Woolwich Arsenal Residents Association
(as amended by the AGM, July 18th 2024)
1. SUMMARY
The Royal Arsenal is much more than a building development but rather a neighbourhood and community where a growing number of people are making their home. This Association exists to represent all these residents, whether lease-holders, private tenants, or Housing Association tenants, who occupy the four (and any future) phases on the Royal Arsenal Riverside Development.
Members (see 3.) meet in General Meetings (see 6.) and at the AGM (see 5.) they elect a Committee (see 7.), including officers, to represent them (see 8.).
Members of this Committee also wish to periodically meet in a Forum (see 9.) with representatives of Berkeley Homes (the Landlord and Developer), and Rendall & Rittner, their Managing Agents, to discuss items that are deemed appropriate for escalation and to assist two-way communication and information.
2. AIMS & OBJECTIVES
To provide a place for residents to meet formally, where their views and concerns can be shared and where problems can be addressed.
To work and campaign for improvements to the area for the benefit of all.
To assist consultation and communication with Berkeley Homes and their agents, and wherever possible to work with them in a collaborative way.
To raise specific issues with the appropriate authority, including the Royal Borough of Greenwich, Ward Councillors, Berkeley Homes as Developer and Landlord, their Managing Agents Rendall & Rittner, and the companies they contract to operate the District Heating Scheme.
To support initiatives with similar aims which may arise in particular Phases or Buildings, especially where there may be common issues across the Estate;
To support residents who believe they have not received appropriate response or treatment.
To seek registration of the Association with the Royal Borough of Greenwich.
3. MEMBERSHIP
Membership of the association shall be open to all residents living within the four phases, and any future phases, of the Royal Arsenal Riverside Development. Voting membership will be open to all named lease-holders – that is each person who is named on their lease – including those with shared ownership. Other residents, including Housing Association and Leaseholder-let tenants, may attend meetings, report concerns, and seek advice and support from the Association. This does not extend to those in holiday lets, including Airbnb, or lettings contrary to the Landlord’s lease agreement.
Membership will be open to all such residents who indicate to the Secretary that s/he may use their email or other social media address for future communications.
A future AGM will decide whether to have a more formal registration process for membership, and whether an annual subscription should be payable.
The Association will take positive action to reach those residents, phases and buildings that are under-represented at meetings and events and will ensure that all members have the opportunity to be involved.
4. CODE OF CONDUCT
Members will value diversity and not discriminate against any person on the grounds of protected characteristics; these include but are not limited to age, disability, gender, race, religion, sex, ethnicity, culture or sexual orientation.
Members must respect the role of the chair in keeping order of the meeting and raise their hand if they wish to speak for the chair to invite contributions and must follow the agenda.
Members must not attend if they are under the influence of drink or drugs.
Any Member will be asked to leave on breach of any code or conduct or contravening the aims of the Association.
5. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS
An Annual General meeting (AGM) of the Association shall be held once a year and within 15 months of the last AGM. Notice of the meeting must be circulated to all members 14 days in advance of the AGM.
The AGM will elect a Committee (see 7.) to stand for one year
If nobody wishes to stand, the expiring committee will decide whether to start the procedure to dissolve the RARA or hold office for a further 6 months in order to recruit new committee members.
6. GENERAL MEETINGS
The Association will hold at least three General Meetings per annum, one of which will be the AGM. These meetings which will be open to all residents from all phases.
The Association will publicise the General Meetings to all residents at least 7 days notice prior to those meetings.
All decisions will be decided by a majority of those with voting rights who are present and voting.
Minutes or notes of the meeting must be kept and presented prior to the next meeting.
All resident members of the RARA will abide by the code of conduct as set out above and treat others with respect and act in a courteous manner at all events. The Chair can ask members of the meeting to leave if their behaviour is disruptive or offensive.
7. THE COMMITTEE
An estate-wide Committee will be elected annually. It will comprise four lease-holder members from each Phase. Lease-holders from each Phase will be invited to meet, in person or online, before the AGM. Nominations may be received before or at this Phase meeting. If the person nominated is not in attendance they must have indicated their willingness to stand. If at the meeting there are four nominations, these will be considered elected. If there are more than four persons nominated, members of the Phase attending the AGM will decide which of these four is elected. If there are less than four persons nominated, members of the Phase attending the AGM may elect additional persons.
On the Committee, each Phase will have its own subcommittee. In addition, members at the AGM who are not lease-holders may elect one of their number to attend Committee meetings. The Committee may appoint sub-groups on particular issues, acting under the auspices of, and reporting to, the Committee.
The Committee will meet at least four times each year. It may meet in person and/or on-line.
The quorum for a committee meeting shall be a minimum of four elected members.
If a committee member is unable to continue in office, or misses three consecutive meetings without giving reasonable apologies, the Committee may replace them with another person from the same Phase who will serve until the next AGM.
Leaseholders or tenants who are employees of the Landlord/Developer or its Managing Agents cannot hold committee office.
If a Phase is not represented on the committee because a nominee cannot be found then another committee member from another phase can take the responsibility to represent those residents until a representative can be found.
The Committee may invite a representative of each Housing Association which manages property on the Royal Arsenal to attend meetings where appropriate.
The Committee may invite an elected Councillor or officer from the Royal Borough of Greenwich to attend meetings where appropriate.
8. OFFICERS.
The AGM will elect three Officers from the membership of the newly-elected Committee: Chair, Vice-chair, and Treasurer. The Committee may elect a Secretary from their own number, or the wider membership, who need not be a lease-holder.
9. THE FORUM MEETING
The Forum shall comprise
– up to four representatives of the Association, selected by the committee.
– up to two representatives each of Berkeley Homes and their Managing Agents.
A representative of each Housing Association may also be invited to attend.
The Forum will provide opportunities for those present to discuss a broad range of residents’ issues; for the landlord/developer and their agents to communicate strategies, changes or alterations to the site that will affect the community in part or as a whole; and for the Association to give feedback, comment or seek further clarification.
The Forum will also monitor agreed Key Performance Targets for both property and facilities management.
The Forum will meet periodically but no less than two times per annum.
It will have a set agenda and be minuted.
10. FINANCE
All money raised, given or awarded through grants on behalf of the Association can be used for no other purpose.
The Treasurer shall keep proper accounts of the finances and shall open a bank/Building Society account in the name of the Association.
The Committee will nominate 3 people who can sign cheques, authorise online payments, and have full access to the association’s accounts.
11. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
Any proposal to amend this constitution must be presented to the secretaryin writing at least 21 days prior to any General Meeting at which it is to be considered.
Proposals to amend the constitution must be circulated to all members with notice of the meeting.
12. DISSOLUTION
If at a General meeting a two thirds majority decide that the Association should be dissolved, officers of the committee shall arrange a Special General meeting in which a majority vote can agree to dissolve the Association.
All outstanding bills shall be paid, any grants held will be returned, and any remaining funds donated to a Homelessness charity chosen by the Meeting.