TMSTH Area Forum Constitution

Only TMSTH Area Forum Members may speak at Forum meetings. No other person, whether standing Councillor from another Ward, Council Officer or representative from any organisation shall address Forum unless by direct invitation, or by collective agreement at Forum meetings.

Meetings will be held within the ward boundaries of Muscliff and Strouden Park at appropriate community venues, with consideration to the size of Forum membership, average attendance figures, suitable facilities to ensure meetings are fully inclusive, e.g. seating, disabled access and facilities.

The Chairperson will have full control of the meeting and their decision will be final.

A number of leaflets will be delivered to households across the Forum area, and meetings will also be advertised on this website, on Facebook and in libraries, local shops etc.

TMSTH Area Forum was formed in 2004. The Forum area is defined by the Muscliff and Strouden Park electoral ward. There are approximately 8,500 homes with 17,500 Residents. Forums were formed to comply with the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act, which contains a statutory ‘duty to involve’ and comes into place on 1st April 2009.

“FORUM MEMBERS” consist of:

• All residents of the TMSTH Forum area.
• All elected representatives of the Wards forming the Forum area, i.e., Councillors and Members of Parliament, whether or not they reside in the Forum Area.

• TMSTH Area Forum is a non-political, non-partisan platform for Forum Members to make their views known and discuss issues affecting them. All Forum Members have equal rights, irrespective of age, race, religion, disability or sexual orientation.
• TMSTH Area Forum will encourage community participation in the actions and policies of BCP Council, Throop and Holdenhurst Parish Council, Regional and Central Government and other organisations, by identifying local issues, providing access to information and ensuring all sides are fairly represented.
• TMSTH Area Forum will collate the collective opinions within Forum and take them forward to Local, Regional and Central Government and other organisations, as determined by the Forum.
• TMSTH Area Forum will maintain strong links with local Councillors, Council Departments and Officers, Member of Parliament and representatives of other organisations, to ensure a two way flow of information.
• TMSTH Area Forum will work to improve links with public sector partners, e.g. Police and Safer Neighbourhood teams, Fire and Ambulance Service and to promote public service information.

• All committee Members must be Forum Members, however, elected representatives may not serve on the committee.
• Committee will consist of Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer and up to 6 general Members appointed from the Forum Membership as required.
• The Committee exists to set the agenda for each meeting, invite speakers, manage the running of Forum, collate information and reflect the opinions and responses of Forum. It does not act independently of Forum.

Forum meetings will be held up to 3 times a year. The AGM with election of officers will be held in the first meeting of each year. Extraordinary Forum Meetings will be called by the Committee, if deemed necessary.

Any complaints should be addressed to the Forum Chair and may be debated at the next public meeting.

Forum Members must not behave in a violent, threatening or abusive manner at meetings.

Please Note:

Since being set up, the Forum has been funded by the council for distribution and venues, whilst being totally independent of council policy. Direct funding has now ceased and a variety of options are being explored in order to help it continue its work e.g. grants, advertising etc.

TMSTH (Townsend Muscliff Strouden Throop Holdenhurst) Area Forum (the ‘Forum’) is committed to ensuring that it meets the provisions of the UK Equality Act (2010) in all areas of its work.

In line with the Public Sector Equality Duty it will work to:

- eliminate discrimination

- advance equality of opportunity

- foster good relations between different people when carrying out their activities

The Policy applies to any person involved in running the Forum and/or attending any of its meetings. It has been drawn up by current members of the Committee Forum and supersedes any prior policies that existed. It covers but is not limited to those protected characteristics listed in the 2010 Equality Act:

Age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexuality.

The policy has been drawn up by the members of the TMSTH Area Forum committee.

As stated in its constitution, the Forum was established in line with the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act, which came into effect in 2009. Through public meetings, it acts as a means by which local residents can find out more about the issues that affect them locally, also providing them with an opportunity to engage with and question local elected representatives and representatives of organisations active in their area e.g. NHS, YMCA Youth Service.

This Policy is easily accessible on the Forum’s website and Facebook pages. All members of the current Committee were involved in its drawing up and as and when any new members join the Committee, they will be asked to read and indicate they agree with it.

The Forum is open to all residents of the TMSTH area.

Meetings are advertised via our public website and Facebook pages and through leaflet drops spread out across all of the Forum area.

The Forum holds its meetings at venues which are accessible to all i.e. they are step-free and have disabled-access toilet facilities. Venues are chosen as close to public-transport links as possible. We have, on occasion, provided sign-language interpretation for those with hearing difficulties.

Any discriminatory behaviour that occurs during a Forum meeting can and will be challenged by any member of the Forum Committee. Dependent upon the nature of the behaviour, this may result in a verbal warning or potential exclusion from future Forum meetings.

Members of the Forum are welcome to raise issues and make suggestions as to how we can better meet our obligations under this policy. We will take all reasonable and practicable steps to ensure that we do so. We will review the Policy from time to time to ensure it continues to reflect current legislation and also as and when any issue arises.