8th APRIL 2025
Dear All,
Dear All,
This is by way of an update on a meeting date and things that are of concern but have yet to be resolved.
As we all know, the old committee resigned but not dissolved as the only way to dissolve an association is at a Special General Meeting which hopefully we can hold next week.
However for the sake of continuity and for the benefit of our residents, so there is no further angst we do not intend to seek to dissolve but instead we will hopefully take the SMRA forward with a (new committee) and that any assets from the old committee can be transferred to the new representatives of our village.
THIS IS WHAT RESIDENTS EXPECT AND WHY IT SHOULD HAPPEN!
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9. Dissolution
9. Dissolution
1. SMRA may only be dissolved at a Special General Meeting called for that purpose, which must be advertised 7 days before the meeting.
2. A proposal to dissolve the association shall take effect only if agreed by two thirds of the members present at the meeting.
3. Any assets (financial or otherwise) remaining, after the payment of all debts and liabilities, shall be given to registered charitable organisations, according to a majority vote of the membership of the association.
Our reply to this:
Residents are disappointed that certain things that you would expect to be passed-on which would help the new committee and our village in this transition have not been passed on.
At this point this includes; WhatsApp groups, the smra website, bank accounts and any other asset that might help a smooth transition.
As there has been no Special General Meeting called, or advertised. – Any assets must be held until such time as this has been resolved.
More things have come to light from residents and ex-committee members that may well come up at the meeting that hopefully previous committee members attending the meeting can explain but I will not go any further. I will just stick to some facts as I know them.
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7. Changes to the constitution
7. Changes to the constitution
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The constitution can only be altered at an AGM or at a General Meeting with agreement of the whole committee.
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Any suggested changes to the constitution must be handed to the secretary at least 14 days before the AGM.
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Changes to the constitution must be agreed by two thirds of the members present at the meeting.
I am deeply troubled by the wording in Section 7, as it is widely accepted that any Constitution (can only be changed at an AGM) and it must be ratified by residents attending the AGM. You CANNOT hold a committee meeting whereby a committee (votes on and adopts) changes to a Constitution.
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To then find (this post) on the old associations website titled “New constitution for SMRA” stating: – Following a proposal of all committee members on 14 January 2025 for an amendment to the constitution a general committee meeting was held on 28 January 2025 (14 days after the proposal) in which the committee member unanimously voted for the amended constitution.
To then find (this post) on the old associations website titled “New constitution for SMRA” stating: – Following a proposal of all committee members on 14 January 2025 for an amendment to the constitution a general committee meeting was held on 28 January 2025 (14 days after the proposal) in which the committee member unanimously voted for the amended constitution.
Therefore the new constitution comes into effect from 28 January 2025…
Following the meeting of 28 January 2025 and the adoption of the new constitution the existing committee was unanimously voted on to the new general committee…
Following the meeting of 28 January 2025 and the adoption of the new constitution the existing committee was unanimously voted on to the new general committee…
Here they announce they have (voted on and adopted) an amended constitution outside of an AGM, and without the backing of our residents.
It is even more troubling when on the same RA Constitution in Section 5, it clearly states like other residents associations throughout the land, that the Constitution can only be ratified at an AGM!
5. Annual General Meeting
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At the AGM, members present shall vote on committee nominations, recommendations and any amendments to the constitution.
Making changes to a Constitution is NOT within (the gift) of any Committee Members. The only way a Constitution (can be changed) is if it is adopted by resident votes at an AGM. – It is not something that committee members can agree on (in a closed meeting), or any meeting outside of an AGM.
NEW CONSTITUTION
I am working on a New Constitution which will reinforce our residents are front and centre in the next association. It will also include should there be en-masse resignations in the future then for the sake of village cohesion any assets will be frozen until such time as a new committee takes over.
IN CLOSING: – Unfortunately, nothing at this point has been passed on and no one from the old committee has reached out. However I remain optimistic that we can fully resolve any issues and should this be the case we can hold a Special General Meeting in the Village Hall on Wednesday the 16th April 2025.
For the sake of clarity: – Had the old committee held their AGM almost three weeks ago all of this could have been resolved on the night and the new officers would be working hard on a strategy for the village and toward our next meeting. It’s been a lot of work for me, when it’s something I didn’t ask for but hopefully we can now move on and get the best results for our village going forward.
Best regards,
Jim.
Jim.