Constitution of Belhus Cricket Club
(last updated by authority of the Extraordinary General Meeting held on 10th January 2005 – latest changes in italics)
The name of the club shall be called "Belhus Cricket Club", hereinafter referred to as "the club", membership of which is open to all, regardless of age, ability, gender, race, ethnicity, religious belief, sexuality or social economic status. In exceptional cases, the management committee of the club has the right to decline any application for membership but shall not do so on any of the aforementioned grounds.
1. The aims and objectives of the club will be the playing of cricket; To promote the club and cricket in general within the local community; To provide its services in a way that is fair to all members; To ensure that all present and future members receive fair and equal treatment.
2. The Club's colours shall be Green and Gold.
3. Each year the Club Shall hold a General Meeting, notice of which shall be given by the Club Secretary not less than seven days prior to the date of such meeting to all members of the club. The purpose of the Annual General Meeting shall be to approve the fully audited accounts placed before the meeting and to elect a Management Committee. The Annual General Meeting shall also elect a honorary auditor and may approve nominations for President, Life-Members and vice-presidents.
4. All members of the club will be bound by, and subject to, the regulations of this constitution, including any adopted codes of conduct. The club adopts the following Club Officials and Other Volunteers Code of Conduct Statement: All club officials and other volunteers must:
• consider the wellbeing and safety of participants before the development of performance.
• develop an appropriate working relationship with performers, based on mutual trust and respect.
• make sure all activities are appropriate to the age, ability and experience of those taking part
• promote the positive aspects of the sport (eg fair play)
• display consistently high standards of behaviour and appearance
• follow all guidelines laid down by the national governing body and the club
• hold the appropriate, valid qualifications and insurance cover
• never exert influence over members, their relatives, guardians or sponsors, to obtain personal benefit or reward
• never condone rule violations, rough play or the use of prohibitive substances
• encourage performers to value their performances and not just results.
The club adopts the following Equity statements:
• The club is committed to ensuring that equity is incorporated across all aspects of its development. In doing so it acknowledges and adopts the following Sport England definition of sports equity:
• Sports equity is about fairness in sport, equality of access, recognising inequalities and taking steps to address them. It is about changing the culture and structure of sport to ensure it becomes equally accessible to everyone in society.”
• The club respects the rights, dignity and worth of every person and will treat everyone equally within the context of their sport, regardless of age, ability, gender, race, ethnicity, religious belief, sexuality or social/economic status.
• The club is committed to everyone having the right to enjoy their sport in an environment free from threat of intimidation, harassment and abuse.
• All club members have a responsibility to oppose discriminatory behaviour and promote equality of opportunity.
• The club will deal with any incidence of discriminatory behaviour seriously, according to club disciplinary procedures.
The club adopts and implements the "Safe Hands, Welfare of Young People in Cricket" policy of the England and Wales Cricket Board, the latter hereinafter referred to as the "ECB". The club shall adopt and implement any future versions of the policy. The club also adopts the ECB's Codes of Conduct for players and coaches, the latest versions of which shall apply. The club also adopts specific codes of conduct for club officials and other volunteers, parents and carers, and members under the age of eighteen years of age. All complaints regarding the behaviour of members should be submitted in writing to the hon. General Secretary, except matters involving the welfare of a member under the age of eighteen years of age, in which case notification shall be made to the club's Child Welfare Officer in accordance with the latest version of the ECB's "Safe Hands, Welfare of young People in Cricket" policy. The management committee will appoint three of its members as a sub-committee to hear the complaint within 14 days of being lodged. Such sub-committee has the power to take appropriate disciplinary action including the termination of membership. Members have a right of appeal and should such a request be made in writing to the hon. General secretary, the management committee of the club shall appoint three different officers to hear the appeal. The appeal sub-committee has the power to revoke, reduce or increase any disciplinary action as it sees fit and whose decisions shall be final.
5. The Management Committee shall consist of Chairman, General Secretary, Fixture Secretary, Team Secretary, Treasurer, Team Captains and other official posts deemed necessary. They shall meet on a regular basis and all decisions shall be minuted and such records shall be available, upon request, to any club member. The duties of the Management Committee shall be to manage the affairs of the Club and to appoint sub-committees in cases considered necessary. Members of such sub-committees need not necessarily be members of the Management Committee but must be members of the club. The Chairman and General Secretary may, by right, attend any sub-committee meeting. The Management Committee has the power to decide upon any matters not contained within the Club constitution.
6. An Extraordinary General Meeting may be called by, either the Management Committee of the Club, or by a signed declaration of not less than twelve members of the club. In each case, the items to be discussed shall be placed on an Agenda and such agenda, together with the formal notice of such a meeting shall be sent to all Club members giving at least seven days notice. In the event of an EGM being called by a signed declaration it is necessary for each of the signatories on the declaration to lodge the sum of Ten pounds with either the Chairman, Secretary or Treasurer and the declaration must state which item is to be discussed. In the event of there being more than one item, a separate declaration will be required for each item. If the decision of the EGM upholds any motion put forward by, or on behalf of, the signatories, such signatories shall be refunded such sums which they lodged prior to the meeting, otherwise all sums shall be retained by the Club. The EGM shall not discuss any other business unless directed by the Management Committee or Declaration signatories.
7. Finance: The hon. Club Treasurer will be responsible for managing the finances of the club. An audited statement of annual accounts will be presented by the treasurer at a special general meeting in either February, March or April of each year called for that purpose where the forthcoming match fees and annual subscriptions will also be determined. The meeting may allow for reduced rates for members in full-time education. The Club assets shall be held at a Bank, Building Society or any other reputable organisation as the Management Committee of the Club may decide from time to time. Authorised Signatories on all club accounts shall be any two from the Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer or other appointed officers.
8. The headquarters of the Club shall be North Stifford Village Cricket Ground.
9. Annual Subscriptions shall become due by the 1st January each year. Members who have not paid their Annual Membership fees by June 1st in the same year shall be deemed to have resigned from the Club and shall have no rights to selection or any other rights that they otherwise may have had as a Club Member. Any member deemed to have resigned under this clause shall not, for any subsequent year, be re-selected or re-invited to apply for membership, nor have any membership application accepted without first having paid, in full, any annual subscription considered to be outstanding.
10. All Members, except child members, whether Vice Presidents, Playing Members, shall each be entitled to one vote at a General Meeting or at a Committee Meeting, if a member thereof. The Chairman shall have the casting vote.
11. The Club shall play its home fixtures at North Stifford Village Green. However the Management Committee of the Club has the power to approve other venues as it sees fit.
12. If a General Meeting or Committee Meeting has less than five members present no business shall be transacted.
13. The Club shall affiliate by means of payment of Annual General Subscription to the bodies of the Club Cricket Conference and the England and Wales Cricket Board. The Club shall also be members of the South Essex District Cricket Board. The Management Committee reserves the right to join other organisations if deemed to be in the clubs best interests.
14. The Club Constitution may not be amended, unless such amendments are approved by the AGM/EGM of the Club.
15. The Management Committee of the Club has the power to co-opt members of the Club onto the Management Committee in cases considered appropriate.
16. The club shall comply at all times with the ECB's latest "Safe Hands, Welfare of Young People in Cricket" policy and ensure that a Child Welfare Officer is appointed who shall be a member of the club management committee. Unless authorised written consent is given by the club to the contrary, in the case of a member under the age of eighteen years, transport to and from all club events and activities, including away fixtures, shall be the responsibility of the parent or carer.
17. A resolution to dissolve the club can only be passed an AGM or EGM through a majority vote of the membership, any assets of the club shall become the property of a cricket governing body, cricket club or other organisation with similar objectives and constitution. Any transfer of assets in accordance with this article shall be determined at the time any dissolution resolution is passed.
18. Each Member shall be allowed to introduce visitors, subject to such regulations and by-laws as shall be made from time to time by the Committee and every visitor shall be allowed to order and pay for intoxicating liquor for consumption on the premises. No person shall be introduced as a visitor into the Club who has been expelled from membership or whose conduct or presence in the Clubhouse is considered by the Committee to be objectionable or prejudicial to the interests of the Club.
The permitted hours for the sale of alcoholic drinks on each day throughout the year shall be such hours as are permitted from time to time by the local Licensing Justices. The Committee shall be empowered to curtail these hours as the occasions demand and on special occasions, to extend the hours subject to the granting by the Justices of any necessary Licensing Extension.
Under NO circumstances will it be permitted for the Club to sell intoxicating liquor to a person or persons under the age of 18 years. Members and visitors shall provide proof of age when required.
It shall be a disciplinary offence for any Member to engage in unethical behaviour which may prejudice the good name or interests of the Club or Cricket.
19. The club hereby adopts and accepts this constitution as a current operating guide regulating the actions of members.