Our Constitution

1. NAME

The name of the Society shall be the Forest Hill Society, hereinafter referred to as the Society.

2. OBJECTIVES

The Society is established for the public benefit for the following purposes in the area comprising Forest Hill (SE23) in the London Borough of Lewisham, adjoining parts of SE26, and any other relevant adjoining areas, which area shall hereinafter be referred to as “the area of benefit”.

 

a) to stimulate public interest and to promote civic pride in the area of benefit whilst maintaining a policy of inclusion and equality of opportunity within the Society

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b) to promote high standards of planning, architecture, sustainability and services in the area of benefit

c) to secure the conservation and enhancement of amenities and features of public interest in the area of benefit.

In furtherance of these objectives but not otherwise the Society through its Executive Committee shall have the following powers;

(i) To enquire into matters affecting the area of benefit, and to use the results in whatever way the Executive Committee considers appropriate.

(ii) To act as co-ordinating body and/or to co-operate with the; Local Authorities, Government Departments, Transport Authorities, Public and Private Companies, Charities, Voluntary Organisations, neighbouring Societies, and persons having objectives wholly or in part similar to those of the Society.

(iii) To further the cultural and artistic life of the area of benefit by holding meetings, lectures, exhibitions and social gatherings.

(iv) To promote or assist in promoting activities of a charitable nature throughout the area of benefit.

 

(v) To make surveys and prepare drawings and plans and collect information in relation to any place, construction or building of interest or amenity value within or adjacent to the area of benefit.

 

(vi) To inspect Planning Applications, prepare maps and drawings and collect information in relation to any new or proposed building, construction, or development within or adjacent to the area of benefit.

 

(vii) To publish a Newsletter from time to time for the information of Members and to circulate papers, reports and other literature where the need arises within the area of benefit.

 

(viii) To raise funds and to invite and receive contributions from any person or persons whatsoever by way of subscription, donation and otherwise provided that this will be without prejudice to the ability of the Society to disclaim any gift, legacy or bequest in whole or part in such circumstances as the Society may think fit; provided also that the Society shall not undertake any permanent trading activities in raising funds for its objectives.

(ix) To invest the moneys of the Society not immediately required for the furtherance of its objectives in a suitable savings or deposit account as the Executive Committee may think fit, subject nevertheless to such conditions (if any) and such consents (if any) as may for the time being be imposed or required by law.

 

(x) To make appropriate provision for storage of archives and other relevant information.

 

(xi) Subject to such consents as may be required by law, to sell, dispose of or turn to account all or any of the assets or funds of the Society as shall be necessary.

 

(xii) Subject to such consents as may be required by law, to borrow or raise money for the objectives of the Society on such terms and on such security as the Executive Committee shall think fit.

 

(xiii) To do all such other lawful things as are necessary for the attainment of the said objectives, but so that the liability of the Member is limited (to the amount of the annual subscription) if the Society should be wound up while they are Member for payment of the Society’s debts and liabilities, and of the cost, charges and expenses of winding up and for the adjustment of the rights of the contributors among themselves.

 

(xiv) The Society may work with any individuals or groups or may affiliate to other associations to further the objectives of the Society but must remain independent of political parties.

 

3. MEMBERSHIP

Membership shall be open to all who are interested in furthering the objectives of the Society. Corporate members shall be such societies, associations, or educational institutions as are interested in actively furthering the objectives of the Society. A corporate member shall appoint a representative to vote on its behalf at all meetings but before such representative exercises his or her right to vote the corporate member shall give particulars in writing to the Honorary Secretary of such representative. The vote of the corporate representative shall be equal to the vote of one individual member of the Society.

 

4. SUBSCRIPTIONS

The annual subscription shall be such reasonable sum as the Executive Committee shall determine from time to time. It shall be payable on 1st October for the ensuing calendar year commencing 1st January, and if it is not paid by 31st December of that year membership shall normally be terminated forthwith. The subscription of a member joining the Society in the three months preceding 31st December in any year shall be regarded as covering membership for the Society’s year commencing on 1st January following the date of joining the Society.

 

5. MEETINGS

An Annual General Meeting shall be held in the autumn of each year to receive the Executive Committee’s report and audited accounts and to elect Officers and Members of the Executive Committee, and to appoint an auditor. The Executive Committee shall decide when ordinary meetings of the Society shall be held. The Society shall hold at least one other General Meeting in addition to the Annual General Meeting so that the Executive Committee can hear the views of members. For any binding vote to take place a quorum of 25 members of 5% of the membership (whichever is greater) is required. Special General Meetings of the Society shall be held at the written request of 20 or more members whose subscriptions are fully paid up. Forty members personally present shall constitute a quorum for an Annual General Meeting and/or Special Meeting of the Society. The Executive Committee shall give at least 14 days’ notice to members of all Meetings of the Society. No member shall have power to vote at any meeting of the Society if his or her subscription for the current year is unpaid at the time.

 

6. OFFICERS

Nominations for the election of Officers shall be made in writing to the Honorary Secretary and least seven days before the Annual General Meeting. Such nominations shall be supported by a seconder and the consent of the proposed nominee must first have been obtained. The election of the Officers shall be completed prior to the election of further Executive Committee members. Nominees for election as Officers or Executive Committee members shall declare at the Annual General Meeting at which their election is to be considered any financial or professional interest known or likely to be of concern to the Society.

 

The Officers of the Society shall consist of:-

Chairperson
Vice-Chairperson
Secretary
Treasurer & Membership Secretary
Communications Officer

 

all of whom shall relinquish their office every year and shall be eligible for re-election at the Annual General Meeting. A President and Vice-Presidents may also be elected at a General Meeting of the Society, for periods to be decided at such a meeting. The Executive Committee shall have the power to fill vacancies occurring amongst the Officers of the Society.

 

7. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The Executive Committee shall be responsible for the management and administration of the Society. The Executive Committee shall consist of the Officers and not fewer than six and not more than eighteen other committee members. The Executive Committee shall have the power to co-opt further committee members (who shall attend in an advisory and non- voting capacity). The President and Vice-Presidents may attend any meeting of the Executive Committee but shall not vote at any such meeting, unless they are already elected members of the Executive Committee. In the event of an equality in the votes cast, the chairperson shall have a second or casting vote. Nominations for elections to the Executive Committee shall be made in writing to the Honorary Secretary at least seven days before the Annual General Meeting. They must be supported by a seconder and the consent of the proposed nominee must first have been obtained. If the nominations exceed the number of vacancies, a ballot shall take place in such a manner as shall be determined. Members of the Executive Committee shall be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting of the Society, and out-going members may be re-elected. Executive Committee members may not be elected officials (councillors, Mayor, MPs, AMs, MEPs, etc). In the event of a committee member standing for election to public office, they shall resign their position on the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall meet not fewer than four times a year at intervals of not more than three months and the Honorary Secretary shall give all members not less than seven days’ notice of each meeting. The quorum shall comprise not less than one third of the members of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall have the power to fill up to three vacancies occurring among the members of the Executive Committee between Annual General Meetings. Any member of the Executive Committee so appointed shall hold office only until the next AGM and shall then be eligible for election.

 

8. SUB COMMITTEES

The Executive Committee may constitute such sub-committees from time to time as shall be considered necessary for such purposes as shall be thought fit. The Chairperson and Secretary of each sub-committee shall be appointed by the Executive Committee providing the consent of the nominated person has already been obtained. All actions and proceedings of each sub committee shall be reported to and be confirmed by the Executive Committee as soon as possible. Sub-committees shall be subordinate to and may be regulated or dissolved by the Executive Committee. Members of the Executive Committee may be members of any sub-committee and membership of a sub-committee should be no bar to membership of the Executive Committee.

 

9. DECLARATION OF INTEREST

 

It shall be the duty of every member who is in any way directly or indirectly interested financially or professionally in any item discussed at any meeting of the Society (including any meeting of the Executive Committee or Sub-Committee) at which he or she may be present to declare such interest and he or she shall not discuss such item (except by invitation of the Chairperson) or vote thereon.

10. EXPENSES OF ADMINISTRATION AND APPLICATIONS OF FUNDS

The Executive Committee shall, out of the funds of the Society, pay all proper expenses of administration and management of the Society. After the payment of the administration and management expenses and the setting aside to reserve of such sums as may be deemed expedient, the remaining funds of the Society shall be applied by the Executive Committee in furtherance of the objectives of the Society.

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11. AMENDMENTS

This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority of members present at an Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting of the Society, provided that 28 days’ notice of the proposed amendment has been given to all members.
 

12. NOTICES

 

Any notice required to be given to a member by the Society shall be deemed to be duly given if left at, or sent by prepaid post addressed to, the address of that member last notified to the Honorary Membership Secretary.
 

13. WINDING UP

The Society may be dissolved by a two-thirds majority of members voting at an Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting of the Society confirmed by simple majority of members voting at a further Special General Meeting held not less than 14 days after the previous Meeting. It a motion for the dissolution of the Society is to be proposed at an Annual General Meeting or a Special Meeting this motion shall be referred to specifically when notice of the Meeting is given. In the event of the dissolution of the Society after the satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities the available funds of the Society shall be transferred to such one or more institutions having objectives similar or reasonably similar to those herein before declared as shall be chosen by the Executive Committee and approved by the Meeting of the Society at which the decision to dissolve the Society is confirmed. On dissolution the minute books and other records of the Society shall be deposited with the Civic Trust.

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