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Membership Policy.

1. Introduction:

   a. Chippy Community Land Trust Ltd (‘Chippy CLT’) is a not-for-profit Community Benefit Society with charitable status formally incorporated in September 2024. It was set up by local people and formed primarily to seek opportunities to establish and own new affordable housing in the area to help local people in need of housing. In addition, it will also consider other opportunities to provide other community uses and public benefit such as support for training, education, employment and local businesses and also community facilities including open spaces.

   b. We are registered with the FCA and part of the National Community Land Trust Network.

Our governance framework is set out in our Rules [hyperlink] forming part of our formal

incorporation documentation

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2. What is a Community Land Trust:

   a. CLT’s are non-profit community-based organisations run by volunteers (who are Board Members) to address community focussed need such as affordable housing and community focussed amenities. The key criteria for CLT’s are defined by statue in Section 79 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 which states that: A CLT must be a not-for-profit organisation with a membership that is open to all who live and work in a community. The members must also own and control the organisation; A CLT must be established for the express purpose of furthering the social, economic and environmental interests of a local community; The land and property assets of a CLT must be used to provide benefit to a local community and must be protected in the long term by a legal asset lock.

   b. A key characteristic of a CLT is its membership which underpins local community support its aims and objectives and offers. Chippy CLT places a high level of importance to its membership and encourages all interested stakeholders in community (both individuals and corporate bodies) to join us to support and deliver our aims and objectives

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3. The purpose and benefits of membership of Chippy CLT:

   a. To support and be involved in the decision-making process

   b. To contribute towards making our vision a reality

   c. To engage and demonstrate community support

   d. To demonstrate the democratic nature of the CLT

   e. To ensure that we reflect the views of the community through members voting rights

   f. To be able to attend and vote at the AGM

   g. To be able to stand for election to the Board

   h. To receive email and newsletter updates

   i. To get involved through volunteering opportunities

   j. To act as guardians of the objectives of the CLT and promote its interests

   k. To uphold the vision, values and principles of the CLT

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Chippy Community Land Trust, 30 West Street, Chipping Norton, OX7 5ER

 

Registered no. 9394

 

4. Membership eligibility

   Membership is open to anyone aged 18 or over, including prospective future residents,

people who live or work in the local community, and people or organisations who support the

stated aims and ethos of Chippy CLT.

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5. Membership process

   a. Becoming a member is simple, affordable and directly contributes to making our vision a

reality

   b. The share cost is £1 per share and we request the purchase of a minimum of 10 shares. Each member is issued with a share certificate

   c. The share cost is the limit of member’s personal liability

   d. Each member has an equal vote at meetings regardless the number of shares held

   e. Organisations with a share-holding are asked to nominate a single representative

   f. Shares are not transferrable or refundable and carry no right to interest, dividend or bonus

   g. Membership is decided by the Chippy CLT board in accordance with this policy and its Rules.

   h. Membership implies no preferential access to any potential housing or preferential use of any community facilities owned or operated by the CLT

   6. Application Form The Membership Application Form can be found on the website here. [add hyperlink]

7. Members obligations

   a. All members agree to be bound by the rules of Chippy CLT

   b. Members must act in the interests of Chippy CLT and for the benefit of the community

8. Termination of membership

   a. Membership can be terminated by notifying Chippy CLT to hello.chippyclt@gmail.com

   b. On termination, membership share fees paid will become the property or Chippy CLT

   c. Membership will automatically end on the death of a member, explosion under the Rules, or, if a corporate member, the share is transferred to another individual or, for other reasons set out in the Rules.

9. Data Protection

   a. We are committed to protecting the privacy and data security of the personal data of

members and others we engage with. Our data protection policy sets out how we collect

and use personal data. Our Data Protection Policy can be found here. [add hyperlink]

   10. Chippy CLT Rules

Members should be aware of the Rules of Chippy CLT which can be found here [add hyperlink] with Part C setting out the formal aspects of membership.

 

This Policy was ratified by the Chippy CLT Board Members on 24 th October 2024

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