 -78 Estates and Kingsland Estate.

(iii)To encourage the provision of educational and recreational facilities for young people in the area.

CHaggerston, Whitmore and Kingsland [Bryant Ct. 37 -78] Tenants’ and Residents’ Association is positively committed to oppose all direct and indirect discrimination in it’s employment and provision of services. Haggerston, Whitmore and Kingsland [Bryant Ct. 37 -78] Tenants’ and Residents’ Association will seek to implement a programme of positive action to make this policy fully effective.

We aim to ensure that no job applicant or, employee or service user will receive less favourable treatment on the grounds of race, colour, sex, marital status, ethnic or national origin, age, by being lesbian or gay, disability, religious belief, political belief, trade union activity, dependency or unrelated criminal convictions.

3. MEMBERSHIP

Full membership of the association shall be open to all persons living on Haggerston, Whitmore and Bryant Ct. 37 -78 Estates over 16 years of age.

4. SUBSCRIPTIONS

(i)The payment of subscriptions shall be suspended for as long as the association is in receipt of grant aid by local authority or other landlord.

(ii)In the event of the association being no longer funded the decision to re-introduce subscriptions may be taken at a general meeting of the association. The rate to be agreed by the meeting. Annual rates to be decided by an Annual General Meeting and payable on 30th October.

5. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

The association shall have an Management Committee which will be responsible for the pursuit and implementation of the Association’s objectives and policies. The Management Committee shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting by the members and all nominations shall be proposed and seconded, and such nominations be accepted at the AGM or in writing to the secretary beforehand.

AThe Committee shall comprise:

(i)A chair person who shall be responsible for the orderly conduct of meetings and ensure compliance with the constitution.

(ii)A treasurer who shall oversee all the finances of the association and the community centre and the keeping of accounts as are deemed necessary by the Management Committee.

(iii)A secretary who shall liaise with community centre co-ordinator(s) on aspects of administration and correspondence.

The secretary shall ensure that minutes of all meetings with an agenda for forth coming meeting shall be circulated to all members of the Committee, who shall be elected at Annual General Meetings. S/he shall also maintain a register of members of the association and Management Committee members.

(iv)A Vice Chair who shall be responsible with the Chair for the orderly conduct of meetings and compliance with the constitution. The Vice Chair shall be elected after the chair and nominations will only be accepted from residents of estates other than that of the chair.

B(i)The Management Committee shall comprise not less than 6 and no more than 20 ordinary Committee members including to the 4 officers above. Officers shall be elected at General meetings and may only hold the same post for 3 years.

(ii)Each component estate of the TA has the following minimum representation [including any Officer positions held] on the Management Committee based on a minimum of 1 and thereafter, 1 per 100 flats:

- Whitmore Estate - 6 members

- Haggerston East and West - 5 members

- Bryant Court - 2 members

in addition for the Combined Membership
- 7 members

C(i) Election for the 4 Officer posts will be conducted by show of hands at the GM or AGM.

(ii) Thereafter coloured voting cards will be distributed to all voters present - 7 for the general positions and the correct number of cards for tenants from each component estate (i.e. if 2 officers come from Haggerston, then Haggerston tenants would receive 3 Haggerston Cards. If three officers came from Whitmore, then Whitmore tenants would receive 3 cards each.)

(iii) Election of estate specific representatives will be limited to those tenants from their estate.

(iv) Once Estate Specific members have been elected a further election will be held for the remaining 7 places.

(v) Voting in each constituency will be conducted on a first past the post multi member constituency basis."

DProspective Management committee members who represent special interest groups but who are not members of the committee may be co-opted onto the Management committee where a vacancy exists by a majority vote of not less than 2/3rds of the Committee.

6. GENERAL MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION

AThe association shall hold General Meeting at least every six months, the date being publicised at least 7 days in advance.

BOnly members of the association shall be entitled to vote.

CEach member shall have one vote .

DDecisions shall be taken by a simple majority vote of the members present.

In the event of a tie the chairperson, or acting chairperson, shall have a second casting vote. In order that a vote be taken at least 25 members must be present.

EIn the absence of the chair or vice-chair of the Committee an other Committee member may be elected as acting chair by the Committee.

FThe Management committee may not act in a way which is against the decisions of a quorate general meeting.

7. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS

AThe Annual meeting of the association shall be held within 6 months of the end of the financial year [i.e. by 30/9]. Notice of the meeting to be given at least 14 days in advance.

BOnly members of the association shall be entitled to vote.

CEach member shall have one vote.

DDecisions shall be taken by a simple majority vote of the members present.

In the event of a tie the chairperson, or acting chairperson, shall have a second casting vote. In order that a vote may be taken at least 25 members must be present.

EAll motions put to the Annual General Meeting must be proposed and seconded these motions should be submitted in writing to the secretary 7 days before the Annual General meeting in writing. But the Chairperson may, with the agreement of the meeting accept motions from the floor of the meeting.

8. EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING

An extraordinary General meeting may be called by any member by notice in writing to the secretary and signed by 25 members of the association. Such notice must state the reason for calling such a meeting. Notice of such a Meeting shall be publicised at least 7 days in advance .

9. STANDING ORDERS OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

AA meeting of the Committee shall be constituted by not less than 9 members of the Committee.

BIf any elected member of the Management Committee fails to attend, without giving apologies, 3 consecutive meeting s/he may be deemed to have relinquished their post.

C(1)The Committee shall endeavour to maintain full strength by co-opting members of the association on to it should any Committee member lapse in accordance with 9B, or through illness or inability to perform their function as Committee members through personal reasons .

(2)Should the chairperson, vice chair, secretary or treasurer be deemed, by the Committee to have relinquished their post, any member of the association may be co-opted by the Committee to take that post until the next Annual General Meeting.

DMeetings of the Committee shall be chaired by the chairperson or in the absence of both chair and vice chair, by another Committee member elected by those present.

EAny member of the association may attend and speak at Management Committee meetings, but may not vote.

FDecisions at Management Committee meeting shall be made by a single majority vote. In the event of a tie the chairperson shall have a second casting vote.

G(i)The MC may appoint a sub committee as deemed necessary. All sub committees must have one MC member as a member. Such a committee shall be directly accountable to the MC, it may only open a bank account with the minuted permission of the MC who may also close the account if deemed necessary by the MC. The MC is to decide any signatories.

(ii)Tenants of a landlord covered by the association may as of right, form a sub committee of those tenants to carry out the objectives of the association.

Not withstanding 9gi such a landlord specific Sub Committee does not:

a] need an Management member to attend

b] may determine its own signatories and open its own bank accounts

c] are not bound in the sense of 6f except to a quorate meeting of tenants of that landlord [quorum here is decided by 2.5 % of the relevant tenants].

d] can publish materials so long as responsibility is held by the sub committee

e] may with the consent of the relevant funding organisation set their own budget and control their own finances, including holding line management of relevant employed workers .The MC may nominate persons to represent the association at forums relevant to the aims of the association. All representatives are to give oral and or written reports at the request of the MC and may have their mandate withdrawn by the MC.

10. FINANCE

AAll money raised by or on behalf of the association shall be applied to further the objects of the association, and for no other purpose.

BThe treasurer shall Liaise with paid workers to administer all finances of the association and shall keep such accounts as are deemed necessary by the Management Committee.

CThe accounts shall be audited prior to the annual general meeting.

DA statement of accounts shall be made available by the treasurer for each General meeting and MC meetings as requested.

11. ALTERATIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION

Any alterations to this constitution shall require the approval of a majority of 2/3rds of those present and voting at a general meeting at which it is discussed. Any resolution for the alteration of the constitution must be received by the secretary 21 days before the meeting at which the resolution is to be brought forward and publicised giving 14 days notice of such changes.

12. DISSOLUTION.

The association may, at any time, be dissolved by a resolution passed by a majority of not less than 2/3rds of those present and voting at a general meeting of the association, of which at least 21 days notice shall be sent to all members. Any goods belonging to the association which are kept at Haggerston Community Centre will be gifted to HAT unless the grant regime which financed these requires otherwise. Any money remaining the association shall be donated to a local charity which shall be decided at the meeting calling for dissolution.