The Friends of Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens is a Registered Charity devoted to protect, enhance and promote the Public Open Space known as Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, London.
The Friends formed in 1998 when Vauxhall Spring Gardens (as it was then known) was under threat from a re-development proposal backed by Lambeth Council in conjunction with the property developer CLS Holding Ltd. In October 2001 the Friends achieved charitable status as ‘Friends of Vauxhall Spring Gardens’ Registered Charity (1089008), and fought the developers with huge local support. Due to the Friends efforts, in 2006 the park was officially registered as 'Public Open Space', fundamentally protecting it from any future treat of commercial development. During the first ten years the Friends mainly focused on making the park a safer and more pleasant environment for the local community. However in 2006, through a grant from Lambeth Council, the Friends were able to commission an Urban Framework Plan in collaboration with architects Deborah Saunt and Tom Greenall of DSDHA. This plan was widely referenced with the entire community and has formed the basis of all subsequent improvements within the park and its adjoining environs.
Keeping in mind that the Gardens was the grounds for the 18th century famous "Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens", it has long been the ambition of the Friends to reinstate their local park as a prime setting for London’s cultural life. Too few people are aware of its great historical past and its future potential as a link between cultural venues south of the river. The Friends wish to change this and put the Pleasure Gardens back on London’s culture map, through a variety of events, while keeping them green for the enjoyment and recreation for all members of the local community.
It was always in the Friends plans to reinstate ‘Spring Gardens’ to the original historic name of ‘Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens’. In February 2012 the park was re-named at an opening ceremony presided over by Paul O'Grady, Kate Hoey MP and Steve Reed MP, (then Leader of Lambeth Council). Now after almost 20 years of the Friends’ valiant efforts to protect the park we still face obstacles to its long-term survival. We are however more than ever determined to protect every square inch of its land for generations to come.
The Friends of Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens have recently applied to become a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and ion 3 January 2024 the Charity Commission approved our request and granted the FOVPG CIO status (1206375). We have updated our constitution and the new version can be found below.
To help the Friends to promote a bright future for Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens PLEASE SIGN UP TO BECOME A FRIEND on our website: www.fovpg.com or write to info@fovpg.com
Chair: Paola Piglia
Vice Chair: Monica Tyler (Vauxhall City Farm)
Treasurer: Grace Iggulden
Secretary: Laurent Batut
Membership Secretary: Diane Lawley
Extended committee -
VGERTA/Vauxhall 5 (Clare Douglas) - Cllr Isla Wrathmell - Lambeth Council (Theresa Hoare/David Amos)
Charity No: 1206375 CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION ASSOCIATION ___________________________________________________________
CONSTITUTION OF FRIENDS OF VAUXHALL PLEASURE GARDENS CIO ___________________________________________________________
Registered on 3 January 2024 CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION ASSOCIATION Charity No: 1206375
Date of Constitution 3 January 2024
1. NAME 1.1. The name of the Charitable Incorporated Organisation is FRIENDS OF VAUXHALL PLEASURE GARDENS CIO (and in this document it is called the “CIO”).
2. NATIONAL LOCATION OF PRINCIPAL OFFICE 2.1. The principal office of the CIO is in England.
3. OBJECTS 3.1. The objects of the CIO are: For the benefit of the inhabitants of Vauxhall and the surrounding areas to assist in the provision and maintenance as a public open space or park the whole of the curtilage now known as Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, Vauxhall, for use by the local inhabitants for their recreation and leisure time occupation in the interests of social welfare and so that their conditions of life may be improved.
4. POWERS 4.1. The CIO has power to do anything which is calculated to further its objects or is conducive or incidental to doing so. In particular, the CIO’s powers include power to: 4.1.1. borrow money and to charge the whole or any part of its property as security for the repayment of the money borrowed. The CIO must comply as appropriate with sections 124 and 125 of the Charities Act 2011, if it wishes to mortgage land; 4.1.2. buy, take on lease or in exchange, hire or otherwise acquire any property and to maintain and equip it for use; 4.1.3. sell, lease or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the property belonging to the CIO. In exercising this power, the CIO must comply as appropriate with sections 117 and 119-123 of the Charities Act 2011; 4.1.4. employ and remunerate such staff as are necessary for carrying out the work of the CIO. The CIO may employ or remunerate a charity trustee only to the extent that it is permitted to do so by clause 6 (Benefits and payments to charity trustees and connected persons) and provided it complies with the conditions of that clause; 4.1.5. deposit or invest funds, employ a professional fund-manager, and arrange for the investments or other property of the CIO to be held in the name of a nominee, in the same manner and subject to the same conditions as the trustees of a trust are permitted to do by the Trustee Act 2000; 4.1.6. take over the assets and undertakings of the charitable association known as the Friends of Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, currently a Registered Charity No 1089008, including the legal responsibilities of the trustees of the charity and assets and liabilities properly held in their names on behalf of the charity and to provide the trustees with an indemnity against any costs or other liabilities properly incurred by the trustees of the charity as trustees.
5. APPLICATION OF INCOME AND PROPERTY 5.1. The income and property of the CIO must be applied solely towards the promotion of the objects. 5.1.1. A charity trustee is entitled to be reimbursed from the property of the CIO or may pay out of such property reasonable expenses properly incurred by him or her when acting on behalf of the CIO. Charity No: 1206375 5.1.2. A charity trustee may benefit from trustee indemnity insurance cover purchased at the CIO’s expense in accordance with, and subject to the conditions in, section 189 of the Charities Act 2011. 5.2. None of the income or property of the CIO may be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of dividend, bonus or otherwise by way of profit to any member of the CIO or connected person. This does not prevent a member or connected person who is not also a charity trustee receiving: 5.2.1. a benefit from the CIO as a beneficiary of the CIO; 5.2.2. reasonable and proper remuneration for any goods or services supplied to the CIO. 5.3. Nothing in this clause shall prevent a charity trustee or connected person receiving any benefit or payment which is authorised by clause 6.
6. BENEFITS AND PAYMENTS TO CHARITY TRUSTEES AND CONNECTED PERSONS 6.1. General Provisions No charity trustee or connected person may: 6.1.1. buy or receive any goods or services from the CIO on terms preferential to those applicable to members of the public; 6.1.2. sell goods, services, or any interest in land to the CIO; 6.1.3. be employed by, or receive any remuneration from, the CIO; or 6.1.4. receive any other financial benefit from the CIO; unless the payment or benefit is permitted by clause 6.2 or authorised by the court or the Charity Commission (“the Commission”). In this clause, a “financial benefit” means a benefit, direct or indirect, which is either money or has a monetary value. 6.2. Scope and powers permitting trustees’ or connected persons’ benefits. 6.2.1. A charity trustee or connected person may receive a benefit from the CIO as a beneficiary of the CIO provided that a majority of the trustees do not benefit in this way. 6.2.2. A charity trustee or connected person may enter into a contract for the supply of services and/or goods that are supplied in connected with the provision of services, to the CIO where that is permitted in accordance with, and subject to the conditions in, sections 185 to 188 of the Charities Act 2011. 6.2.3. A charity trustee or connected person may receive interest on money lent to the CIO at a reasonable and proper rate which must be not more that the Bank of England bank rate (also known as the base rate). 6.2.4. A charity trustee or connected person may receive rent for premises let by the trustee or connected person to the CIO. The amount of the rent and the other terms of the lease must be reasonable and proper. The charity trustee concerned must withdraw from any meeting at which such a proposal or the rent or other terms of the lease are under discussion. 6.2.5. A charity trustee or connected person may take part in the normal trading and fundraising activities of the CIO on the same terms as members of the public. 6.3. In clauses 5 and 6: 6.3.1. “the CIO” includes any company in which the CIO: 6.3.1.1. holds more than 50% of the shares; or 6.3.1.2. controls more than 50% of the voting rights attached to the shares; or 6.3.1.3. has the right to appoint one or more directors to the board of the company; Charity No: 1206375 6.3.2. “connected person” includes any person within the definition set out in clause 28 (Interpretation);
7. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND CONFLICTS OF LOYALTY 7.1. A charity trustee must: 7.1.1. declare the nature and extent of any interest, direct or indirect, which he or she has in a proposed transaction or arrangement with the CIO or in any transaction or arrangement entered into by the CIO which has not previously been declared; and 7.1.2. absent himself or herself from any discussions of the charity trustees in which it is possible that a conflict of interest will arise between his or her duty to act solely in the interests of the CIO and any personal interest (including but not limited to any financial interest). Any charity trustee absenting himself or herself from any discussions in accordance with this clause must not vote or be counted as part of the quorum in any decision of the charity trustees on the matter.
8. LIABILITY OF MEMBERS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE ASSETS OF THE CIO IF IT IS WOUND UP 8.1. If the CIO is wound up, the members of the CIO have no liability to contribute to its assets and no personal responsibility for settling its debts and liabilities.
9. MEMBERSHIP OF THE CIO 9.1. Admission of new members 9.1.1. Eligibility Membership of the CIO is open to anyone who is interested in furthering its purposes, and who, by applying for membership, has indicated his, her or its agreement to become a member and acceptance of the duty of members set out in clause 9.3. A member may be an individual, a corporate body, or an individual or corporate body representing an organisation which is not incorporated. 9.1.2. Admission procedure The charity trustees: 9.1.2.1. may require applications for membership to be made in any reasonable way that they decide; 9.1.2.2. shall, if they approve an application for membership, notify the applicant of their decision within 21 days; 9.1.2.3. may refuse an application for membership if they believe that it is in the best interests of the CIO for them to do so; 9.1.2.4. shall, if they decide to refuse an application for membership, give the applicant their reasons for doing so, within 21 days of the decision being taken, and give the applicant the opportunity to appeal against the refusal; and 9.1.2.5. shall give fair consideration to any such appeal, and shall inform the applicant of their decision, but any decision to confirm refusal of the application for membership shall be final. Charity No: 1206375 9.2. Transfer of membership Membership of the CIO cannot be transferred to anyone else, except in the case of an individual or corporate body representing an organisation which is not incorporated, whose membership may be transferred by the unincorporated organisation to a new representative. Such transfer of membership does not take effect until the CIO has received written notification of the transfer. 9.3. Duty of members It is the duty of each member of the CIO to exercise his or her powers as a member of the CIO in the way he or she decides in good faith would be most likely to further the purposes of the CIO. 9.4. Termination of membership 9.4.1. Membership of the CIO comes to an end if: 9.4.1.1. the member dies, or, in the case of an organisation (or the representative of an organisation) that organisation ceases to exist; or 9.4.1.2. the member sends a notice of resignation to the charity trustees; or 9.4.1.3. any sum of money owed by the member to the CIO is not paid in full within six months of its falling due; or 9.4.1.4. the charity trustees decide that it is in the best interests of the CIO that the member in question should be removed from membership, and pass a resolution to that effect. 9.4.2. Before the charity trustees take any decision to remove someone from membership of the CIO they must: 9.4.2.1. inform the member of the reasons why it is proposed to remove him, her or it from membership; 9.4.2.2. give the member at least 21 clear days’ notice in which to make representations to the charity trustees as to why he, she or it should not be removed from membership; 9.4.2.3. at a duly constituted meeting of the charity trustees, consider whether or not the member should be removed from membership; 9.4.2.4. consider at that meeting any representations which the member makes as to why the member should not be removed; and 9.4.2.5. allow the member, or the member’s representative, to make those representations in person at that meeting, if the member so chooses. 9.5. Membership fees The CIO may require members to pay reasonable membership fees to the CIO. 9.6. Informal or associate (non-voting) membership 9.6.1. The charity trustees may create associate or other classes of non-voting membership, and may determine the rights and obligations of any such members (including payment of membership fees), and the conditions for admission to, and termination of membership of any such class of members. Charity No: 1206375 9.6.2. Other references in this constitution to “members” and “membership” do not apply to non-voting members, and non-voting members do not qualify as members for any purpose under the Charities Acts, General Regulations or Dissolution Regulations.
10. MEMBERS’ DECISIONS 10.1. General provisions Except for those decisions that must be taken in a particular way as indicated in clause 10.4, decisions of the members of the CIO may be taken either by vote at a general meeting as provided in clause 10.2 or by written resolution as provided in clause 10.3. 10.2. Taking ordinary decisions by vote Subject to clause 10.4, any decision of the members of the CIO may be taken by means of a resolution at a general meeting. Such a resolution may be passed by a simple majority of votes cast at the meeting (including votes cast by postal or email ballot, and proxy votes). 10.3. Taking ordinary decisions by written resolution without a general meeting 10.3.1. Subject to clause 10.4, a resolution in writing agreed by a simple majority of all the members who would have been entitled to vote upon it had it been proposed at a general meeting shall be effective, provided that: 10.3.1.1. a copy of the proposed resolution has been sent to all the members eligible to vote; and 10.3.1.2. a simple majority of members has signified its agreement to the resolution in a document or documents which are received at the principal office within the period of 28 days beginning with the circulation date. The document signifying a member’s agreement must be authenticated by their signature (or in the case of an organisation which is a member, by execution according to its usual procedure), by a statement of their identity accompanying the document, or in such other manner as the CIO has specified. 10.3.2. The resolution in writing may comprise several copies to which one or more members has signified their agreement. 10.3.3. Eligibility to vote on the resolution is limited to members who are members of the CIO on the date when the proposal is first circulated in accordance with clause 10.3.1. 10.3.4. Not less than 10% of the members of the CIO may request the charity trustees to make a proposal for decision by the members. 10.3.5. The charity trustees must, within 21 days of receiving such a request, comply with it if: 10.3.5.1. the proposal is not frivolous or vexatious, and does not involve the publication of defamatory material; 10.3.5.2. the proposal is stated with sufficient clarity to enable effect to be given to it if it is agreed by the members; and 10.3.5.3. effect can lawfully be given to the proposal if it is so agreed. 10.3.6. Clauses 10.3.1, 10.3.2 and 10.3.3 apply to a proposal made at the request of members. Charity No: 1206375 10.4. Decisions that must be taken in a particular way 10.4.1. Any decision to remove a trustee must be taken in accordance with clause 15.2. 10.4.2. Any decision to amend this constitution must be taken in accordance with clause 28 of this constitution (Amendment of Constitution). 10.4.3. Any decision to wind up or dissolve the CIO must be taken in accordance with clause 29 of this constitution (Voluntary winding up or dissolution). Any decision to amalgamate or transfer the undertaking of the CIO to one or more other CIOs must be taken in accordance with the provisions of the Charities Act 2011.
11. GENERAL MEETINGS OF MEMBERS 11.1. Types of general meeting 11.1.1 There must be an annual general meeting (AGM) of the members of the CIO. 11.1.2 The first AGM must be held within 18 months of the registration of the CIO, and subsequent AGMs must be held at intervals of not more than 15 months. 11.1.3 The AGM must receive the annual statement of accounts (duly audited or examined where applicable) and the trustees’ annual report, and must elect trustees as required under clause 13. 11.1.4 Other general meetings of the members of the CIO may be held at any time. 11.1.5 All general meetings must be held in accordance with the following provisions. 11.2. Calling general meetings 11.2.1. The charity trustees: 11.2.1.1. must call the annual general meeting of the members of the CIO in accordance with clause 11.1, and identify it as such in the notice of the meeting; and 11.2.1.2. may call any other general meeting of the members at any time. 11.2.2. The charity trustees must, within 21 days, call a general meeting of the members of the CIO if: 11.2.2.1. they receive a request to do so from at least 10% of the members of the CIO; and 11.2.2.2. the request states the general nature of the business to be dealt with at the meeting, and is authenticated by the member(s) making the request. 11.2.3. If, at the time of any such request, there has not been any general meeting of the members of the CIO for more than 12 months, then clause 11.2.2.1 shall have effect as if 5% were substituted for 10%. 11.2.4. Any such request may include particulars of a resolution that may properly be proposed, and is intended to be proposed, at the meeting. 11.2.5. A resolution may only properly be proposed if it is lawful, and is not defamatory, frivolous or vexatious. Charity No: 1206375 11.2.6. Any general meeting called by the charity trustees at the request of the members of the CIO must be held within 28 days from the date on which it is called. 11.2.7. If the charity trustees fail to comply with this obligation to call a general meeting at the request of its members, then the members who requested the meeting may themselves call a general meeting. 11.2.8. A general meeting called in this way must be held not more than 3 months after the date when the members first requested the meeting. 11.2.9. The CIO must reimburse any reasonable expenses incurred by the members calling a general meeting by reason of the failure of the charity trustees to duly call the meeting, but the CIO shall be entitled to be indemnified by the charity trustees who were responsible for such failure. 11.3. Notice of general meetings 11.3.1. The charity trustees, or, as the case may be, the relevant members of the CIO, must give at least 14 clear days’ notice of any general meeting to all of the members, and to any charity trustee of the CIO who is not a member. 11.3.2. If it is agreed by not less than 90% of all members of the CIO, any resolution may be proposed and passed at the meeting even though the requirements of clause 11.3.1 have not been met. This clause does not apply where a specified period of notice is strictly required by another clause in this constitution, by the Charities Act 2011 or by the General Regulations. 11.3.3. The notice of any general meeting must: 11.3.3.1. state the time and date of the meeting; 11.3.3.2. give the address at which the meeting is to take place; 11.3.3.3. give particulars of any resolution which is to be moved at the meeting, and of the general nature of any other business to be dealt with at the meeting; and 11.3.3.4. if a proposal to alter the constitution of the CIO is to be considered at the meeting, include the text of the proposed alteration; 11.3.3.5. include, with the notice for the AGM, the annual statement of accounts and trustees’ annual report, details of persons standing for election or re-election as trustee, or where allowed under clause 21 (Use of electronic communication), details of where the information may be found on the CIO’s website. 11.3.4. Proof that an envelope containing a notice was properly addressed, prepaid and posted; or that an electronic form of notice was properly addressed and sent, shall be conclusive evidence that the notice was given. Notice shall be deemed to be given 48 hours after it was posted or sent. 11.3.5. The proceedings of a meeting shall not be invalidated because a member who was entitled to receive notice of the meeting did not receive it because of accidental omission by the CIO. Charity No: 1206375 11.4. Chairing of general meetings 11.4.1. The person nominated as chair by the charity trustees under clause 19.2 (Chairing of meetings), shall, if present at the general meeting and willing to act, preside as chair of the meeting. Subject to that, the members of the CIO who are present at a general meeting shall elect a chair to preside at the meeting. 11.5. Quorum at general meetings 11.5.1. No business may be transacted at any general meeting of the members of the CIO unless a quorum is present when the meeting starts. 11.5.2. Subject to the following provisions, the quorum for general meetings shall be the greater of 5% or three members. An organisation represented by a person present at the meeting in accordance with clause 11.7, is counted as being present in person. 11.5.3. If the meeting has been called by or at the request of the members and a quorum is not present within 15 minutes of the starting time specified in the notice of the meeting, the meeting is closed. 11.5.4. If the meeting has been called in any other way and a quorum is not present within 15 minutes of the starting time specified in the notice of the meeting, the chair must adjourn the meeting. The date, time and place at which the meeting will resume must either be announced by the chair or be notified to the CIO’s members at least seven clear days before the date on which it will resume. 11.5.5. If a quorum is not present within 15 minutes of the start time of the adjourned meeting, the member or members present at the meeting constitute a quorum. 11.5.6. If at any time during the meeting a quorum ceases to be present, the meeting may discuss issues and make recommendations to the trustees but may not make any decisions. If decisions are required which must be made by a meeting of the members, the meeting must be adjourned. 11.6. Voting at general meetings 11.6.1. Any decision other than one falling within clause 10.4 (Decisions that must be taken in a particular way) shall be taken by a simple majority of votes cast at the meeting [(including proxy and postal votes)]. Every member has one vote unless otherwise provided in the rights of a particular class of membership under this constitution. 11.6.2. A resolution put to the vote of a meeting shall be decided on a show of hands, unless (before or on the declaration of the result of the show of hands) a poll is duly demanded. A poll may be demanded by the chair or by at least 10% of the members present in person or by proxy at the meeting. 11.6.3. A poll demanded on the election of a person to chair the meeting or on a question of adjournment must be taken immediately. A poll on any other matter shall be taken, and the result of the poll shall be announced, in such manner as the chair of the meeting shall decide, provided that the poll must be taken, and the result of the poll announced, within 30 days of the demand for the poll. 11.6.4. A poll may be taken: 11.6.4.1. at the meeting at which it was demanded; or Charity No: 1206375 11.6.4.2. at some other time and place specified by the chair; or 11.6.4.3. through the use of postal or electronic communications. 11.6.5. In the event of an equality of votes, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, the chair of the meeting shall have a second, or casting vote. 11.6.6. Any objection to the qualification of any voter must be raised at the meeting at which the vote is cast and the decision of the chair of the meeting shall be final. 11.7. Proxy Voting 11.7.1. Any member of the CIO may appoint another person as a proxy to exercise all or any of that member’s rights to attend, speak and vote at a general meeting of the CIO. Proxies must be appointed by a notice in writing (a “proxy notice”) which: 11.7.1.1. states the name and address of the member appointing the proxy; 11.7.1.2. identifies the person appointed to be that member’s proxy and the general meeting in relation to which that person is appointed; 11.7.1.3. is signed by or on behalf of the member appointing the proxy, or is authenticated in such manner as the CIO may determine; and 11.7.1.4. is delivered to the CIO in accordance with the constitution and any instructions contained in the notice of the general meeting to which they relate. 11.7.2. The CIO may require proxy notices to be delivered in a particular form, and may specify different forms for different purposes. 11.7.3. Proxy notices may (but do not have to) specify how the proxy appointed under them is to vote (or that the proxy is to abstain from voting) on one or more resolutions. 11.7.4. Unless a proxy notice indicates otherwise, it must be treated as: 11.7.4.1. allowing the person appointed under it as a proxy discretion as to how to vote on any ancillary or procedural resolutions put to the meeting; and 11.7.4.2. appointing that person as a proxy in relation to any adjournment of the general meeting to which it relates as well as the meeting itself. 11.7.5. A member who is entitled to attend, speak or vote (either on a show of hands or on a poll) at a general meeting remains so entitled in respect of that meeting or any adjournment of it, even though a valid proxy notice has been delivered to the CIO by or on behalf of that member. 11.7.6. An appointment under a proxy notice may be revoked by delivering to the CIO a notice in writing given by or on behalf of the member by whom or on whose behalf the proxy notice was given. 11.7.7. A notice revoking a proxy appointment only takes effect if it is delivered before the start of the meeting or adjourned meeting to which it relates. Charity No: 1206375 11.7.8. If a proxy notice is not signed or authenticated by the member appointing the proxy, it must be accompanied by written evidence that the person who signed or authenticated it on that member’s behalf had authority to do so. 11.8. Postal Voting 11.8.1. The CIO may, if the charity trustees so decide, allow the members to vote by post or electronic mail (“email”) to elect charity trustees or to make a decision on any matter that is being decided at a general meeting of the members. 11.8.2. The charity trustees must appoint at least two persons independent of the CIO to serve as scrutineers to supervise the conduct of the postal/email ballot and the counting of votes. 11.8.3. If postal and/or email voting is to be allowed on a matter, the CIO must send to members of the CIO not less than 21 days before the deadline for receipt of votes cast in this way: 11.8.3.1. a notice by email, if the member has agreed to receive notices in this way under clause 22 (Use of electronic communication), including an explanation of the purpose of the vote and the voting procedure to be followed by the member, and a voting form capable of being returned by email or post to the CIO, containing details of the resolution being put to a vote, or of the candidates for election, as applicable; 11.8.3.2. a notice by post to all other members, including a written explanation of the purpose of the postal vote and the voting procedure to be followed by the member; and a postal voting form containing details of the resolution being put to a vote, or of the candidates for election, as applicable. 11.8.4. The voting procedure must require all forms returned by post to be in an envelope with the member’s name and signature, and nothing else, on the outside, inside another envelope addressed to ‘The Scrutineers for Friends of Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens CIO’, at the CIO’s principal office or such other postal address as is specified in the voting procedure. 11.8.5. The voting procedure for votes cast by email must require the member’s name to be at the top of the email, and the email must be authenticated in the manner specified in the voting procedure. 11.8.6. Email votes must be returned to an email address used only for this purpose and must be accessed only by a scrutineer. 11.8.7. The voting procedures must specify the closing date and time for receipt of votes, and must state that any votes received after the closing date or not complying with the voting procedure will be invalid and not be counted. 11.8.8. The scrutineers must make a list of members casting valid votes, and a separate list of members casting votes which were invalid. These lists must be provided to a charity trustee or other person overseeing admission to, and voting at, the general meeting. A member who has cast a valid postal or email vote must not vote at the meeting, and must not be counted in the quorum for any part of the meeting on which he, she or it has already cast a valid vote. A member who has cast an invalid vote by post or email is allowed to vote at the meeting and counts towards the quorum. Charity No: 1206375 11.8.9. For postal votes, the scrutineers must retain the internal envelopes (with the member’s name and signature). For email votes, the scrutineers must cut off and retain any part of the email that includes the member’s name. In each case, a scrutineer must record on this evidence of the member’s name that the vote has been counted or if the vote has been declared invalid, the reason for such declaration. 11.8.10. Votes cast by post or email must be counted by all the scrutineers before the meeting at which the vote is to be taken. The scrutineers must provide to the person chairing the meeting written confirmation of the number of valid votes received by post and email and the number of votes received which were invalid. 11.8.11. The scrutineers must not disclose the result of the postal/email ballot until after votes taken by hand or by poll at the meeting, or by poll after the meeting, have been counted. Only at this point shall the scrutineers declare the result of the valid votes received, and these votes shall be included in the declaration of the result of the vote. 11.8.12. Following the final declaration of the result of the vote, the scrutineers must provide to a charity trustee or other authorised person bundles containing the evidence of members submitting valid postal votes; evidence of members submitting valid email votes; evidence of invalid votes; the valid votes; and the invalid votes. 11.8.13. Any dispute about the conduct of a postal or email ballot must be referred initially to a panel set up by the charity trustees, to consist of two trustees and two persons independent of the CIO. If the dispute cannot be satisfactorily resolved by the panel, it must be referred to the Electoral Reform Society. 11.9. Representation of organisations and corporate members 11.9.1. An organisation or a corporate body that is a member of the CIO may, in accordance with its usual decision-making process, authorise a person to act as its representative at any general meeting of the CIO 11.9.2. The representative is entitled to exercise the same powers on behalf of the organisation or corporate body as the organisation or corporate body could exercise as an individual member of the CIO. 11.10. Adjournment of meetings 11.10.1. The chair may with the consent of a meeting at which a quorum is present (and shall if so directed by the meeting) adjourn the meeting to another time and/or place. No business may be transacted at an adjourned meeting except business which could properly have been transacted at the original meeting.
12. CHARITY TRUSTEES 12.1. Functions and duties of charity trustees The charity trustees shall manage the affairs of the CIO and may for that purpose exercise all the powers of the CIO. It is the duty of each charity trustee: 12.1.1. to exercise his or her powers and to perform his or her functions in his or her capacity as a trustee of the CIO in the way he or she decides in good faith would be likely to further the purposes of the CIO; and 12.1.2. to exercise, in the performance of those functions, such care and skill as is reasonable in the circumstances having regard in particular to: 12.1.2.1. any special knowledge or experience that he or she has or holds himself or herself out as having; and Charity No: 1206375 12.1.2.2. if he or she acts as a charity trustee of the CIO in the course of a business or profession, to any special knowledge or experience that it is reasonable to expect of a person acting in the course of that kind of business or profession. 12.2. Eligibility for trusteeship 12.2.1. Every charity trustee must be a natural person. 12.2.2. No individual may be appointed as a charity trustee of the CIO: 12.2.2.1. if he or she is under the age of 16 years; or 12.2.2.2. if he or she would automatically cease to hold office under the provisions of clause 15.1.6. 12.2.3. No one is entitled to act as a charity trustee whether on appointment or on any re-appointment until he or she has expressly acknowledged, in whatever way the charity trustees decide, his or her acceptance of the office of charity trustee. 12.2.4. At least one of the trustees of the CIO must be 18 years of age or over. If there is no trustee aged at least 18 years, the remaining trustees may only act to call a meeting of the charity trustees, or appoint a new charity trustee. 12.3. Number of charity trustees 12.3.1. There should be: Not less than four nor more than eleven elected trustees; and One nominated trustee. 12.3.2. There must be a least five charity trustees. If the number falls below the minimum, the remaining trustee or trustees may act only to call a meeting of the charity trustees, or appoint a new charity trustee. 12.3.3. The maximum number of charity trustees that can be appointed is as provided in clause 12.3.1. No trustee appointment may be made in excess of these provisions. 12.4. First charity trustees 12.4.1. The first charity trustees are as follows: Laurent Paul Moana Batut Clare Margaret Douglas Diane Lawley Grace Ellen Diana Nicholls-Iggulden Paola Piglia Monica Leonora Tyler.
13. APPOINTMENT OF CHARITY TRUSTEES 13.1. Elected charity trustees 13.1.1. At every annual general meeting of the members of the CIO, one-third of the charity trustees shall retire from office. If the number of charity trustees is not three or a multiple of three, then the number nearest to one-third shall retire from office, but if there is only one charity trustee, he or she shall retire; 13.1.2. The charity trustees to retire by rotation shall be those who have been longest in office since their last appointment or reappointment. If any trustees were last Charity No: 1206375 appointed or reappointed on the same day those to retire shall (unless they otherwise agree among themselves) be determined by lot; 13.1.3. The vacancies so arising may be filled by the decision of the members at the annual general meeting; any vacancies not filled at the annual general meeting may be filled as provided in clause 13.1.5; 13.1.4. The members or the charity trustees may at any time decide to appoint a new charity trustee, whether in place of a charity trustee who has retired or been removed in accordance with clause 15 (Retirement and removal of charity trustees), or as an additional charity trustee, provided that the limit specified in clause 12.3 on the number of charity trustees would not as a result be exceeded; 13.1.5. A person so appointed by the members of the CIO shall retire in accordance with the provisions of clauses 13.2 and 13.3. A person so appointed by the charity trustees shall retire at the conclusion of the next annual general meeting after the date of his or her appointment, and shall not be counted for the purpose of determining which of the charity trustees is to retire by rotation at that meeting. 13.2. Nominated Charity Trustee 13.2.1. Vauxhall City Farm (“the appointing body”) may appoint one charity trustee. 13.2.2. Any appointment must be made at a meeting held according to the ordinary practice of the appointing body. 13.2.3. Each appointment must be for a term of three years. 13.2.4. The appointment will be effective from the later of: 13.2.4.1. the date of the vacancy; or 13.2.4.2. the date on which the CIO is informed of the appointment. 13.2.5. The person appointed need not be a member of the appointing body. 13.2.6. A trustee appointed by the appointing body has the same duty under clause 12.1 as the other charity trustees to act in the way he or she decides in good faith would be most likely to further the purposes of the CIO.
14. INFORMATION FOR NEW CHARITY TRUSTEES 14.1. The charity trustees will make available to each new charity trustee, on or before his or her first appointment: 14.1.1. a copy of this constitution and any amendments made to it; and 14.1.2. a copy of the CIO’s latest trustees’ annual report and statement of accounts.
15. RETIREMENT AND REMOVAL OF CHARITY TRUSTEES 15.1. A charity trustee ceases to hold office if he or she: 15.1.1. retires by notifying the CIO in writing (but only if enough charity trustees will remain in office when the notice of resignation takes effect to form a quorum for meetings); 15.1.2. is absent without the permission of the charity trustees from all their meetings held within a period of six months and the trustees resolve that his or her office be vacated; 15.1.3. dies; Charity No: 1206375 15.1.4. in the written opinion, given to the CIO, of a registered medical practitioner treating that person, has become physically or mentally incapable of acting as a trustee and may remain so for more than three months; 15.1.5. is removed by the members of the CIO in accordance with clause 15.2; or 15.1.6. is disqualified from acting as a charity trustee by virtue of sections 178-180 of the Charities Act 2011 (or any statutory re-enactment or modification of that provision). 15.2 A charity trustee shall be removed from office if a resolution to remove that trustee is proposed at a general meeting of the members called for that purpose and properly convened in accordance with clause 11, and the resolution is passed by a two-thirds majority of votes cast at the meeting. 15.3 A resolution to remove a charity trustee in accordance with this clause shall not take effect unless the individual concerned has been given at least 14 clear days’ notice in writing that the resolution is to be proposed, specifying the circumstances alleged to justify removal from office, and has been given a reasonable opportunity of making oral and/or written representations to the members of the CIO.
16. REAPPOINTMENT OF CHARITY TRUSTEES 16.1. Any person who retires as a charity trustee by rotation or by giving notice to the CIO is eligible for reappointment. 16.2. A charity trustee who has served for three consecutive terms may not be reappointed for a fourth consecutive term but may be reappointed after an interval of at least three years.
17. TAKING OF DECISIONS BY CHARITY TRUSTEES 17.1. Any decision may be taken either: 17.1.1. at a meeting of the charity trustees; or 17.1.2. by resolution in writing or electronic form agreed by a majority of all of the charity trustees, which may comprise either a single document or several documents containing the text of the resolution in like form to which the majority of all of the charity trustees has signified their agreement. Such a resolution shall be effective provided that: 17.1.2.1. a copy of the proposed resolution has been sent, at or as near as practicable to the same time, to all of the charity trustees; and 17.1.2.2. the majority of all of the charity trustees has signified agreement to the resolution in a document or documents which has or have been authenticated by their signature, by a statement of their identity accompanying the document or documents, or in such other manner as the charity trustees have previously resolved, and delivered to the CIO at its principal office or such other place as the charity trustees may resolve within 28 days of the circulation date.
18. DELEGATION BY CHARITY TRUSTEES 18.1. The charity trustees may delegate any of their powers or functions to a committee or committees, and, if they do, they must determine the terms and conditions on which the delegation is made. The charity trustees may at any time alter those terms and conditions, or revoke the delegation. 18.2. This power is in addition to the power of delegation in the General Regulations and any other power of delegation available to the charity trustees, but is subject to the following requirements: 18.2.1. a committee may consist of two or more persons, but at least one member of each committee must be a charity trustee; Charity No: 1206375 18.2.2. the acts and proceedings of any committee must be brought to the attention of the charity trustees as a whole as soon as is reasonably practicable; and 18.2.3. the charity trustees shall from time to time review the arrangements which they have made for the delegation of their powers.
19. MEETING OF CHARITY TRUSTEES 19.1. Calling meetings 19.1.1. Any charity trustee may call a meeting of the charity trustees. 19.1.2. Subject to that, the charity trustees shall decide how their meetings are to be called, and what notice is required. 19.2. Chairing of meetings 19.2.1 The charity trustees may appoint one of their number to chair their meetings and may at any time revoke such appointment. 19.2.2 The chair shall be drawn from the Elected charity trustees and shall be a local resident. 19.2.3 If no-one has been so appointed, or if the person appointed is unwilling to preside or is not present within 10 minutes after the time of the meeting, the charity trustees present may appoint one of their number to chair that meeting. 19.3. Procedure at meetings 19.3.1. No decision shall be taken at a meeting unless a quorum is present at the time when the decision is taken. The quorum is three charity trustees, or the number nearest to one third of the total number of charity trustees, whichever is greater, or such larger number as the charity trustees may decide from time to time. A charity trustee shall not be counted in the quorum present when any decision is made about a matter upon which he or she is not entitled to vote. 19.3.2. Questions arising at a meeting shall be decided by a majority of those eligible to vote. 19.3.3. In the case of an equality of votes, the person who chairs the meeting shall have a second or casting vote. 19.4. Participation in meetings by electronic means 19.4.1. A meeting may be held by suitable electronic means agreed by the charity trustees in which each participant may communicate with all the other participants. 19.4.2. Any charity trustee participating at a meeting by suitable electronic means agreed by the charity trustees in which a participant or participants may communicate with all the other participants shall qualify as being present at the meeting. 19.4.3. Meetings held by electronic means must comply with rules for meetings, including chairing and the taking of minutes.
20. SAVING PROVISIONS 20.1. Subject to clause 20.2, all decisions of the charity trustees, or of a committee of charity trustees, shall be valid notwithstanding the participation in any vote of a charity trustee: 20.1.1. who was disqualified from holding office; 20.1.2. who had previously retired or who had been obliged by the constitution to vacate office; 20.1.3. who was not entitled to vote on the matter, whether by reason of a conflict of interest or otherwise; Charity No: 1206375 20.1.4. for whom there is a technical defect in their appointment as a trustee of which the trustees were unaware at the time; if, without the vote of that charity trustee and that charity trustee being counted in the quorum, the decision has been made by a majority of the charity trustees at a quorate meeting. 20.2. Clause 20.1 does not permit a charity trustee to keep any benefit that may be conferred upon him or her by a resolution of the charity trustees or of a committee of charity trustees if, but for clause 20.1, the resolution would have been void, or if the charity trustee has not complied with clause 7 (Conflicts of interest).
21. EXECUTION OF DOCUMENTS 21.1. The CIO shall execute documents either by signature or by affixing its seal (if it has one). 21.2. A document is validly executed by signature if it is signed by at least two of the charity trustees. 21.3. If the CIO has a seal: 21.3.1. it must comply with the provisions of the General Regulations; and 21.3.2. it must only be used by the authority of the charity trustees or of a committee of charity trustees duly authorised by the charity trustees. The charity trustees may determine who shall sign any document to which the seal is affixed and unless otherwise determined it shall be signed by two charity trustees.
22. USE OF ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION 22.1. General The CIO will comply with the requirements of the Communications Provisions in the General Regulations and in particular: 22.1.1. the requirement to provide within 21 days to any member on request a hard copy of any document or information sent to the member otherwise than in hard copy form; 22.1.2. any requirements to provide information to the Commission in a particular form or manner 22.2. To the CIO 22.2.1. Any member or charity trustee of the CIO may communicate electronically with the CIO to an address specified by the CIO for the purpose, so long as the communication is authenticated in a manner which is satisfactory to the CIO 22.3. By the CIO 22.3.1. Any member or charity trustee of the CIO, by providing the CIO with his or her email address or similar, is taken to have agreed to receive communications from the CIO in electronic form at that address, unless the member has indicated to the CIO his or her unwillingness to receive such communications in that form. 22.3.2. The charity trustees may, subject to compliance with any legal requirements, by means of publication on its website: 22.3.2.1. provide the members with the notice referred to in clause 11.3 (Notice of general meetings); Charity No: 1206375 22.3.2.2. give charity trustees notice of their meetings in accordance with clause 19.1 (Calling meetings);and 22.3.2.3. submit any proposal to the members or charity trustees for decision by written resolution or postal vote in accordance with the CIO’s powers under clause 10.3 (Members’ decisions), 17.1.2 (Trustees’ decisions taken by resolution in writing), or clause 11.8 (Postal voting). 22.3.3. The charity trustees must: 22.3.3.1. take reasonable steps to ensure that members and charity trustees are promptly notified of the publication of any such notice or proposal; 22.3.3.2. send any such notice or proposal in hard copy form to any member or charity trustee who has not consented to receive communications in electronic form.
23. KEEPING OF REGISTERS 23.1. The CIO must comply with its obligations under the General Regulations in relation to the keeping of, and provision of access to, registers of its members and charity trustees.
24. MINUTES 24.1. The charity trustees must keep minutes of all: 24.1.1. appointments of officers made by the charity trustees; 24.1.2. proceedings at general meetings of the CIO; 24.1.3. meetings of the charity trustees and committees of charity trustees including: 24.1.3.1. the names of the trustees present at the meeting; 24.1.3.2. the decisions made at the meetings; and 24.1.3.3. where appropriate the reasons for the decisions; 24.1.4. decisions made by the charity trustees otherwise than in meetings.
25. ACCOUNTING RECORDS, ACCOUNTS, ANNUAL REPORTS AND RETURNS, REGISTER MAINTENANCE 25.1. The charity trustees must comply with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 with regard to the keeping of accounting records, to the preparation and scrutiny of statements of account, and to the preparation of annual reports and returns. The statements of account, reports and returns must be sent to the Charity Commission, regardless of the income of the CIO, within 10 months of the financial year end. 25.2. The charity trustees must comply with their obligation to inform the Commission within 28 days of any change in the particulars of the CIO entered on the Central Register of Charities.
26. RULES 26.1. The charity trustees may from time to time make such reasonable and proper rules or byelaws as they may deem necessary or expedient for the proper conduct and management of the CIO, but such rules or byelaws must not be inconsistent with any provision of this constitution. Copies of any such rules or byelaws currently in force must be made available to any member of the CIO on request. Charity No: 1206375
27. DISPUTES 27.1. If a dispute arises between members of the CIO about the validity or propriety of anything done by the members under this constitution, and the dispute cannot be resolved by agreement, the parties to the dispute must first try in good faith to settle the dispute by mediation before resorting to litigation.
28. AMENDMENT OF CONSTITUTION 28.1. As provided by sections 224-227 of the Charities Act 2011: 28.1.1. This constitution can only be amended: 28.1.1.1. by resolution agreed in writing by all members of the CIO; or 28.1.1.2. by a resolution passed by a 75% majority of those voting at a general meeting of the members of the CIO. 28.1.2. Any alteration of clause 3 the CIO’s objects, of any provision of the CIO’s constitution directing the application of property on its dissolution or any provision of the CIO’s constitution where the alteration would provide authorisation for any benefit to be obtained by charity trustees or members of the CIO or persons connected with them, requires the prior written consent of the Charity Commission. 28.1.3. No amendment that is inconsistent with the provisions of the Charities Act 2011 or the General Regulations shall be valid. 28.1.4. A copy of any resolution altering the constitution, together with a copy of the CIO’s constitution as amended must be sent to the Commission within 15 days from the date on which the resolution is passed.
29. VOLUNTARY WINDING UP OR DISSOLUTION 29.1. As provided by the Dissolutions Regulations, the CIO may be dissolved by resolution of its members. Any decision by the members to wind up or dissolve the CIO can only be made: 29.1.1. at a general meeting of the members of the CIO called in accordance with clause 11 (Meetings of members), of which not less than 14 days’ notice has been given to those eligible to attend and vote: 29.1.1.1. by a resolution passed by a 75% majority of those voting, or 29.1.1.2. by a resolution passed by decision taken without a vote and without any expression of dissent in response to the question put to the general meeting; or 29.1.2. by a resolution agreed in writing by all members of the CIO. 29.2. Subject to the payment of all the CIO’s debts: 29.2.1. Any resolution for the winding up of the CIO, or for the dissolution of the CIO without winding up, may contain a provision directing how any remaining assets of the CIO shall be applied. 29.2.2. If the resolution does not contain such a provision, the charity trustees must decide how any remaining assets of the CIO shall be applied. 29.2.3. In either case the remaining assets must be applied for charitable purposes the same as or similar to those of the CIO. 29.3. The CIO must observe the requirements of the Dissolution Regulations in applying to the Commission for the CIO to be removed from the Register of Charities, and in particular: 29.3.1. the charity trustees must send with their application to the Commission: 29.3.1.1. a copy of the resolution passed by the members of the CIO; 29.3.1.2. a declaration by the charity trustees that any debts and other liabilities of the CIO have been settled or otherwise provided for in full; and Charity No: 1206375 29.3.1.3. a statement by the charity trustees setting out the way in which any property of the CIO has been or is to be applied prior to its dissolution in accordance with this constitution; 29.3.2. the charity trustees must ensure that a copy of the application is sent within seven days to every member and employee of the CIO, and to any charity trustee of the CIO who was not privy to the application. 29.4. If the CIO is to be wound up or dissolved in any other circumstances, the provisions of the Dissolution Regulations must be followed.
30. INTERPRETATION 30.1. In this constitution: “connected person” means: 30.1.1. a child, parent, grandchild, grandparent, brother or sister of the charity trustee or member; 30.1.2. the spouse or civil partner of the charity trustee, member or of any person falling within clause 30.1.1; 30.1.3. a person carrying on business in partnership with the charity trustee, member or with any person falling within clauses 30.1.1 and 30.1.2; 30.1.4. an institution which is controlled – 30.1.4.1. by the charity trustee, member or any connected person falling within clauses 30.1.1, 30.1.2 and 30.1.3; or 30.1.4.2. by two or more persons falling within clause 30.1.4.1, when taken together 30.1.5. a body corporate in which – 30.1.5.1. the charity trustee, member or any connected person falling within clauses 30.1.1, 30.1.2 and 30.1.3 has a substantial interest; or 30.1.5.2. two or more persons falling within clause 30.1.5.1 who, when taken together, have a substantial interest. Section 118 of the Charities Act 2011 apply for the purposes of interpreting the terms used in this constitution. “charity trustee” means a charity trustee of the CIO. The “Communications Provisions” means the Communications Provisions in Part 10, Chapter 4 of the General Regulations. “Dissolution Regulations” means the Charitable Incorporated Organisations (Insolvency and Dissolution) Regulations 2012. “General Regulations” means the Charitable Incorporated Organisations (General) Regulations 2012. A “poll” means a counted vote or ballot, usually (but not necessarily) in writing. ‘Vauxhall City Farm’ means the registered charity Vauxhall (City) Farm Ltd (Registered Charity No: 281512, Registered Company No: 01524041).