Simon Borkin1. Name
The name of the group shall be Stretford Town Centre Forum
2. Purpose
Stretford Town Centre Forum has been created to promote the vision of a sustainable Stretford Town Centre. The forum provides an opportunity for local businesses, community groups and other stakeholders to work together collaboratively - to improve visitor footfall, to improve the local town centre environment, and to celebrate everything that Stretford has to offer.
3. Aims
- To provide a local voice for the businesses, community groups and other organisations who operate in Stretford Town Centre
- To work together to generate a thriving town centre and increase visitor footfall, through shared marketing, events and community activities.
- To identify and address common issues of concern across Stretford Town Centre and to work together imaginatively and constructively to tackle these issues.
- To identify opportunities for shared fundraising and investment opportunities
- To facilitate community-led development of land and local community assets
- To take collective responsibility for the development of the town centre and to be inclusive and transparent to stakeholders.
3. Membership
Becoming a member
Membership is open to anyone who:
- Represents a local business, charity or community organisation that has a presence in the Stretford Town Centre, or surrounding areas.
- Supports the aims of the Stretford Town Centre Forum
Membership will begin as soon as the membership form has been received and approved. The member will receive an email confirmation of their membership and a list of all members will be available on the Stretford Town Centre Forum website: www.stretfordforum.org.uk
Ceasing to be a member
Members may resign at any time by writing to the Secretary.
4. Officers and committee
The business of the group will be carried out by a Committee elected at the Annual General Meeting. The Committee will meet as necessary and not less than three times a year. The Committee will consist of at least four members, including two officers:
The officers’ roles are as follows:
- Chair, who shall chair both general and committee meetings
- Secretary, who shall be responsible for ensuring meeting minutes are captured and keeping the website up to date with all necessary resources, to ensure members have access to key information.
In the event of an officer standing down during the year a replacement will be elected by the next General Meeting of members. Any committee member not attending a meeting without apology for three months will be contacted by the committee and asked if they wish to resign.
The Committee meetings will be open to any member of Stretford Town Centre Forum wishing to attend.
5. Meetings
Annual General Meetings
An Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held within fifteen months of the previous AGM. All members will be notified in writing at least 3 weeks before the date of the meeting, giving the venue, date and time.
Nominations for the committee may be made to the Secretary before the meeting, or at the meeting. The quorum for the AGM will be 10% of the membership or 10 members, whichever is the greater number.
At the AGM:
- The Committee will present a report of the work of Stretford Town Centre Forum over the year.
- The officers and Committee for the next year will be elected.
- Any proposals given to the Secretary at least 7 days in advance of the meeting will be discussed.
Special General Meetings
The Secretary will call a Special General Meeting at the request of the majority of the committee or at least eight other members giving a written request to the Chair or Secretary stating the reason for their request.
The meeting will take place within twenty-one days of the request.
All members will be given two weeks notice of such a meeting, giving the venue, date, time and agenda, and notice may be by telephone, email or post.
The quorum for the Special General Meeting will be 10% of the membership or 10 members, whichever is the greater number.
General Meetings
General Meetings are open to all members and will be held at least once every 3 months or more often if necessary.
All members will be given two weeks’ notice of such a meeting, giving the venue, date, time and agenda, and notice may be by telephone, email or post.
The quorum for a General Meeting shall be 10% of the membership or 5 members, whichever is the greater number.
Committee Meetings
Committee meetings may be called by the Chair or Secretary. Committee members must receive notice of meetings at least 7 days before the meeting.
The quorum for Committee meetings is three Committee members.
6. Finances
Financial arrangements will be maintained on behalf of the Forum by Friends of Stretford Public Hall. All payments will be approved by two members of the Committee including the Secretary.
Records of income and expenditure will be maintained by the Finance Manager of Stretford Public Hall and a financial statement will be provided on request.
All money raised by or on behalf of Stretford Town Centre Forum is only to be used to further the aims of the group, as specified in Item 2 of this constitution.
7. Amendments to the Constitution
Amendments to the constitution may only be made at the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting.
Any proposal to amend the constitution must be given to the Secretary in writing. The proposal must then be circulated with the notice of meeting.
Any proposal to amend the constitution will require a two-thirds majority of those present and entitled to vote.
8. Dissolution
If a meeting, by simple majority, decides that it is necessary to close down the group it may call a Special General Meeting to do so. The sole business of this meeting will be to dissolve the group.
If it is agreed to dissolve the group, all remaining money and other assets, once outstanding debts have been paid, will be donated to a local charitable organisation. The organisation will be agreed at the meeting which agrees the dissolution.