New Juniper 2013

RESHAPING JUNIPER HOUSE

1/4/2013

In minutes published in 2007 management complained of not having enough time to consider issues in depth. They were repeatedly urged by various members to properly constitute a group system to spread the load and encourage involvement, but refused to take any meaningful action.
In the light of recent actions by Southwark Council, the management-led model can not be said to have generated increased involvement or efficiency.  The case is now overwhelming for the re-institution of a General Meeting-led model with a full delegated group structure, in which people can use their specialities and interests, and become involved at a level with which they are comfortable, rather than being plunged into what is essentially an executive, bureaucratic role in management. 
We also feel that a full discussion of these constitutional issues be instituted as soon as possible, open to all residents, before any decision is taken on Juniper's Status as a TMO. 

Sub-committee Benefits
  • A meaningful, informed level of scrutiny for ideas. 
  • A forum in which members can learn basic trade terms and practices from those more expert within the group. In the past, several ex-group members made professional use of the skills they were exposed to in committee. 
  • A distribution of power among the wider membership, reducing the isolation of management, and encouraging a partnership between administrative and action groups.
  • Most of all, groups acted to encourage ideas, improvisation, contact and community spirit, and as such were the backbone of Juniper House. 
Groups would have a written remit or brief approved by the Annual General Meeting. 
The administrative role of groups or sub-committees is to provide informed information to management, and make concrete proposals for funding, to be approved by the general meeting in the event of any proposal breaching the stated budget limit. 

A natural list of groups would include. 
1. Building, maintenance and gardening. 
2. Lettings. 
3. Finance. 
4. Social - including Fundraising & Publicity. 
5. Development.

Meetings would typically be once a month for about two hours, or longer as the mood decides. A group can run effectively on three members.
It should be noted that such groups would now be more productive and far easier to take part in and run since the advent of the internet. It would be inevitable that information technology would play a key role in their future contribution to the co-op.


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