CRAWLEY NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH ASSOCIATION

CONSTITUTION

 

1. TITLE

The name of the organisation shall be the Crawley Neighbourhood Watch Association.

 

2. AIMS and OBJECTIVES To promote good citizenship and greater public awareness through Neighbourhood Watch groups and increase public participation in the prevention and detection of crime and to promote effective liaison between the public and the police in the Crawley area of North Downs Division of the Sussex Police. The Association shall be non-party in politics and shall operate an equal opportunities policy.

 

3. MEMBERSHIP

All households that have registered their membership of a local Neighbourhood Watch group shall be members of this Association.

 

4. ORGANISATION

The Association will be divided into areas co‑terminus with the local neighbourhoods of Crawley and supervised by an Area Co‑ordinator(s) and Deputies whenever possible. Local or Street Watches will be overseen by a Co‑ordinator and a suitable number of Deputies whenever possible. Such Co‑ordinators will be responsible for acting on behalf of the Association and distributing newsletters, information and other correspondence required. All new Co‑ordinators shall henceforth have a local records Police check before being allowed to take up their post.

Frequent meetings within the area are recommended to update the membership on recent or proposed activities.

 

5. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The Executive Committee shall consist of

Chairman

Vice-Chairman

Treasurer

Secretary

Minutes Secretary

Media Relations Officer

Members - maximum of NINE (9) elected members

 

Ex‑officio members with no voting rights:

Crime Prevention Co-ordinator/Officer

Police Representatives

 

The running of this Association shall be the responsibility of the Executive Committee which shall have the power to co-opt any other person on to that committee and also to appoint sub‑committees as and when necessary. A minimum of five (5) elected members shall form a quorum of any meeting of the full Executive Committee.

 

6. ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Nomination's (with consent) for the Committee, including self‑nominations, giving a brief history, expertise and capabilities or attributes are welcome from the household members who can contribute towards the aims of the Association and all elected officers shall be known as Area Co­ordinators. These elections will be held at the Annual General Meeting of the Association, held in October, when additional nominations will be taken from the floor, if required. Otherwise nominations are to be delivered to the Secretary or appointed officer at least 14 days prior to the Annual General Meeting. Should more nominations be received than required (i.e. 15) any surplus shall be classed as 'waiting members'. The election of Auditor, Independent Examiner, or Certifying Officer will be made at this meeting.

The Committee shall‑have the power to co-opt any waiting or new members to such Committee in the event of resignations, retirements or other circumstances in order that the committee numbers may be maintained.

Officers and Committee members shall retire at each Annual General Meeting but be eligible for re-election.

Following the Annual General Meeting at which the Committee members are elected a meeting will be convened at which the following officers shall be elected: -

Chairman and Vice- Chairman (by secret ballot)

Secretary

Minutes Secretary

Treasurer

Media Relations Officer

 

7. COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held at regular intervals which members are required to attend, as well as the Annual General Meetings unless incapacitated through illness or on a pre­arranged holiday. Apologies are to be submitted prior to the commencement of any such meeting.

Officers shall have the emergency powers to make decisions between meetings and to report these at the next Committee Meeting.

 

8. FINANCE

The Treasurer shall administer a bank or building society account for all monies raised, these monies to be used solely for carrying out the objectives of the Association. The signature of two out of three officers, preferably the Treasurer, Secretary and Chairman, shall be needed to make any payments from the account. Any small petty cash payments must be substantiated and a signature obtained. All single payments over £25,00 are to be reported to, and sanctioned by, the Executive Committee. Monies may be raised for the benefit of the Association by any of the following. -

Local Grants

Lottery Grants

Donations

Deeds of Covenant

Sale of small items

Cycle stamping, engraving etc

 

Suitable insurance cover will be negotiated for participating members against Public Liability claims.

The accounts of the Association will - be audited, certified or examined annually and such accounts presented at the Annual General Meeting. The Treasurer will produce for inspection at any reasonable time the bankbooks, cashbooks and other financial documentation of the Association.

 

9. ACCEPTANCE and ALTERATIONS to CONSTITUTION

Copies of the Constitution shall be made available to all members of the Association at their request through their Co‑ordinator or Deputy.

Acceptance of or any alterations to the Constitution shall only be made at the Annual General Meeting and any proposed alterations are to be submitted, in writing, at least 14 days prior to such meeting.

 

10. DISSOLUTION

Should Crawley Neighbourhood Watch Association cease to exist, all remaining funds and assets shall be disposed of according to the decision of the closing Special General Meeting after all liabilities have been discharged.

 

REVISED CONSTITUTION AGREED AT THE 2006 A.G.M.