The History Scholes Park
At the south-western end of the village, close to the boundary of Manchester, is Gatley Hill House, next to which is the William Scholes Park which includes several large playing fields partitioned by small woodland areas. Far larger than Gatley Recreation Ground, this was developed in the early 1960s with money from the William Scholes Foundation. Scholes was a Gatley resident and estate agent who died in 1927. The track circuit opened on 19 May 1962 and was the first home of Cheadle and Gatley Athletics Club, before it merged with Stretford Athletics Club in 1966. Currently, the fields are used for many Gatley events – from the annual Gatley Festival to Sport Relief – and are used regularly by local running clubs as well as local teams for cricket in the summer and football in the winter. A children’s playground was opened in February 2011 at the Foxland Road corner.
Friends Of Scholes Park Constitution
CONSTITUTION FOR THE FRIENDS OF WILLIAM SCHOLES PARK GATLEY
The name of the Friends of Group is “Friends of Scholes Park” called “the group” in these rules.
AIMS OF THE GROUP
- To increase the use and enjoyment of the park by the local community
- To improve the health and wellbeing of park users
- To strengthen the links between park users
- To improve the infrastructure of the park
- To improve the habitat value of the park
- To address anti-social behaviour in the park
OBJECTIONS / FUNCTIONS
To further these aims, the group may exercise the following:
- To raise funds and receive contributions, donations and otherwise, provided that the friends shall not undertake any permanent trading activity;
- To bring together representatives of voluntary and statutory organisations, government departments and individuals;
- To produce leaflets/posters/provide information on social media to publicise the group’s activities;
- To hold meetings;
- To organise events / community days / organised task days.
- To pay the necessary expenses involved in running the group;
- To employ staff, when necessary, to carry out work;
- To undertake any other lawful activity to further the group’s aims.
MEMBERSHIP
Membership of the group shall be open to anyone who lives in Gatley or the surrounding area, supports the aims of the group and attends more than one meeting. Each member will have one vote and will be eligible to stand for election onto the committee.
Any offensive behaviour, including racist, sexist or inflammatory remarks, will not be permitted. Anyone behaving in an offensive way or breaking the equal opportunities policy may be asked not to attend further meetings.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
The group will not discriminate on the grounds of gender, race, colour, ethnic or national origin, sexuality, disability, religious or political belief, marital status or age.
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
The group (those members present at a group meeting) shall elect a committee of between 3-8 members (including a Chair, Secretary, Treasurer) who will direct the policy and management of the group. They shall be elected to serve for one year after which time they may stand for re-election.
Committee Member Elections will be held during the Annual General Meeting, or at any meeting when required should a Committee Member stand down. Nominations for committee members will be requested by the Secretary and submitted to the Secretary in advance of the meeting. If there is more than one nomination for a committee member position, the person taking the position will be chosen by a simple show of hands. If there is only one nomination, a vote for, or against the nominated individual taking the position will be held. The Chair will have a casting vote in the event of a tie.
The committee will have the power to co-opt members if it wishes to use this power.
The quorum level will be set at 4 members.
MEETINGS
General meetings will be held as often as necessary.
An Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the group shall be held every year. All members shall be notified not less than fourteen days before the meeting. An agenda will be circulated. Business of the AGM will include electing the committee; reporting on the activities during the year and approval of the group’s accounts.
An Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) can be held at the chair’s discretion or by a written request to the chair of not less than 4 members. The meeting shall be called within twenty-one days of such a request and appropriate measures taken to inform all members. Extraordinary General meetings should only consider the business specified in the request.
FINANCES
- Any money raised shall be used to further the aims of the group and for no other purpose;
- A bank account will be opened in the name of the group;
- The group shall decide the signatories to any account set up in the name of the group (minimum of two signatories are required to carry out a transaction).
- A simple written note of the group’s financial position, will from time to time be produced and available at committee meetings;
- A statement of accounts shall be tabled at the AGM;
- No member shall derive any financial benefit from the group, except for payment of ‘reasonable expenses’;
- No money will be paid out in the name of the group without a receipt being presented.
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
If amendment(s) to the constitution are necessary members will be informed in writing and given the opportunity to consider and vote on the amendments. The amendment(s) will only be made if there is a two-thirds majority vote of members.
DISSOLUTION
If the committee, by a simple majority, deem it advisable to dissolve the group, it shall call a meeting of all the members of the group giving not less than 14 days notice. If such a decision is confirmed by a majority of those present, then all the assets of the group shall be transferred to another local voluntary group or community group with similar aims.