Our constitution

Friends of Poulter Park and Revesby Wood Constitution

1.    Our name

Our group name is the Friends of Poulter Park and Revesby Wood 

2.      Objectives

Our objectives, in partnership with Sutton Council, are to

  • care for the environment of Poulter Park and Revesby Wood
  • protect and enhance our green spaces
  • promote them as community spaces for everyone to enjoy 

3.      Membership

Our group is open to any resident concerned about the environment, public safety and local services within Poulter Park and Revesby Wood.

Members are encouraged to participate in the affairs of the Friends Group and are welcome to our Annual General Meeting, events and activities.

The Committee will decide if a membership fee is required and the level to set it at. We’ll also keep a Register of Members (friends). 

4.      Annual General Meeting

We’ll hold an annual meeting every year, which members and local residents can attend. The business of the AGM will include election or re-election of Officers and reports from the Treasurer and the Chair. 

5.      The Committee and Officers

  • The Committee will consist of the Officers and up to 7 other voting members, excluding non-voting invitees.
  • The Officers will be the Chair, Secretary and Treasurer, to be elected each year at the Annual meeting by registered members.
  • The Chair will organise quarterly Committee meetings.
  • Ward Councillors and the Head of Parks or their representative will be invited to attend in an advisory capacity but won’t have a vote.
  • There must be 5 members at AGM to pass a resolution, including the Officers of the Committee.
  • The Committee can co-opt members onto the Committee for specific reasons.
  • A committee member absent without apologies for three consecutive meetings shall be deemed to have resigned their membership of the Committee. 

Committee membership

  • Chair – Babs Guthrie
  • Treasurer -Hayley White
  • Secretary – Isobel Harris

Sub-committees

The Committee can appoint sub-committees for specific purposes. Decisions of the sub-committees must be confirmed by the Committee. 

6.      Other meetings

Officers can call meetings for any reason, or in response to local issues including issues raised by residents 

7.      Funds and accounts

The Treasurer will keep a record of the funds and maintain a bank account. The Treasurer will give an update at the quarterly Committee meetings and a report at the Annual General Meetings. The accounts are available at any time to any member. The funds of the Group will only be spent on our objectives. 

8.      Activities

We aim to achieve our objectives by

  • organising conservation, biodiversity, wellbeing and community gardening events in the park and wood to improve the environment for wildlife and plants
  • encouraging residents to contribute to, value and promote the benefits of our parks and help make them a better place
  • publicising our efforts and other organisations’ to build pride in the park from residents and public bodies 
  • fundraising through grant applications, events, donations and neighbourhood funds

9.      Dissolution

The Friends Group can only be dissolved at a formal meeting convened for that purpose and after a full vote of everyone present. Any balance of funds will be applied for charitable purposes or donated to a similar, local Friends’ group as agreed by the Committee 

10.  Alterations to the Constitution

Amendments to the Constitution may be made at a Committee Meeting and ratified at the AGM. If there are questions about the interpretation of the constitution, the decision of the Chair will be final.

This constitution was last updated June 2023