ECA Constitution

1. Name

The name of the organisation shall be Edgeley Community Association (hereafter referred to as "the ECA").

2. Principal objectives and mission statement

To safeguard and promote the private and collective interests of the people of Edgeley. Edgeley is defined geographically through the boundaries of Edgeley Ward on Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council. To help to improve living conditions, community facilities and services for residents living in the Edgeley area. In order to do this we are committed to representing the views of people in our area.

We hold ourselves to the core values and behaviours that we are accountable to:

1. We cannot resolve every matter within the area but we address them with our best endeavours in the interests of Edgeley.
2. We are open, honest and approachable in accordance with the Nolan Principles of Public Life.
3. We serve and are accountable to Edgeley and treat people and place with dignity and respect.

We focus primarily on the following policy areas as part of a rolling programme of work:

1. Communication with the people of Edgeley on the issues and priorities that they set.
2. Securing ethical private investment and public investment in Edgeley.
3. Boosting the local economy, primarily the Edgeley District Centre on Castle Street.
4. Protecting the most vulnerable in Edgeley by seeking better provision in health services and social infrastructure.
5. Safeguarding the housing conditions and rights of Edgeley people in council, social and private sector housing.
6. Promoting the concept of community wealth building in Edgeley.
7. Protecting and improving our greenspaces and public rights of way.
8. Improving road safety and public transport, including sustainable transport infrastructure and wayfinding.
9. Preserving local history and promoting local cultural activities such as events, fairs and public arts.
10. Working with faith groups to foster closer bonds between religion and community.
11. Fostering a mutual and beneficial relationship with Stockport County Football Club.
12. Scrutinising the Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation to ensure it benefits Edgeley people and place.

The ECA will uphold equal opportunities and work towards good relations amongst all members of the community, specifically prohibiting any conduct which discriminates or harasses on grounds of race, class, religion, disability, political belief, sex or sexual orientation in accordance with the Equality Act 2010 and the Human Rights Act 1998.

The ECA will be a registered political party under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 and stands for election for Edgeley Ward on Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council only.

The ECA is a non-partisan local political party and bases its ideology and political objectives on respect, determination, dignity and the common good.

2a. Aims

1. To engage a broader range of people in community activism than is currently being achieved by existing local political parties in Edgeley and Stockport.
2. To encourage Edgeley to engage with local democracy and civic life, particularly those who currently feel unserved by the political system.
3. To hold Stockport Council to account and ensure Edgeley and its people receive responses and action on the issues it determines are most important.
4. To hold other public organisations to account, including Greater Manchester Police, where crime and disorder concerns need a proportionate response.
5. To bring and bind together Edgeley's community groups to ensure we are working as one community in unison.

3. Membership

1. Membership shall be open to all citizens of Stockport, irrespective of length of residence.
2. Membership is obtained through the ECA website.
3. All voting members must be at least 16 years of age.
4. Only members that reside within Edgeley may be voting members.
5. A fair, equitable subscription regardless of income is to be charged. Membership shall be £10 per year, with 50% of fees redistributed to community causes.
6. The ECA will ensure where possible that meetings will be held in venues that are accessible.
7. The ECA will provide information on all the ways that members can contribute and further their views and concerns and how they can meet people's individual needs.
8. The Association recognises that all sections of the community have a positive contribution to make to the life of our community.
9. The Association will provide all new members with appropriate information and support and make them feel welcome at all times.
10. The Committee can decide through majority vote to decline or revoke membership if membership would be detrimental to, or contravene, the principles, aims or objectives of the Association.

4. The Executive Committee

1. An Executive Committee shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting and shall serve for 12 months.
2. The Committee shall consist of at least three members to ensure compliance with electoral law, with powers to co-opt members and create officer roles.
3. The Committee shall elect from within their number a Leader, Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, Campaigns Officer and Nominating Officer.
4. The Committee and office bearers shall make and carry out decisions in accordance with the objectives and aims of the ECA.
5. Meetings of the Committee shall be open to any member of the ECA who wishes to attend, provided they give notice.
6. There must be at least three Committee members present for decisions to be made at a committee meeting.
7. Voting members may be co-opted to create officer posts and fill vacancies at any time and must be ratified at a public meeting.
8. Committee members must declare any interest they may have in a topic under discussion.
9. The Committee can call a Special Public Meeting if all Committee members are in agreement.
10. The Committee or members can create a sub-committee or working group on particular policy matters, events or concerns involving Edgeley and Stockport.
11. Elected Councillors are members of the Executive Committee ex-officio.

4a. Definitions, duties and responsibilities of committee members

Under law, the Treasurer and Nominating Officer cannot be the same person unless they are also the Leader.

5. Conduct of business / standing orders

1. Members are advised to speak through the Chair.
2. Decisions will be agreed by a simple majority, if dissent is shown, voted through a show of hands or secret ballot.
3. Meetings will end at the time agreed by the committee unless all those present agree to extend the meeting.
4. Offensive behaviour, including racist, homophobic, ageist, classist, sexist or inflammatory remarks, will not be tolerated.
5. If a member's conduct is detrimental to good order, the Chair may warn the member, name the member, ask the member to leave, or take necessary action to preserve good order.
6. No member shall speak more than once on any motion until every other member has had an opportunity to speak, unless permitted by the Chair.
7. A point of order can be raised on anything relating to the constitution at any time during a meeting.
8. If the Chair is absent, the meeting must elect a Chair for the duration of that meeting.
9. Any member who brings the group into disrepute or refuses to comply with the constitution can be expelled on a majority vote of the full committee and must be ratified at a general meeting.
10. Any such member will have the right to appeal within 28 days of expulsion.
11. The Secretary shall deal with all correspondence.
12. Agendas will be distributed to the membership at least four days before a meeting, where possible.
13. Minutes will be distributed to the membership seven days after a meeting, where possible.

6. Finances

1. The ECA may raise funds by donations or fundraising schemes. Money raised shall be applied to further its objectives only.
2. All funds shall be kept in a bank account opened in the name of the ECA.
3. The Secretary, Treasurer, Leader and Chairperson shall be signatories, and all cheques shall require two signatures.
4. Accounts shall be kept by the Treasurer and brought to every Committee meeting for inspection.
5. All expenditure shall be discussed, agreed and controlled by the Committee.
6. No officer shall sign a blank cheque.
7. Once a year, the accounts will be audited and presented to the Annual General Meeting.
8. The bank statement shall be addressed to the Treasurer.
9. Payments can be made by the Treasurer via debit card in the interests of efficiency.
10. The ECA's financial year will run from 1 January to 31 December.

7. Public meetings

1. Public meetings shall be held regularly ad-hoc, ideally bimonthly, to discuss matters of importance in Edgeley and keep members informed.
2. Members shall be given at least 14 days notice of a public meeting.
3. The business of the ECA will take precedence.
4. All votes shall be decided by a simple majority of members present.
5. Any member with written support of 10 other members may request that the Committee call a Special Public Meeting.
6. The Committee can call a Special Public Meeting if all Committee members are in agreement.
7. Members at public meetings can resolve to create a sub-committee or working group.

8. Annual General Meeting

1. An AGM shall be held every year to discuss the group's activities, receive audited accounts and elect the committee.
2. The AGM shall be held at a suitable venue to accommodate as many members as possible.
3. The quorum shall be a minimum of 7 attendees excluding the Committee.
4. At least 10 days notice needs to be given to members of the AGM.
5. At the AGM the resignation of all Committee members will be accepted and a new Committee elected.

9. Changes to constitution

1. This constitution shall only be changed at a Special Public Meeting of the ECA, or at the AGM.
2. If called by the Committee, a Special Public Meeting can only change elements relating to operation as a registered political party.
3. For decisions to be taken there must be a quorum of at least 51% of members present, with a minimum of 7 attendees.
4. All members shall be given 14 days notice of the meeting and proposed changes.
5. Proposed changes must be submitted to the Secretary in writing not less than 28 days before the AGM.

10. Child protection and safeguarding

1. The group will ensure that any activities they are involved with will be a safe environment for children.
2. If activities involve children or vulnerable person(s), a Protection Policy will be adopted and a committee member appointed to take responsibility for implementation.

11. Leases and agreements

The current Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer may enter into leases, licences or access agreements that are transferable to ongoing elected office bearers to further the objectives of the ECA.

12. Selection of candidates for Edgeley Ward

1. The selection of candidates for Edgeley Ward on Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council will consist of names nominated by the Executive Committee.
2. The selection of candidates must aim to reflect Edgeley and aim for at least one female candidate.
3. The selection of candidates will be provisionally agreed at a public meeting and formally ratified at a public meeting.

13. Working on Stockport Council

1. Elected ECA Councillors will discuss matters that concern Edgeley regularly with the Committee and Public Meeting.
2. Elected Councillors will be guided and mandated by the views and steer of ECA members but will be able to vote according to political conscience.

14. Dissolution of the Edgeley Community Association

1. The group may only be dissolved by a special meeting called for that purpose.
2. All members shall be informed of such a meeting at least 21 days before the date of the meeting.
3. Dissolution shall only take effect if agreed by two thirds of the members present and voting.
4. Any assets remaining after meeting liabilities must be distributed among local charities or community groups with similar aims.
5. Any donation money received still unspent should be returned to the donor if practical.
6. On dissolution, any documents belonging to the ECA shall be disposed of in a manner agreed by that meeting.