Next meeting: will be held on Saturday 15th October at 2.00pm at Hackney City Farm, Goldsmiths Row E2 8QA

Let us know if you are interested in the user group and park issues, but cannot attend meetings. We will try to keep you informed of developments.

This constitution below is from the Shoreditch Park User Group, suggested by Sam Parry for potential adoption, with modification as required, by HPUG. Please share your thoughts!

Haggerston Park User Group (‘HPUG’)

Constitution

1. Title The Group will be known as the Haggerston Park User Group (‘HPUG’).

The Committee will be the body elected by Group members to represent them in matters concerning the Park.

2. Aims and Objectives.

The aims and objectives of the Group shall be:-

1. To work alongside the appropriate department of London Borough of Hackney (LBH) and any other relevant bodies in the management, direction, control and development of the Park (including historical property and conservation) in order to ensure its maximum usage, for both passive and active recreational, social and play activities by individuals and organisations. This will take into account the specific diverse needs of people and organisations.
2. To liaise with LBH and any other relevant bodies about proposals for the future improvement and development of the Park and about possible methods of financing such improvements.
3. To liaise with Park Managers on the management and maintenance programmes and to recommend issues of maintenance that occur.
4. To encourage, promote and co-ordinate both passive and active recreational, social, play and environmental activities, in the Park.
5. To ensure that the interests of the community at large and users of the Park are recognised at all points of development and are accommodated, provided that they are consistent with the needs of local residents.
6. To ensure, through liaison with the local community, tenants and residents associations, local awareness of proposals for developments within the Park.
7. To promote, and put into practice, the equal opportunities policy of the London Borough of Hackney.
8. Consider and advise on the suitability of organisations, and the activity they wish to pursue, applying for facilities in the Park.
9. To receive reports and complaints of nuisance and/or annoyance and/or abuse of facilities or other matters of mutual concern, and take appropriate action.

3. Membership

The Membership of the User Group shall be open to any person expressing a wish to be a member and who accepts the Aims and Objectives of Haggerston Park User Group.

4. The Officers

1. The Officers shall consist of at least a Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer. All these posts are open to Job Share and appointment of Deputies, in the case of Secretary and Treasurer.
2. The Officers will be elected at the first meeting following the AGM.
3. The Officers may co-opt other Officer positions, as they may consider necessary for the carrying out of the work of the Group.

5. The Committee

Shall comprise, where possible, of:

1. Up to 12 individuals elected at the Annual General Meeting, who agree to accept the Aims & Objectives of the Group. From this group the Officers shall be elected.
2. Ex Officio membership of officers of Hackney Council and any other relevant bodies who will be invited to attend each Committee meeting at the first meeting following the AGM.
3. Representatives of Organisations who either use the park or who have an interest in the Park and who are elected at the AGM.
4. The work of the Committee will not be invalid by the failure to fill one or more of the positions on the Committee, provided the rules of quorum are met. The Committee may from time to time Co-opt members on to the Committee.

6. Powers

1. The Officers of the User Group will have the power to open a bank account and operate it in the name of the User Group. They will be responsible for ensure the safe management of the account and ensure at all times there are at least three cheque signatories to the account, with at least two signing each cheque.
2. The Officers, through the Treasurer, shall ensure an income and expenditure report is presented to the Committee and to the Full User Group at each meeting.
3. The User Group, through the Committee, will have the authority to make applications for funds/grants to assist in the promotion, development and improvement of the Park and work in partnership with LBH and any other relevant bodies in achieving the aims of the applications.
4. The Committee may set up Sub-Committees as may be necessary to assist in the furtherance of the aims and objectives. Each Sub-Committee should report to each full Committee meeting and any decisions must be ratified by the full Committee before any action taken, unless prior authority has been given.
5. The Group will operate on a not for profit basis.

7. Meetings

1. Annual General meetings
   1. There shall be an Annual General Meeting each year to accept nominations for Membership to the Committee and to elect people to sit on the Committee. At least 21 days’ Notice must be given of the AGM.
   2. A nominated person shall present a report on the activities of the User Group over the previous year.
   3. The Treasurer will present a report on the finances of the User Group.

1. Ordinary meetings shall take place at least 4 times a year. These meetings will be open to members of the public to attend.
2. The Committee will meet as often as they deem necessary.
3. The Secretary shall ensure that appropriate notice of meetings and agendas are distributed.
4. The Secretary will ensure Minutes are taken and kept for the Committee Meetings, The Ordinary Meetings and the Annual General Meeting.
5. A nominated person in each Sub-Committee will take and keep Minutes and report to the full Committee as required.

8. Procedures at Meetings

1. The Chair will chair meetings of the Committee, Ordinary Meetings and the Annual General Meeting, or a nominated person.
2. Voting
   1. All questions arising at a meeting requiring a vote will be decided by simple majority of those attending. The Chair of the meeting will hold the casting vote in the event of a tie.
   2. Any member requiring a proxy or postal vote will have their needs met and their vote counted with those attending.
3. One third of the members of the Committee will form a Quorum.

1. Dissolution

1. Dissolution of the Haggerston Park User Group can be agreed at a meeting held, where 21 days notice of such a meeting was given, by a simple majority vote of those attending.
2. Any assets held by the group will be donated to the Hackney Parks Forum, as long as they remain a not for profit organisation, or returned to any organisation that may have claim to those assets, such as unspent grant aid.

This Constitution was adopted at a meeting of members on October 2^nd 2006

Signed_______________________Chair

Signed_______________________Secretary

Welcome to the Haggerston Park User’s Group website.

If you find it difficult to get to user group meetings, this is a great way to keep in touch and make your views heard. You can contribute by replying to the posts already on the site, or write your own.

Please register by choosing a user name and submitting it along with the email address you would like to use.  Use the ‘contact us’ link in the right hand column.  You will be sent a confirmation email and password.  This will allow you to log-in and take part in discussions and make comments on published articles.

Haggerston Park management plan drawn up by LB Hackney Updated January 2009. A 51 page plan with extensive history, information, maps, archive pictures, action lists planting plans covering almost every apsect of the park (PDF 4Mb approx).

Check the appendecies to this document (69 pages!) for updated information on specific items such as the proposed wind turbine, drinking fountain, and the ongoing saga of the pond (PDF 3Mb approx).

Well worth a good browse!