At the deferred AGM on 25th October the results of the recent paper ballot were announced and they are in the table below.

As a result of the ballot, there is no change to the current constitution. Whilst the response to the ARA question was a resounding yes, it was not a formal motion and so does not result in a change to the constitution at the present time. It does provide the committee with strong guidance on the feelings of those members who took the time and effort to vote. Councillor Hawksworth’s motion, that did propose an amendment to the constitution, was not accepted. 

Following the declaration of the results of the ballot by our President, Mr Simon Ling, there was some debate about the validity of the paper ballot considering that the constitution refers to changes having to be voted upon by a show of hands at an AGM. However, at the AGM on 26th April there were two motions that were voted upon and passed. The first was to adjourn that part of the AGM dealing with the constitution, save for Motion 2, to the ARA Autumn meeting. Motion 2 was to put in place arrangements for meetings to debate the proposed constitutional amendments and for a paper ballot to be held, the results of which are to be binding and announced at the adjourned AGM.   

 The Chairman, Mr Tim Robertson, announced that the ARA Standing Committee will now take some time to consider the outcome of the ballot and after a period of reflection it will make proposals about any amendments to the constitution in due course.

The Standing Committee wishes to emphasise that this issue is not, and never has been, directed at any of our present elected councillors; it is simply to ensure that the Association can be independent of all national and local politics and to make the Association and its Constitution fit for the 21st century.

Ashtead Residents’ Association

October 2023