DRAFT CONSTITUTION [April 2022]
1 Purpose and Objectives
1.1 The Bell Green Neighbourhood Forum (‘BGNF’) is a neighbourhood forum as defined in the Town & Country Planning Act 1990 as amended by the Localism Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
1.2 The purpose of BGNF is to further social, economic and environmental well-being of the designated area, as defined in section 2 below (‘the Area’), by acting for the ‘Area’ under the provisions of the Act.
1.3 BGNF will monitor development management policy and its application in the ‘Area’ and will produce and maintain a Neighbourhood Development Plan as defined in section 4 below.
1.4 BGNF may identify Assets of Community Value appropriate for nomination, and carry out any other permitted actions.
1.5 BGNF will ensure that the NP undergoes the correct statutory process, and meets the Basic Conditions and other legal requirements.
2. The Bell Green Neighbourhood Area (‘the Area’)
2.1 The ‘Area’ is detailed in Appendix 1, as approved by the LPA on -/-/ 2022.
2.2 As defined, the ‘Area’ falls within the boundaries of the London Borough of Lewisham.
3. Membership and Affiliated Organisations
BGNF will aim for as wide a representation of communities in the area as possible. Membership and organisation of BGNF are set out in section 3 below.
3.1 Membership of BGNF is open to:
• Residents living within the ‘Area’ boundary.
• Individuals working or carrying on business within the ‘Area’ boundary.
• Councillors of Bellingham, Perry Vale, Rushey Green, and Sydenham wards (11 persons).
3.2 BGNF Supporters (non-voting): delegates coordinators will be invited from
• Representative Residents’ Associations.
• Friends Groups.
• Amenity Societies or Associations; collectively described herein as ‘Organisations’.
• Individuals with specialist or professional expertise to bring to the forum’s work.
4. Committee
4.1 A Committee comprising up to 12 members will be elected at each AGM to carry out the day-to-day work of the Forum. The quorum for the Committee will be 5 members.
4.2 Becoming a Forum Committee Member: Applications for membership can be made in writing. Potential candidates will be required to attend two (steering) committee meetings prior to a vote on their application being taken.
4.3 Rescinding Membership: Notice to give up membership of the forum committee must be given in writing to the Chair of the Forum.
4.4 The Committee will elect the following officers of the Forum from its number: Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer. Officers will serve for one year and be subject to re-election, The Chair (or the Vice Chair when acting as Chair) will have a casting vote at any Committee or General Meeting.
4.5 The Committee will direct and oversee the work of the Forum and will meet at least quarterly for this purpose.
4.6 Subcommittees or working parties may be appointed by the Committee to carry out specific tasks, to consider policies and to advise the Committee. Such bodies may be appointed from within or outside the membership of the Forum but will be responsible to the Committee.
4.7 The Committee may co-opt up to three additional members to the Committee in any year. Co-opted members will have the same voting rights as other Committee members. Committee members and co-opted members may be elected as officers once they have been on the committee for a minimum period of one year.
4.8 Councillors representing Bellingham, Perry Vale, Rushey Green, and Sydenham wards are invited to all committee meetings, as non-voting attendees. members .
4.9 The Secretary will make minutes of General and Committee Meetings available to the members of the Forum within three weeks of the meeting unless impracticable. Organisations, which are affiliated to BGNF, will be expected to keep their own membership fully informed about the BGNF’s progress. be transparent about that affiliation to their membership .
4.10 The Secretary will keep a Register of Committee Members’ Interests, detailing any financial interests in the ‘Area’ or any other interests which could be deemed to have an influence on decisions likely to come before the Committee. Members will abstain from voting on any matter in which they have a financial interest.
4.11 Committee members must declare any interests that could be deemed prejudicial or inappropriate.
5. Meetings
5.1 Annual General Meetings will be held in December or as close to such date as practicable. An Extraordinary General Meeting may be called by decision of the Committee, or by 21 members of the Forum, applying to the Secretary. For all General Meetings, a notice of the meeting and details of any resolutions to be put to it will be sent to all Forum members at least 14 days before the meeting. Votes will be taken on the Regulation 14 version of the Plan, and again on the submission version of the plan and the Consultation Statement and Basic Conditions Statement.
5.2 At any General Meeting each member present will have one vote. Where practicable, arrangements will be made to enable members unable to attend to appoint a proxy. Decisions of General Meetings will be by simple majority except in the cases set out in section 6 below. The quorum for a General Meeting shall be 6 members.
5.3 Any committee member absent from more than three meetings without prior notification given to the committee will be asked if they wish to continue their membership.
6. Notices
Notices to members will be deemed delivered if sent to the member’s last notified email address, or (where no email address is given) sent by post to the last notified address.
7. Finance
7.1 The Forum will have the power to raise funds as necessary for its activities, by grant, donation or any other legal means.
7.2 The Committee will open one or more bank accounts, as necessary, in the name of the Forum. All funds raised for the Forum will be held in such accounts. The Committee will nominate bank signatories.
7.3 The Committee will, where necessary, insure any assets it holds, and, by insurance or otherwise, indemnify its officers against liabilities arising from their work for the Forum.
7.4 Subject to funding, the Committee may commission advisory services, surveys or any other legal activity in support of their objectives.
8. Neighbourhood Development Plan
8.1 The BGNF Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) will set out policies for the use and development of land within the Area. It will be subject to informal engagement, and the statutory requirements for screening and consultation (Reg 14).
8.2 The NDP will include, where appropriate, specific policies for identified parts of the ‘Area’, including conservation policies.
9. General Policies and Principles
9.1 BGNF will meet all the Basic Conditions and other statutory requirements for Neighbourhood Plans.
9.2 BGNF will operate whilst respecting all differences including gender, age, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, disability and income, as per the Equality Act 2010.
9.3 BGNF will undertake stakeholder mapping to identify key stakeholders in the area, as part of its engagement strategy.
10. Amendments and Dissolution
10.1 Amendments to the body of this Constitution will be made by decision of a General Meeting carried out in accordance with 3.10 and 3.11 above, with the exception that such a vote will only be carried if supported by 60% or more of those voting, and by reference to the LPA.
10.2 BGNF may be dissolved by decision of a General Meeting specifically called for this purpose and carried out in accordance with 3.10 and 3.11 above, with the exception that such a vote will only be carried if supported by 60% or more of those voting.
10.3 In the event of dissolution, any property or funds held by BGNF will be (subject to the agreement of the Members at General Meeting), allocated to one or more nominated organisations set up to continue the work of BGNF, or, in the absence of any such organisation and subject to any statutory regulations, distributed equally to the constituent local organisations that are its members (but not to individual members).
10.4 In accordance with the Act, a formal review of the functions and achievements of BGNF will be carried out five years after its formation. Following such review, and consultation with its members, BGNF will decide to either morph into a new body, concerned with the delivery of the approved BGNP, or dissolve itself, as considered appropriate.
11. Duration. The duration of the Bell Green Neighbourhood Forum is 5 years from the designation date.