Membership Review Policy: Non-attendance at meetings

Co-op members will have their membership put under review if they do not attend eight subgroup meetings in a calendar year, unless special exemption has been granted.

(Starting April 2013).

• stating dates/types of missed meetings i.e. general/subgroup
• requesting an explanation for absence from meetings.

It is the responsibility of the co-op member to reply to this letter within one month.

The reasons for absence will be considered at the next Membership meeting.

• If Membership meeting AGREES that the reasons are valid, the membership will not be put under review.
• If the Membership meeting AGREES that the reasons are not valid, or no reply is received Membership will contact the person to arrange a meeting to discuss their involvement in the Co-op and what barriers exist.

• IF NO SATISFACTORY CONCLUSION IS REACHED WITH THE CO-OP MEMBER. Membership is put under review and a second letter is sent to inform them.
• IF AN AGREEMENT IS REACHED It will be put in writing at the meeting and signed by the Co-op member. Membership will monitor that the agreement is being honoured for a period of six months. If it is not, then the membership will be put under review.

IN EITHER CASE, MEMBERSHIP WILL SEND A STANDARD LETTER OF REPLY informing the co-op member of the result of the Membership meeting.

During this time, the co-op member will not be eligible for any allocations, exchanges, signing of a new tenancy agreement or transfers, except transfers required by the co-op.

Membership will report this FOR INFORMATION to the next Management Committee Meeting

The co-op member may appeal against Membership’s decision by contacting an Appeals Committee to reconsider the decision. The committee comprises an external independent from an appeals panel from a pool of Co-op members (Membership will set up the panel), the convenor of the subgroup of the member under review (or an informed representative), and the convenor/representative of Membership sub-group. All members are decision makers. The Appeals Panel will be convened as soon as possible after an appeal has been received. Appellants can update their appeals until the day before the Committee meets.

If a membership comes under review after a co-op member has been successful in obtaining an allocation or transfer but before they move in, then the allocation/transfer may be cancelled at a Management Committee Meeting, at Membership’s recommendation. Membership will send the co-op member a letter informing them of this decision, and report to the Management Committee.

after one month the Attendance Monitor will send another standard letter by registered mail warning the co-op member that their membership will be lapsed and recommended for termination, which may result in loss of tenancy. It is the responsibility of the Co-op member to reply to this letter within one month. Membership will report this FOR INFORMATION to the next Management Committee Meeting.

the Attendance Monitor will report this to the next Membership meeting. Membership will then recommend to the next Management Committee Meeting that the membership be terminated and eviction proceedings started.

This decision must be AGREED by a two thirds majority of those present at a General Meeting.