NLTA Annual General Meeting, Draft Constitution, North Laine, Brighton

Aims
The North Laine Traders Association is an Association formed by traders to promote, enhance and support the area and its traders. It will liaise with statutory services, Brighton and Hove Council, City centre B.I.D. board and voluntary organisations for the benefit of North Laine, and the members of the Association.

The Association will not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, disability, sexuality, age or on the basis of political, religious or other opinions.

The Area
The North Laine Traders Association will represent subscription paying traders in the following streets, in the area known as North Laine, Brighton:
Bond Street, New Road, Church Street, Gardner Street, North Road, Kensington Gardens, Gloucester Road, Sydney Street and Trafalgar Street.

Membership Fees and Structure


			NLTA Draft Constitution
			NLTA Draft Constitution

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			> North Laine Traders Association - Draft Constitution THE NORTH LAINE TRADERS ASSOCIATION Articles of Association

			Aims The North Laine Traders Association is an Association formed by traders to promote, enhance and support the area and its traders. It will liaise with statutory services, Brighton and Hove Council, City centre B.I.D. board and voluntary organisations for the benefit of North Laine, and the members of the Association. The Association will not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, disability, sexuality, age or on the basis of political, religious or other opinions. The Area The North Laine Traders Association will represent subscription paying traders in the following streets, in the area known as North Laine, Brighton: Bond Street, New Road, Church Street, Gardner Street, North Road, Kensington Gardens, Gloucester Road, Sydney Street and Trafalgar Street. Membership Fees and Structure Membership is open to everyone trading from premises in the above area. The Association will hold an AGM within the first quarter (first three months) of each year and publish a Statement of Accounts for its members. Membership fees will be payable on 1st January annually and the membership fee structure will be set at each AGM for the start of the following year. Details of how to join, and the current fees will be available from the Secretary or displayed on the official NLTA website (see Communication with its Members) and in the Newsletter. At the AGM the members will vote for the position of Chair (where no offer of Chair is forth coming, the Association will be coordinated by the elected Secretary and Street Reps), Secretary and Treasurer. The position of Treasurer should be held by a qualified accountant. Each trading street will nominate one or two representatives who will be elected to speak on their behalf at committee meetings, to be called when necessary. Only one representative of each firm/company will be deemed a member. Traders can only be eligible to become an Officer or Street Rep by being members of the Association at least 14 days prior to the AGM and receiving a majority vote of those members present at the AGM. Nominations for appointment as an Officer or committee member must be submitted in writing to the Secretary not less than 14 days prior to the date set for the AGM. A member entitled to vote and unable to attend an AGM may appoint a proxy in writing, lodged with the Secretary before the commencement of the AGM.
			Termination of Membership Members may resign at any time in writing to the Secretary or will be deemed to have resigned on ceasing to trade within the NLTA area. The management committee (Officers and Street Reps) may unanimously and for good reason terminate the membership of any individual. The individual concerned shall have the right to be heard by the management committee, accompanied by a friend, before a final decision is made.

			Rules of Procedure With the exception of changes to the constitution, all questions that arise at any meeting will be decided by a simple majority of those present and entitled to vote. In the event of an equal number of votes cast on each side in any matter, the Chair, or secretary if applicable shall have an additional casting vote.
			Association Funds Signatories to the Association bank account will be the Officers of the Association. Each cheque will require two signatures one of which will normally be the Treasurers. Records of income and expenditure will be maintained by the Treasurer and a financial report given at each meeting.

			Communication with its Members The Association will provide a minimum of four newsletters, printed and online a year to inform its members of matters of interest. These will be distributed by Street Reps in each street to all businesses where practical and online, but only members will be eligible for discounts and services provided by the Association. The official website address is www.northlaine.co.uk. Its purpose is to promote business in the North Laine, and to provide information to shoppers and traders. It is owned by the members. All members are entitled to an exclusive page on the website (Non-members may only have their shop name and contact details on the NLTA website). The Association will arrange members meetings as required to inform and take instruction from its members. Minimum of two per year.

			NLTA Logo Members may call themselves members of the Association but may only use the North Laine Traders Association logo when authorised by the committee. The logo cannot be used for financial gain except to raise funds for, or to promote, the Association. It is a condition of use that the collective mark must always have the words “collective mark NLTA” adjacent to it. The mark cannot be used without this wording. Dissolution If a meeting, by simple majority, decides that it is necessary to close down the Association it may call a special meeting to do so. The sole business of this meeting will be to dissolve the Association. At least 21 days notice will be given to members. If it is agreed to dissolve the Association, all remaining money (once outstanding debts have been paid) will be donated to a local charitable organisation. The named charity will be agreed at the special meeting. Ethics The Association will accept sponsorship from commercial donors but will not necessarily favour or endorse them. It will not favour political or religious organisations and will try to maintain an ethical approach in all its work.






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	Bond St / Church St / Gardner St / Gloucester Rd / Jubilee St / Kensington Gdns / New Rd / North Rd / Sydney St / Trafalgar St


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