Our constitution

We are called the Friends of Kennington Park.  Our purposes are:

 

• To further the  protection, conservation and enhancement of Kennington Park as a place of freedom, recreation and enjoyment for the long-term benefit of all sections of the local community;

• To gather input from local people and representative groups so that the park may best serve the local community;

• To support the provision of recreational facilities which are open to everyone;

• To promote regeneration and community capacity building; and

• To work with and influence the policies of relevant local authorities for the enhancement and development of the park.

 

The Friends of Kennington Park shall not distribute profits and shall apply all of their income to the furtherance of the objects above.

 

Membership

 

Membership shall be open to any individual or representative of a local business or organisation having an interest in Kennington Park and willing to abide by the Terms of Reference of the Friends.

 

Any local group, deemed to be eligible for membership, may appoint a representative together with one or more deputies to attend the annual general meetings of the Friends. Whilst more than one representative may attend such meetings, only one may be eligible to vote on any issue where a vote is called for.

 

Every member shall have one vote.

 

Classes of membership, including corporate membership, and the rates of annual subscription, shall be reviewed at the Annual General Meeting (AGM).

The Friends may co-opt or invite to attend meetings or join any such body or organization as they consider in their interests.

 

The following officers shall be elected at each AGM:  Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and Membership Secretary.

 

The Committee shall normally consist of these officers and up to a maximum of eight other members who shall be elected at the AGM.  The Committee shall have the power to co-opt up to three additional members to the Committee.

 

The Committee may appoint from within their number a Vice Chair.

 

The Committee may only take decisions when at least three members of the Committee, including two officers, are present.

 

An AGM shall be held each year not later than four months after the end of the financial year, which shall be 31st March each year.  The Committee shall give not less than 21 days’ notice of the date fixed for an AGM.  A quorum at an AGM shall be 15 members or 10% of the total number of members (in either case excluding corporate members for the purpose of this calculation), whichever shall be the lower.

 

The Executive Committee may call a Special General Meeting for the Friends of Kennington Park at any time. If at least fifteen ordinary members of at least six weeks standing request such a meeting in writing, stating the business to be considered, the Secretary shall call such a meeting. At least twenty one days’ notice must be given. The notice must state the business to be discussed and the time and place of the meeting.

 

Procedure at General Meetings

 

The Secretary or other person specially appointed by the Executive Committee shall keep a full record of proceedings at every general meeting of the Friends of Kennington Park.

 

There shall be quorum when at least two Officers of the Friends of Kennington Park and 5% of members of the Friends for the time being or twenty members of the Friends, whichever is the greater, are present at any general meeting.

 

An auditor shall be appointed at the AGM, or failing that by the Committee. Audited accounts shall be presented at the AGM for approval by the members.

This constitution may be amended by a motion passed at an AGM by at least two thirds of the members present at the meeting.

 

Meetings and Proceedings of the Committee

 

The Committee may only take decisions when at least three members of the Committee, including two officers, are present.

 

If the chair person is absent from any meeting, the members of the Committee present shall choose one of their number to be chair person of the meeting before any other business is transacted.

 

Every matter shall be determined by a majority of votes of the members of the Committee present and voting on the question but in the case of equality of votes the chair person of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote.

 

Committee members shall not be personally interested

 

No member of the Committee shall receive remuneration from charitable funds raised by the group.

 

The work of the Friends of Kennington Park shall not be for the benefit of landfill site operators who may contribute to Friends of Kennington Park and claim credit under the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme.  Nor shall it be for the benefit of contributing third parties, as defined in the landfill tax regulations.

 

Receipts and expenditure

 

The funds of the Friends, including all donations, contributions and bequests, shall be paid into an account operated by the committee in the name of the Friends of Kennington Park. All cheques drawn on the account must be signed by at least two members of the Committee.

 

The funds belonging to the Friends of Kennington Park shall be applied only in furthering their purposes.

 

Dissolution

 

If the Committee decides that it is necessary or advisable to dissolve the Friends it shall call a General Meeting of all members of the Friends.  If the proposal is confirmed by a simple majority of those present and voting the Executive Committee shall have power to realise any assets held by or on behalf of the Friends.

 

After all grants have been repaid, and after the satisfaction of any proper debts and liabilities, any assets remaining shall be given or transferred to such charitable institutions or institutions having objects similar to the objects of the Friends as the members of the Friends may determine or failing that shall be applied for some other charitable purpose.

 

In the event of the Friends of Kennington Park disbanding, any remaining Landfill Tax Credit Scheme money shall be transferred to any enrolled Environmental Body, and not to an organisation with similar objects and status.

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FoKP Constitution 12 May 2014