Member-Owned Spaces

This document defines the baseline model for Member-Owned Spaces within the Members Hub.

It establishes a single common principle for both:

  • Sections
  • Have Your Say topics

The aim is to ensure that the site uses one consistent publishing model, not two different systems for similar needs.

1. Core Principle

A Member-Owned Space is a page tree:

  • created within an admin-defined structure
  • assigned to a named owner or owner group
  • maintained only within that subtree by its delegated owner(s)
  • used for member-facing publishing within an agreed scope

The site structure is therefore:

  • admin-defined
  • owner-maintained within boundaries

2. Purpose of the Model

The Member-Owned Spaces model exists to:

  • support delegation without loss of structure
  • allow trusted volunteers to maintain their own area
  • avoid central bottlenecks for all content creation
  • keep the information architecture stable
  • provide a common principle for both Sections and Have Your Say topics
  • reduce technical complexity for non-technical contributors
  • support long-term handover to future volunteers

3. Types of Member-Owned Space

There are two types of Member-Owned Space.

3.1 Section Space

A Section Space is used for a recognised club activity, interest group, or member function.

Examples:

  • /members/tnmc
  • /members/wine-club
  • /members/snooker
  • /members/quiz-night

A Section Space is primarily for:

  • activity information
  • updates
  • notices
  • member participation
  • events
  • practical guidance

3.2 Have Your Say Space

A Have Your Say Space is used for a topic, issue, initiative, or area of opinion where members or contributors may publish attributable viewpoints.

Examples:

  • /members/have-your-say/stewards-house
  • /members/have-your-say/lottery-funding
  • /members/have-your-say/club-improvements

A Have Your Say Space is primarily for:

  • viewpoints
  • alternatives
  • proposals
  • concerns
  • suggestions
  • informed member discussion

4. Common Principle for Both Types

Sections and Have Your Say Spaces must follow the same structural and permissions principle.

They must not be treated as two unrelated systems.

For both types:

  • admin creates the root page or page tree
  • admin defines where it sits in the site hierarchy
  • admin assigns the owner or owner group
  • owner(s) may create and maintain content only within their own subtree
  • owner(s) do not alter wider site structure
  • owner(s) do not manage other people’s spaces unless separately authorised

This common principle is required to maintain consistency, simplicity, and sustainability.

5. Structural Rule

The overall site structure is owned by admin.

This means:

  • only admin creates new top-level structural spaces
  • only admin decides where a new Member-Owned Space sits in the hierarchy
  • only admin renames or relocates a Member-Owned Space root
  • contributors work within a defined space, not outside it

Example structure

/members/
    /tnmc/
    /wine-club/
    /snooker/
    /have-your-say/
        /stewards-house/
        /lottery-funding/
        /club-improvements/

6. Ownership Rule

Every Member-Owned Space must have:

  • a named owner, or
  • a clearly defined owner group

Ownership must be attributable.

Ownership may reflect:

  • a volunteer organiser
  • a section lead
  • a small contributor group
  • another named responsible party approved by admin

Ownership does not imply committee authority or official club authority unless explicitly stated.

7. Scope of Owner Rights

Owners may:

  • edit the root page of their own space if permitted
  • create child pages within their own subtree
  • update pages within their own subtree
  • maintain content relevant to the agreed purpose of that space

Owners may not, unless separately authorised:

  • create new top-level spaces
  • move pages outside their own subtree
  • edit other owners’ spaces
  • change global navigation design
  • alter templates, blueprints, plugins, or site-wide logic
  • present personal pages as official committee decisions

8. Editorial Principle

A Member-Owned Space should be simple for contributors and clear for readers.

Each space should normally consist of:

8.1 Root page

The root page explains:

  • what the space is for
  • who owns it
  • what members can expect to find there

8.2 Child pages

Child pages contain the actual material published by the owner(s), for example:

  • updates
  • notices
  • event information
  • proposals
  • viewpoints
  • topic notes
  • supporting documents

9. Content Distinction

Although the setup is common, the purpose of content remains distinct.

Section Space content

Typically focuses on:

  • participation
  • activity information
  • events
  • notices
  • practical updates

Have Your Say content

Typically focuses on:

  • viewpoints
  • alternatives
  • suggestions
  • concerns
  • issue-based discussion

10. Relationship to Consultations

Member-Owned Spaces are not the same as consultation pages.

Consultation pages remain the place for:

  • formal consultation
  • structured member response
  • proposal review
  • decision support

Have Your Say Spaces may help members explore and understand issues, but they do not replace the consultation process.

The intended model is:

  • topic and viewpoint pages inform members
  • consultation pages gather structured input
  • decisions are made through proper governance processes

11. Page Feedback and Comments

Member-Owned Spaces may use the same engagement tools as other parts of the site, according to site rules.

Page feedback

Quick reaction tools such as:

  • 👍
  • 😐
  • 👎

may be enabled where appropriate.

Comments

Comments may be enabled only where appropriate and consistent with the site’s consultation and moderation policy.

These tools are secondary engagement mechanisms.
They do not replace the editorial purpose of the page itself.

12. Attribution and Clarity

All Member-Owned Spaces must make attribution clear.

The site should show, through page attribution and/or standard wording:

  • who created or maintains the page
  • whether it is a working draft, active page, or archived page
  • that the content reflects the views of its owner(s), unless explicitly stated otherwise

13. Simplicity Principle

The system must remain simple enough for non-technical volunteers.

Therefore:

  • contributors should use a standard page setup
  • contributors should not be expected to design site structure
  • contributors should not need to understand advanced Grav internals
  • contributors should work mainly by adding and editing pages within their own area

The contributor experience should be:

“I have my own area. I can add pages in it.”

14. Sustainability and Handover

This model is intended to be sustainable over time.

It supports handover because:

  • the structure is centrally defined
  • the rights model is predictable
  • contributors can be changed without redesigning the site
  • spaces can continue even if individual volunteers step down
  • the same model applies across both Sections and Have Your Say

A topic or activity should outlast any single contributor.

15. Baseline Rule

The baseline rule for the Members Hub is:

Sections and Have Your Say topics are both Member-Owned Spaces.
Admin creates the root structure; owners manage only their own subtree.
The setup is common; the purpose may differ.

16. Change Control

If a future discussion requires a change to this baseline, it must begin with:

Change baseline: [clear description of change]