Glasgow Residents Network

The Glasgow Residents Network is evolving. The network has been in existence for over a year now and is moving towards a federal structure to improve communication and internal democracy and build on much of the work we have been doing.

Below is the Constitution which has been drafted to move us forward in this objective. If you agree with it why not join today, as others across the city are doing now. Joining the new federation will help you stay in touch with others across the city and will give you access to a support network and information on a range of different subjects which can help you fight for your community’s corner.

Use the affiliation form to join, or send an email to glasgowresidentsnetwork@gmail.com by answering the following questions:-

1. What’s your name?
2. What’s your address?
3. Contact Telephone number?
4. Email Address?
5. Are you joining as an individual, or as a as Residents Organisation?
6. If you are affiliating as an organisation what is your position within your local Residents Organisation?
7. If you are affiliating as an organisation what is the name of your Residents Organisation?

Jump to Affiliation form

GFTRO draft Constitution as agreed 17th May 2007

1. Name of the Association:
The name of the Association shall be:

The Glasgow Federation of Tenants & Residents' Organisation.

In this text the Association shall be referred to as: The Glasgow Federation of Tenants & Residents' Organisation, GFTRO or 'The Federation' or ‘The Organisation’.

2 Aims of the Federation
a. To promote and encourage tenants and residents throughout all local areas of
Glasgow to organise themselves into self directed community based Tenants and Residents groups and organisations; to speak out and take action on matters of common interest and concern - as set out below.

The GFTRO will encourage people to support existing Tenants & Residents Associations or to organise themselves for community-related activities and purposes which are compatible with our aims and principles. By supporting each other and taking action together, as tenants and residents and associations, we aim to build a strong independent democratic movement throughout Glasgow to resist the obfuscation of landlords and others who abuse their positions of power and influence to adversely affect people’s lives. We will strive for real dialogue and better relations based on equality of information and mutual respect.

b. To encourage and empower local neighbourhoods to have confidence in themselves and each other, and to take ownership of their local destiny.

c. To promote and encourage participation by every citizen in Glasgow in the life of their local community.
- to promote community spirit, communication, co-operation, solidarity, mutual aid and awareness throughout local communities
- to oppose racism, sexism, poverty and other forms of discrimination, oppression or injustice, eg. based on class, race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, status (housing status, legal status etc), belief, background or lifestyle.

d. i) To ensure that all Glasgow residents and local Tenants & Residents Associations are informed and consulted regularly about proposals affecting their areas; and ii) that residents have the opportunity and ability to speak out, to influence, to challenge and to eventually make, all the decisions which affect them or their neighbourhoods and communities.

e. To promote tenants’ and residents' rights and collective interests, and to improve the quality of life for local people.

f. To preserve, campaign and work for:
- a 'dear green' Glasgow, where parks and green spaces are pleasant, friendly, and safe, and the local environment in every corner of the city is well maintained and looked after for all our the citizens of Glasgow.
- a wide range of publicly-accountable community facilities, resources and services.
- decent, affordable, secure housing for all, which is democratically controlled and accountable.

3. Principles of the Federation:
a. The process of running the Federation is as important as any actual decisions made. This process includes sharing information, ideas and experiences, building up trust and clarifying some of the common issues relevant to local Tenants and Residents Associations and local
communities.

b. This process will be transparent and accessible to all Tenants and Residents Associations. A top priority will be constant efforts to encourage all existing Tenants & Residents Associations, and those trying to revitalise or set up new Residents Associations, to participate in the

Federation, and to take part as equals.

c. The Federation is a completely independent organisation, not directly associated with the Council, any political party, or other body. The Federation will seek recognition from, or make working links with, other organisations as it so chooses, and affiliate to any body that furthers the interests of tenants and residents to be decided at a general meeting.

d. We aim for an active and open organisation and movement which spreads information, communication and solidarity among Tenants and Residents Associations.

e. We recognise and respect the independence, and the wide diversity and differing circumstances among T & RAs: their ways of organising, the issues and activities they take up, the varying local situations and sorts of action taken etc. This diversity and adaptability is a great
strength. We aim to learn from each other's strengths and weaknesses, successes and failures.

f. We oppose all forms of discrimination and disadvantage as set out above, not only in our neighbourhoods and in society in general but also in our own activities and meetings.

4. Activities of the Federation
We aim to:
a. encourage and give practical advice and help to any residents wishing to form new tenants and residents' groups, organisations and associations in their streets, estates, or neighbourhood

b. produce an informative newsletter

c. spread information through regular mailings, and mailouts, and maintaining a website

d. encourage 'horizontal' direct links between and among all residents' associations, and facilitate local networks.

e. encourage direct links between Tenants and Residents Associations involved with the same issues.

f. call open events and debates

g. publicise and support initiatives of local groups - initiatives which support the aims of the GFTRO

h. leaflet the whole city on an important issue if necessary

i. build up a reference library of useful, specialist information for Residents Associations to draw on

j. maintain an up-to-date and comprehensive list and basic details of all Residents Associations

k. make links with other Federations, local and national, sharing news, experiences and views, and working together around major issues

l. produce basic information leaflets encouraging people to take up community issues and to form and join Tenants and Residents Associations.

m. develop and promote city-wide consensus across affiliated Tenants and Residents Associations where possible

5. Procedures of the Federation
A. Membership:
a. Every Tenants and Residents Association within Glasgow shall be entitled to become a member group of the GFTRO upon informing the GFTRO that this is their wish provided that they agree with the constitution. Every individual wishing to become involved in fighting their community's interest can also become an individual member upon informing the GFTRO that that this is their wish, provided that they agree with the constitution.

b. Every Tenants’ and Residents Association, or individual living within Glasgow City Council boundaries is entitled to join on the above basis.

c. A Residents Association is defined, for these purposes, as:
- any organisation composed of local residents based in a specific locality in Glasgow, be that based in a street, block of flats, estate or wider neighbourhood.
- such a body which meets in public, and which is open to all residents and/or tenants and/or leaseholders, and/or private sector tenants, and/or private owner occupiers etc - or any combination thereof - living in that locality.

This applies however formal or informal, weak or strong, active or temporarily inactive that Tenants and Residents Association may be. The Federation recognises the need to be as flexible and as inclusive as possible.

d. Member groups will be asked to contribute TEN pounds per year per association. Donations are welcome. No Residents Association will be refused membership or voting rights on grounds of non-contribution of donations.

B. General Meetings :
a. The Federation shall hold General Meetings each month (excluding holiday periods) which shall be publicised, open to all Tenants and Residents Associations, and people interested in fighting for their communities.

b. All such meetings will be minuted

c. All Tenants and Residents organisations are encouraged to send delegates (three votes, when needed, per member group). All meetings are also open to any members of any existing Glasgow Residents Association, as non-voting participants or observers. All Glasgow residents
interested in fighting for their communities are also welcome and encouraged to attend, and individual residents, who are not members of local residents organisations will receive one vote.

d. Decisions at all meetings are to be made by at least a 2/3 majority. Those who are member groups, or agree to become member groups before the meeting, will be entitled to 3 votes each; individual Glasgow residents not members of local residents organisations will be entitled to one vote. Minutes of all meetings will be available to all member groups and individuals.

e. Working Groups may be set up around various issues or campaigns, as and when needed, having rules of working agreed by the Federation. Any Residents Association can attend such meetings.

f. Those attending must respect others' rights to be heard.

C. Responsibilities Committee and Officers Bearers:
a. The Federation shall delegate responsibilities and tasks to
individual members of member groups as and when needed, for co-ordination and administration purposes.

b. The Federation shall have Committee comprising of a (one) representative per affiliated group who shall elect the Federations Office Bearers of Chair; that is., Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer. Other individuals or working groups may be elected, delegated or may volunteer at a general meeting to take on various or particular tasks (eg coordinating a newsletter, mailouts, hosting or convening a meeting or Working Group, library, updating contacts list etc) as and when the Federation so decides.

c. Should the Chair, Vice-Chair or Secretary not be present at a General Meeting, the meeting shall elect someone in their place for the duration of the meeting.

d. Any members of affiliated groups wishing to be actively involved in the day to day running of the Federation shall be encouraged to get involved as much or as little as they are able to.

e. Any meeting may delegate a member of an affiliate group to represent the Federation at another event or organisation. Anyone representing the Federation will abide by the Federation's wishes and should report back to the next meeting.

f. All office bearers and delegates, when acting on behalf of the Federation, must further the aims of the Federation, and conduct themselves in an appropriate manner.

g. A General Meeting may take a vote of no confidence in any officer bearer.

h. From time to time the Federation may appoint a co-opted non-voting member(s) whose role would be purely advisory. Such advisors will have no automatic speaking rights and will only be required to respond to requests for information. The Chair is not required to take points of information from such appointed advisors, but may or may not do so at his / her discretion.

D. Notice of Meetings
Notice will be sent to every member's contact address, with the date, time, place of each General Meeting and any Special meetings.

E. Special General Meetings
A General Meeting may at any time call a Special General Meeting of the GFTRO for considering specific matters which they may decide. Such a meeting must be publicised to all members, with members being given at least 14 days' notice.

F. Annual General Meeting
a. Each year there will be an Annual General Meeting (AGM), with member groups of the Federation given at least 21 days' notice. All member Tenants and Residents Associations will be invited to attend.

b. At this meeting:

- There shall be Reports outlining and summarising the past year's activities, as well as discussion about those activities.
- There will be the election of office bearers (Chair, Vice-chair, Secretary, Treasurer etc.). Nominations from member groups should be submitted to the Secretary at least 7 days before the meeting. The AGM may decide to elect or appoint as appropriate individuals to any additional positions as the federation deems appropriate.
- Amendments may be made to the constitution. They should be submitted by member groups in writing at least 7 days before the meeting. Individuals may also submit amendments to the constitution.
- Other business may take place, as decided by the previous General Meeting or by members of member groups present at the AGM.

G. General Guidance for Conduct of Business
a. At all meetings, we will strive for consensus but where this is not possible decisions shall be taken by at least a 2/3 majority of member groups present and entitled to vote. Any alterations to the constitution shall be made by at least a two-thirds majority of those member groups attending the Annual General Meeting who are entitled to vote.

b. The quorum for policy-making decisions at a General Meeting shall be four member groups. If less than 4 member groups are present, any decision must be ratified at the next quorate General Meeting.

c. The quorum for Annual General Meetings shall be 6 member groups. If less than 6 member groups are present, any decision must be ratified at the next Annual General Meeting or at a Special General Meeting called for that purpose - but no changes may be made to the
constitution.

H. Finances
a. All monies raised by or on behalf of the Federation shall be applied to further the aims of the GFTRO.

b. The Treasurer shall keep proper accounts of the finances of the Federation and shall maintain a bank/building society account in the name of the GFRO. The Federation may apply for grants or any other appropriate source of funding, as long as this does not place restrictions on the Federation to act in the furtherance of its aims.

c. All cheques etc. should be signed by at least 2 out of 4 individuals from member groups elected to be signatories, one of whom shall be the Treasurer.

d. The accounts shall be presented for inspection at the AGM, or otherwise available at the discretion of a General Meeting.

e. The accounts shall be inspected annually by an independent auditor.

I. Documents
Minutes of all meetings will be made available for inspection on request. This Constitution shall be a public document, and supplied to all member groups and made available to all who request a copy.

6. Dissolution
a. If a General Meeting or 10 member groups wish at any time to dissolve the GFRO, the Federation shall give to all members at least 21 days notice of a Special Meeting to discuss this.

b. If such a decision is agreed at that meeting by a two-thirds majority of those member groups present and voting, the assets will be disposed of to another voluntary organisation with compatible aims and principles, this group being agreed at the same meeting.