Difference between revisions of "Organisation"

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==Directors==
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London Hackspace Ltd. is a Company Limited by Guarantee. Statutory information can be found at https://london.hackspace.org.uk/organisation/.
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''Main article'': [[Directors]]
 
  
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== New Articles (2010) ==
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==Trustees==
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Articles of Association represent the majority of a company's constitution under English law. Currently, the Hackspace Foundation is operating under the [http://www.hackspace.org.uk/organisation/arts.php model Articles of Association] provided when we registered.
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''Main article: [[/Trustees|Trustees]]''
  
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We want to author a new document which better reflects our structure as a "virtual organization". Ideally this should be usable by other hacker spaces in the UK who want to take on the same model. We are doing this in conjunction with the nice people at [http://www.oneclickor.gs/ One Click Orgs]. Since our organization is very similar to the type of organization OCO will be forming for other groups in the future, we can hopefully be a good case study.
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== Constitution ==
  
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In terms of timeline, we didn't have the new Articles ready to endorse at our first (and hopefully only) AGM, so we'll have to hold an EGM (extraordinary general meeting) to approve them.
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A PDF of our constitution is on the [https://london.hackspace.org.uk/organisation/docs/articles.pdf main website]. It outlines the objectives and structure of the organisation, the role of trustees (directors), the proceedings of our General Meeting, and other affairs.
  
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===A note on governance===
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The objects of the LHS (as mandated by our constitution) are:
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# to promote and encourage technical, scientific, and artistic skills through social collaboration and education; and
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# to provide and maintain shared community workspace and equipment in Greater London.
  
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There are two paths an organization like us can go down for the purposes of decision-making: either the decisions are ultimately made by the board, or they are ultimately made through consensus of all the members. Hacker spaces around the world are roughly split between these two mechanisms of governance. [https://www.noisebridge.net Noisebridge] is a successful example of consensus governance.
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For notes on previous revisions see:
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* [[/New Articles (2010)|New Articles (2010)]]
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* [[/2011_AGM | 2011 AGM]]
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* [[/2012_AGM | 2012 AGM]]
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* [[/2013_AGM | 2013 AGM]]
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* [[/2014_AGM | 2014 AGM]]
  
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We have decided to go for a board governance mechanism. Primarily this is because we want to make it as easy to become a member as possible (because we need peoples' money and involvement). A consensus governance mechanism would make it very easy for new members to influence the organization quickly, in potentially undesirable ways. Noisebridge handles this by having a 2-month probation/approval process for new members. We don't want this yet.
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== Various legislation, compliance, etc ==
  
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We also feel that, at this early stage, it's probably not in the best interest of the space to spend a lot of time getting consensus decisions.
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* As a not-for-profit, we [http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/library/data_protection/practical_application/gpn_not_for_profit_v1.0_web_version.pdf do not need] to register with the Information Commissioner for our members list.  We do not process any other personal data.
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* The list of members names is [https://london.hackspace.org.uk/members/members.php available] to any other member. We may need to provide the [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/46/section/113 members register] to a member or non-member if requested for a [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/46/section/116 suitable purpose], but we'd probably ask a lawyer or court to advise on whether the purpose is suitable or not.
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* We're not currently VAT registered, as subscriptions and donations are exempt, so we have very little VATable income.
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* We have Public Liability Insurance, as that's a legal requirement ('''with whom?''')
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* We will have insurance for the lift at 447 Hackney Road
  
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===Proposed Changes===
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[[Category:Infrastructure]]
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Here's a list of the changes we're planning to make to the Articles:
 
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# Make any simplifications possible since the Companies Act 2006 has been passed (merge Articles and Memorandum?)
 
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# Board meetings are held electronically (i.e. IRC)
 
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# Board meeting logs/minutes are publicly available unless there is a good reason otherwise
 
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# AGM to be scrapped
 
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# Member's contribution on winding up the company to be reduced from £5 to £1
 
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# Changes to company name, objects, or status of the company should be approved by a majority of all members
 
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The Hackspace Foundation's ultimate governance lies with the Board of Directors. These are elected regularly, with the longest-serving third of the Board required to stand for re-election every year.
 

Revision as of 14:14, 17 December 2014

London Hackspace Ltd. is a Company Limited by Guarantee. Statutory information can be found at https://london.hackspace.org.uk/organisation/.

Trustees

Main article: Trustees

Constitution

A PDF of our constitution is on the main website. It outlines the objectives and structure of the organisation, the role of trustees (directors), the proceedings of our General Meeting, and other affairs.

The objects of the LHS (as mandated by our constitution) are:

  1. to promote and encourage technical, scientific, and artistic skills through social collaboration and education; and
  2. to provide and maintain shared community workspace and equipment in Greater London.

For notes on previous revisions see:

Various legislation, compliance, etc

  • As a not-for-profit, we do not need to register with the Information Commissioner for our members list. We do not process any other personal data.
  • The list of members names is available to any other member. We may need to provide the members register to a member or non-member if requested for a suitable purpose, but we'd probably ask a lawyer or court to advise on whether the purpose is suitable or not.
  • We're not currently VAT registered, as subscriptions and donations are exempt, so we have very little VATable income.
  • We have Public Liability Insurance, as that's a legal requirement (with whom?)
  • We will have insurance for the lift at 447 Hackney Road
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