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Adopted by the Annual General Meeting on 11 March 2025
1.1 The Hampstead Neighbourhood Forum (“HNF”) has been created as a neighbourhood forum as defined in the Town & Country Planning Act 1990 as amended by the Localism Act 2011 (the “Act”).
1.2 The purpose of HNF is to further the social, economic and environmental well-being of the Hampstead Area as defined in section 2 below (the “Area”), including but not limited to acting as a neighbourhood forum under the provisions of the Act.
1.3 HNF membership will be open to those persons falling within the categories set forth in section 3.1 below. HNF will aim for as wide a representation of communities in the Area as possible.
1.4 HNF will produce and maintain a Neighbourhood Development Plan as defined in section 4 below.
1.5 HNF may initiate Neighbourhood Development Orders or Community Right to Build Orders, identify Assets of Community Value, or carry out any other permitted actions.
1.6 HNF will act in accordance with the General Policies and Principles set out in section 5 below.
2.1 The Area shall be the area shown in the map on this website and on Camden’s website. Any General Meeting of the HNF, by simple majority vote, may alter the boundaries of the Area.
2.2 Wherever the boundary of the Area adjoins the boundary of another neighbourhood forum, the HNF will seek to consult with such neighbourhood forum on matters of common interest.
3.1 Membership of HNF is open to:
3.2 The HNF also seeks to work with other organisations located or having an interest in the Area and which support the aims and objectives of the HNF, including residents’ associations, schools, religious institutions, amenity societies and business associations.
3.3 Individuals will become members of the HNF once they have given to the Secretary or Chair their contact details and such other satisfactory evidence of eligibility as may be requested by the HNF’s officers. The HNF shall keep an up-to-date register of members.
3.4 Members may resign from the HNF at any time in writing to the Secretary. Membership of the HNF is not transferable. A person’s membership terminates upon death, and automatically terminates without notice should their circumstances change such that they are no longer eligible to be a member as set forth in section 3.1 above.
3.5 The Committee may terminate the membership of any member without their consent by giving them written notice if, in the reasonable opinion of the Committee: (a) they are guilty of conduct which had or is likely to have a serious adverse effect on the HNF or bring the HNF or any or all of the members or Committee into disrepute; or (b) they have acted or has threatened to act in a manner which is contrary to the interests of the HNF as a whole; or (c) they have failed to observe the terms of the Constitution. Following such termination, the member shall be removed from the register of members.
3.6 The Committee must give a member the opportunity to be heard in writing or in person as to why their membership should not be terminated. The Committee must consider any representations made by the member and inform the member of their decision following such consideration. There shall be no right to appeal from a decision of the Committee to terminate the membership of a member.
3.7 A Committee comprising up to 15 members will be elected at each AGM to carry out the day-to-day work of the HNF. The quorum for the Committee will be 7 members. Effort shall be made to ensure that the membership of the Committee broadly reflects the membership of the HNF, including representation of people who live or work in different parts of the Area, and applying the principles of diversity and inclusivity set out in Section 5. Each person standing for election to the Committee shall be nominated and seconded by two other members of the HNF.
3.8 The Committee will elect the following officers of the HNF from its number: Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer. The Committee may elect other officers from time to time as it deems appropriate. Officers will serve for one year and be subject to re-election, and there will be no limit to the number of terms an officer may serve. The Chair (or the Vice Chair when acting as Chair) will have a casting vote at any Committee or General Meeting.
3.9 The Committee will direct and oversee the work of the HNF and will meet at least quarterly for this purpose.
3.10 Subcommittees or working parties may be appointed by the Committee to carry out specific tasks, to consider policies and to advise the Committee. Participants in such bodies may be appointed from within or outside the membership of the HNF but will be responsible to the Committee. In all such activities, the principles of diversity and inclusivity set out in Section 5 of this constitution shall apply.
3.11 The Committee may co-opt up to three additional members to the Committee in any year, and may also co-opt an appropriate replacement for any Committee member who stands down for any reason during the year. In any such event, the Committee shall apply the principles of diversity and inclusivity set out in Section 5. Co-opted members will have the same voting rights as other Committee members. A co-opted member may be elected as an officer. The Committee may remove from the Committee any Member for good cause, which may include failure to attend meetings of the Committee for a period of six consecutive months without good reason.
3.12 In addition to elected Committee members, Camden Borough Councillors who are members of the HNF and represent part of the Area will be ex officio Committee members and will have the same voting rights as other Committee members.
3.13 The Secretary will make minutes of General and Committee Meetings and other notices available on the HNF’s website.
3.14 Annual General Meetings will be held during the month of March or April in each year on such date designated by the Committee. An Extraordinary General Meeting may be called by decision of the Committee or by 20 members of the HNF applying to the Secretary in writing. For all General Meetings, a notice of the meeting and details of any resolutions to be put to it will be sent to all HNF members at least 14 days before the meeting.
3.15 At any General Meeting each member present will have one vote. Where practicable, arrangements will be made to enable members unable to attend to appoint a proxy. Decisions of General Meetings will be by simple majority of those present (in person or by proxy) and entitled to vote, except in the cases set out in section 6 below. The quorum for a General Meeting (including an Annual General Meeting) shall be 21 members.
3.16 Notices to members will be deemed delivered if sent to the member’s last notified email address, or (where no email address is given) sent by post to the last notified address.
3.17 The HNF will have the power to raise funds as necessary for its activities, by grant, donation or any other appropriate means.
3.18 The Committee will open one or more bank accounts as necessary in the name of the HNF. All funds raised for the HNF will be held in such accounts. The Committee will nominate bank signatories.
3.19 The Committee will where necessary insure any assets it holds, and by insurance or otherwise indemnify its officers against liabilities arising from their work for the HNF.
3.20 Subject to funding, the Committee may commission advisory services, surveys or any other activity in support of the objects set forth in section 1 above.
3.21 Any participant in any meeting of the HNF, including committees, subcommittees and working parties, will disclose to the meeting any personal interest, whether financial or otherwise, that the participant has in any topic under discussion, and will not discuss or vote on such topic except with the express approval of the meeting.
4.1 The Hampstead Neighbourhood Development Plan (the “Plan”) will among other matters set out policies for the development and use of land and buildings within the Area. As provided for in the Act, it will be subject to extensive consultation and examination, including where appropriate a referendum within the Area.
4.2 The Plan will aim to further the social, economic and environmental well-being of the Area.
5.1 HNF will aim to create an inclusive, welcoming environment where all individuals feel valued, respected, and have a sense of belonging, regardless of their age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation or any other protected characteristic. HNF will not discriminate between people based on any protected characteristic. HNF will strive to foster an atmosphere of mutual understanding, equity, and acceptance for everyone in the HNF community.
5.2 HNF will encourage all interested and eligible individuals to become members of HNF and to work alongside HNF to further their joint objectives. HNF will aim to seek participation of diverse individuals and underrepresented groups in the HNF’s activities, including through membership in the HNF and participation in the HNF’s meetings, consultation workshops, working parties and subcommittees.
5.3 HNF and its Committee members will aim to follow the “Nolan Principles” of public life. That is, they will aim to act with:
5.4 Although Camden Borough Councillors may be members of the HNF and the Committee, the HNF shall not be a party-political body.
5.5 The Committee will periodically carry out a review of the functions and activities of the HNF, including the HNF’s achievements or lack of success in achieving the diversity and general policies and principles set out in this section 5. Following any such review, the results shall be reported to the members at the HNF’s next annual general meeting.
6.1 Amendments to the body of this Constitution will be by decision of a General Meeting carried out in accordance with sections 3.14 and 3.15 above, with the exception that such a vote will only be carried if supported by 66% or more of those present (in person or by proxy) and entitled to vote.
6.2 HNF may be dissolved by decision of a General Meeting specifically called for this purpose and carried out in accordance with sections 3.14 and 3.15 above, upon a vote supported by a simple majority of those present (in person or by proxy) and entitled to vote.
6.3 In the event of dissolution, any property or funds held by HNF will be: