Bristol Neighbourhood

Watch Network
CONSTITUTION
Definitions
The Network means Bristol Neighbourhood Watch Network. (Bristol NHW Network)
The Committee means the elected Committee of the Network.
Our Vision is to support the ongoing development of a caring society that consists of
diverse communities, is founded upon trust and respect, and one in which people are safe
and free from crime and anti-social behaviour, as well as enabling communities to enjoy a
good quality of life.
Our Mission is to enable Neighbourhood Watch to improve the quality of community life
and social cohesion, plus integration across the City and County of Bristol. We will achieve
this by listening to and supporting our members. This will be achieved by coordinating
Network activities on their behalf, as well as supporting regional coordination and
representing the residents and the views of communities so that their voice is heard.
Over the next five years the Network will continue to evolve into an independent, credible
and effective voluntary sector organisation that is focused on improving the quality of
community life. In order to accomplish this it will focus its work on:

Supporting members in keeping with their needs and aspirations for their
communities.
Expanding the inclusivity of Neighbourhood Watch.
Building the profile and influence of Neighbourhood Watch by working with the
Police, Bristol City Council, Neighbourhood Partnerships and voluntary
organisations.
Establishing a robust, efficient and effective structure for The Network.
Increasing The Networks financial sustainability.

Our Values: To be accountable, caring, credible, inclusive and independent.

Eligibility
Membership of the Network is open to all coordinators or their deputies or a designated
Watch representative.
The ultimate aim is to have a Committee Representative from each of the 14
Neighbourhood Partnership areas across the city, with each Representative having a
Deputy, who will attend Committee meetings when the Representative is unable to attend.
The Committee reserves the right to refuse Committee membership, or dismiss a member
from the Committee, where such a decision is supported by a 2/3rds majority of the
Committee. A person so excluded will receive the decision in writing and have the
opportunity to question the decision at a Committee meeting.
Policy/Management
Major decisions on policy and management including the election of the Committee
members must be approved by a majority vote at a General Meeting of The Network.
Management of The Network shall be conducted by the Committee.
2015 CONSTITUTION agreed 18th Oct.docx

Committee Membership
Committee members will be elected at a General Meeting. All Committee members shall be elected
for a term of two years, but are able to serve for an unspecified term if agreed at a General Meeting.
The Network officer elections will be staggered to avoid all committee members finishing their
terms of office at the same time.

The Committee - The Committee shall normally comprise:

Chairperson
Vice Chairperson
Treasurer
Secretary
Environmental Improvement Representative
Communications Officer

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The Officers

Where officers only are required to vote on any matters, the Chairperson will have the
casting vote.
The Committee will elect one of its members to be the SW Region NHW Forum
Representative this will not be an officer position.
Members
The Committee shall have the authority to co-opt members from within NHW, or elsewhere
as required, to either join the Committee and/or form sub groups. These co-opted members
can be additional to those elected, but must not exceed one-third in number of the total
elected membership of the Committee.
The Committee also has the authority to set up sub groups as required.
A Police representative will be invited to attend Committee meetings in an ex-officio
capacity where appropriate.
Meetings
The Network will conduct its business through orderly meetings of the following types:
General Meetings (at least once every two years.)
Regular Committee Meetings.
The General Meeting will normally be held in Bristol and twenty eight days prior notice
should be given to members of The Network, notifying them of the date, time and venue.
Committee Meetings are held quarterly in the evening, alternating venues across the city in
various Neighbourhood Partnership areas.
Additional meetings can be requested by Committee Members to discuss specific topics.
A Quorum for a Committee Meeting is not less than six members, two of whom must be
Officers.

2015 CONSTITUTION agreed 18th Oct.docx

Finance
The financial year is revised and will now run from 1st July 30th June the following year.
Financial control of The Network is the responsibility of the Officers of the Committee.
Officers of the Committee may delegate administration of the finances to the Treasurer.
The Treasurer shall keep proper accounts of Network finances.
The accounts shall be audited once a year and an audited statement of the accounts shall
be submitted to the next General Meeting.
A bank account shall be opened in the name of The Network as decided by the Committee.
The Committee shall authorise in writing the Treasurer and three other members of the
Committee to sign cheques on behalf of Bristol NHW Network. All cheques must be signed
by two of the authorised signatories.
All monies raised on behalf of The Network shall be applied to further the purposes of The
Network.
Dissolution
If the Committee, by a simple majority, decides at any time that it is necessary, or advisable, to
dissolve The Network, a meeting will be called of all registered members of The Network who have
the power to vote. Not less than 28 days notice will be given stating the terms of the Resolution to
be proposed.
If such decisions are confirmed by a two thirds majority of those present and voting, the Committee
will have the power to dispose of any assets held by or on behalf of The Network after settlement of
any proper debts or liabilities.

Political Affiliation
The Network will be non-political. However, The Network will be in contact with politicians at both
local and national level to make its views and requests known.

Amendments to the Constitution

The Constitution may be amended subject to the majority approval of the general membership of
The Network at a General Meeting.

Standing Orders
The Committee may make such rules for the conduct of its business and that of The Network as it
may deem necessary, provided that they shall be consistent with the requirements of the
Constitution.

Data Protection Act

Acceptance of The Networks Constitutional rules shall be implicit in acceptance of membership. It
shall also be implicitly accepted that the membership list may be held on a computer file and shall
be accessible as privileged information only to authorised members of the committee. Under the
terms of the Data Protection Act a Neighbourhood Watch member may request and be supplied
with a copy of their own entry on the membership list.

Revision of the Constitution.

The Constitution may be reviewed at a General Meeting and revised if felt necessary.
THIS AMENDED CONSTITUTION WAS ADOPTED ON 18th OCTOBER 2015 AT THE GENERAL MEETING,
BY THE ATTENDING MEMBERSHIP OF BRISTOL NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH NETWORK.

SIGNATURE:

Wendy Hull

2015 CONSTITUTION agreed 18th Oct.docx

CHAIRPERSON

DATE: 18th October 2015