Wandsworth Bridge Road Association Constitution

1. Name of the Organisation: Wandsworth Bridge Road Association

2. Wandsworth Bridge Road Association is referred to in this document as WBRA

3. Aims:

• To promote improvements to the environment of the Wandsworth Bridge Road (herby known as WBR) and the surrounding area.
• To represent those who live, work and socialise on the WBR.

The Association will abide by the association’s Code of Conduct

4. Objectives

1. To promote the improvement of; air quality, pedestrian access, safe active travel, public transport and sustainability on the WBR
2. To promote a thriving High-Street for the community
3. To support the business community on the WBR
4. To encourage health, wellbeing and social cohesion for the users of the WBR; residents, business owners, workers, shoppers, pedestrians, cyclists
5. To educate and inform the community on relevant issues
6. To support and advance initiatives that address the Climate Crisis
7. To act as a platform to engender community engagement and networking
8. To provide a conduit for residents and businesses to engage with local government and other relevant bodies
9. To consult on planning and development on the road and surrounding area
10. To act as public body consultee representing views of the community
11. To encourage and support initiatives that help the under-represented in the community access facilities and activities in the area

Methods of Achieving Objects

1. We will identify and promote enhancements and improvements to the WBR in terms of the built environment and highways architecture
2. We will evaluate proposals made by government (H&F, GLA, National) considering the association’s objectives and act accordingly to support or challenge these proposals
3. We will regularly engage with local government
4. We will review new governmental policies and promote best-practice with regard to our objectives
5. We will provide information on and promote:
   1. modal shift & behavioural changes
   2. pollution reduction & mitigation
   3. actions to address the climate crisis
6. We will prioritise interventions that promote the Road User Hierarchy
7. We will disseminate relevant information to the group’s members, businesses and the wider community when appropriate
8. We will help promote local businesses to the community
9. We will work with other local groups to improve social cohesion in the area and identify projects that can do so
10. We will encourage accessibility and inclusivity for under-represented groups in the area; including but not limited to: BAME, LGBTQ, the elderly and disabled groups
11. We will press local government to respect their climate and pollution objectives and policies
12. We will raise awareness of the Association among the community and with other relevant organisations, to encourage cooperation and exchange
13. We will arrange and promote community events
14. We will fundraise through membership, events, sponsorship, donation, merchandising etc
15. We will organise meetings and garner public opinions and data in relation to relevant issues
16. We will collate and assess ideas from the community and the wider world to develop initiatives in accordance with our objectives

The Association shall have the power to raise funds by means of contributions, grants and fundraising, by lawful means.

All funds and property of the group shall be used solely to promote its objectives as set forth within this constitution.

5. Area of benefit

The area of benefit is Wandsworth Bridge Road, London, SW6 and locally adjacent areas.

6. Powers

WBRA may hire or purchase premises or equipment; hire facilitators; fundraise; attend training; charge for activities; facilitate events and workshops: and collaborate with other groups and organisations in order to carry out its objectives.

7. Application of income and property:

1. The income and property of WBRA shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the objectives.
2. A Management Committee Member may be reimbursed reasonable expenses properly incurred by him or her when acting on behalf of WBRA.
3. Any expenses or reimbursements from WBRA accounts must be approved by a minimum of two (2) Management Committee members, including the treasurer.
4. None of the income or property of WBRA may be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of dividend, bonus or otherwise by way of profit to any member of the Association. This does not prevent:
   a) A member who is not also a member of the Management Committee from receiving reasonable and proper remuneration for any goods or services supplied to the Association.
   b) A Management Committee member from buying goods or services from the Association upon the same terms as other members or members of the public.

8. Accounts:

1. The Treasurer shall present to each ordinary meeting an up-to-date statement of the accounts.
2. The Treasurer shall prepare annual statements of accounts which shall be presented at the Annual General Meeting. Good practice is to have the accounts independently examined if income exceeds £10,000 per annum.
3. Where funds are received by donation, grant, gift, bequest or otherwise for specifically defined purposes, such funds shall be held as restricted funds and shall be used only for the purposes defined by the donor(s). They shall be reported in the accounts as restricted funds. Any unspent balance shall be returned to the donors or to their trustees, or otherwise used only as the donors or trustees require or permit. In the absence of such requirement or permission, after reasonable notice to the donor(s) or trustee(s), the Management Committee shall apply such funds to purposes as near as possible to those for which they were granted.

9. Membership

1. Membership is open to anyone over the age of eighteen who is interested in the objectives of the Association.
2. Membership may be revoked if a member is found to have brought the organisation into disrepute or is actively campaigning against the objectives of the Association.
3. Everyone should abide by the association’s Code of Conduct.
4. Young Persons membership is open to young people, between the ages of fourteen (14) years and an individual’s eighteenth (18th) birthday. Young people cannot take on legal responsibility until their eighteenth birthday, but their views and contribution is welcomed.
5. The association retains the right to charge for membership in the future.

10. Management Committee

Election of Officers

1. The Management Committee will consist of a minimum of four (4) persons and a maximum of eight (8).
2. Management Committee members must stand for re-election every three (3) years.
3. Any individual who is eligible for membership of the Association may stand for election to the Management Committee. They must support the Association’s objectives. Candidates for the Management Committee must have a proposer and a seconder to nominate them, one of which must be an existing member of the Management Committee. Candidates should inform the Secretary of their intention to stand for election, a minimum of fourteen days prior to the AGM. If they are unable to attend the AGM, they may ask to be nominated through the Chair.
4. For the election of an officer onto the Management Committee a quorum at a General Meeting of the Association shall be ten (10) members and two-thirds of the Management Committee.

The Management Committee will elect officers, from their number:

A Chair:
o Who ensures meetings run smoothly, everyone has their say and decisions are made
o Acts as a contact point for the organisation
o Represents, or arranges for others to represent, the organisation

Deputy Chair:
o Represents, or arrange for others to represent, the organisation in agreement with the Chair
o Support the Chair
o Act as Chair in the absence of the Chair

A Secretary:
o Who informs everyone of meetings
o Takes minutes or ensures that minutes are taken
o Ensures records of membership are kept
o Helps the Chair make sure paperwork gets done
o Organises the AGM

A Treasurer:
o Who maintains the accounts of the Association
o Who ensures the appropriate use of funds in accordance with the Management Committee
o Who oversees the preparation of accounts for the AGM and Management Committee meetings

The Management Committee is jointly responsible for decisions on how the group meets its objectives, including how any funds are spent.

11. Disqualification and removal of Committee members

A Management Committee member shall cease to hold office if he or she:

1. Is disqualified from acting as a Management Committee member by virtue of section 72 of the Charities Act 1993 or any statutory re-enactment or moderation of that provision.
2. Ceases to be member of the Association.
3. Becomes incapable by reason of mental disorder, illness or injury of managing and administering his or her own affairs.
4. Resigns as Committee Member by notice to WBRA (but only if at least two Committee members remain in office when the notice of resignation takes place).
5. Is absent without the permission of the Management Committee from all their meetings held within a period of six (6) consecutive months and the Management Committee resolve that his or her office be vacated.

12. Management Committee meetings

1. The Management Committee will meet as regularly as needed and a minimum of four (4) times per year.
2. At least two-thirds (2/3rds) of the Management Committee must be in agreement where strategic decisions need to be made, and this must include at least one officer (Chair, Deputy Chair, Secretary or Treasurer).
3. The Chairperson shall have the additional casting vote in the case of votes being equal.
4. If within thirty minutes of the start of a meeting the designated Chair is not present, then those present will elect a Chair from their number for that meeting.
5. Any person on the Management Committee who has not attended consecutive meetings in a six-month period without good reason will be deemed to have resigned from the committee and a new member may be elected.
6. If any person on the Management Committee is not present at a meeting, then the secretary should ensure that they have the date for the next meeting. Management Committee have a responsibility to contact the secretary to ask about the date of future meetings.
7. Management Committee have a duty to keep the Secretary informed of current contact details.
8. Other people may be invited by the Management Committee to attend a meeting in an advisory capacity. They will not have a vote.

13. Working Groups

1. The Management Committee may nominate working groups to work on, or review, specific projects, issues and events.
2. Each Working Group will be chaired by a member of the Management Committee, but not all members of the working group need be a member of the Management Committee.
3. The Working Group will remain responsible to the Management Committee and will provide a report of its work, through the Chair of the group at Management Committee Meetings. If the Working Group Chair is unable to attend a Management Committee meeting, another member of the Working Group may present the report in their stead.

14. General Meetings / Extraordinary Meetings

1. All the members should be given at least 28 days notice.
2. A General meeting or an Extraordinary meeting must be duly advertised to members.
3. An Annual General Meeting or Extraordinary meeting will be considered quorate if two-thirds of the officers of the Management Committee and 10 members attend. If not quorum, then the meeting will be re-advertised and held between 14-28 days later. This meeting will be considered quorate, irrespective of the number of members attending.
4. At the Annual General meeting the Management Committee should:

o Approve accounts of the Association
o Elect and/or re-elect persons to the Management Committee
o Present chairman’s report of the activities of the Association since the last AGM
o Any other business

15. Amendment to the Constitution

This Constitution can only be amended or changed at an AGM, or extraordinary meeting called for that purpose with a unanimous vote from the Management Committee and 75% of the members.

16. Dissolution

If the Management Committee decides that there is no further need for this Association, or insufficient people can be found to take committee responsibilities, then an Extraordinary Meeting must be held to agree that the association may be dissolved (see clause 14 for rules governing Extraordinary meetings). Any outstanding unrestricted funds, equipment or other materials may be given to other associations or groups in South Fulham, which seek to promote similar objectives. Those present at the Extraordinary Meeting will decide which organisation(s) this will be with a simple majority vote.

This constitution was adopted at the inaugural meeting held on Tuesday 29th June, 2021 by Zoom.

Accounts