James Newton - Form follows Function
Things are progressing well with YoCo. We now have a strong vision:
YoCo: a new development where community comes first. We want to create brighter collective and individual happiness for people who want to live in a thriving neighbourhood and city.
We’re growing the network of people and organisations who support our aim to rethink how we make our new neighbourhoods in York. Building on the “time to order the scaffolding” session run by Jane Hustwit back in June 2020 we’re beginning to define a structure and set of guiding principles: considering what YoCo is made of and finding the best glue to stick it all together, so we can establish:
A suitable structure, to deliver the dream
Strong organisational health so we can deliver the business effectively, efficiently and with clarity.
Professional support
In July we met with the community and charities team at Wrigleys Solicitors to review what options were open to YoCo in terms of legal form. We started the discussion by introducing the project, where we had got to so far and how we wanted to develop the ideas that were shared and discussed during the workshop. We introduced our basic principles:
Extract from “Time to order the scaffolding” session: How do we keep YoCo healthy?
The key drivers for the discussion was to understand how we create a legal form that:
is mutually supportive for the different aspects of YoCo, e.g.: housing, enterprise & public green spaces
ensures accountability and transparency
reflects our community purpose as an organisation
We also presented the three possible structure options that have previously been put forward:
Company Ltd by Guarantee (CLG)
Community Interest Company (CIC)
Community Benefit Society (CBS)
Wrigleys talked us through some of the inherent qualities/mechanisms of each option as well as providing an indication of what the structures would cost and what possibilities there would be for funding going forward. It was helpful to talk through the realities - what each structure would allow us to do. We left with a strong understanding that we need to think clearly about where we are currently with YoCo and what phases are ahead. This was key as we’re still in the early stages, establishing what YoCo might become; not to mention who might be involved…
Conclusions
It emerged that the best structure was one that allowed us to...
Quickly become an entity that can open a bank account & hold funding
Keep some flexibility in what we are doing and that could change to a different structure easily
With that in mind it was recommended that a CLG would be suitable for this. This means that YoCo would be set up as a not for profit organisation and that the culture we’ve been describing in our visioning sessions and governance discussions can be realised.
By doing it in this straightforward and practical way, it allows YoCo to grow without the core people now dictating what is to follow. It will allow us time to identify the community (the larger YoCo community) that we’re yet to engage with. It means that we can open this out to a wider audience, seeking their views on what the YoCo rules (articles of association) should be. We are very keen to get the best “buy in” possible from everyone involved or effected. If we keep things simple, that becomes more achievable.
The CLG structure has the added benefit that it is flexible, so when it comes to the later phases then we can easily amend it to become a CBS or CIC, if needs be.
What happens next?
We need to create a steering group of interested people to scope out the terms of the emerging CLG. This group would be responsible for creating a Shadow Board and would morph into a Board of Directors when the CLG comes into existence.
We are committed to having a wide range of people involved in these important formal developments and decisions. Ideally this group will be diverse, active and prepared to stay the distance - to make the dreams come true. We would offer induction, training, mentoring, etc.. for people keen to be involved which starts from the development stage we are in now. We invite anyone to get in touch if they are interested in playing a part..... we’ll make sure you’re invited to the discussion to work out how this might work.
YoCo contributor, Penny Bainbridge, is now leading on the work to scope out the next steps and has produced a helpful briefing note with more details about becoming a CLG.
If you’re interested to find out more and/or be involved in this aspect of YoCo then please get in touch by clicking the email link here: yorkcentralco@gmail.com