Neston Cricket Club
RULES AND BYE-LAWS
(As from 6th February 2007)
CLUB RULES
1. NAME
1.1 The Club shall be called the NESTON CRICKET CLUB.
2. CONSTITUTION
2.1 The Members of the Club shall be the existing Members other than Associate Members and such persons as shall become Members in accordance with these rules.
2.2 The property of the Club shall be held by Trustees on behalf of the Members in accordance with such terms as are contained in the documents of title of such property. The Trustees shall be four in number and upon the death or retirement of any Trustee or upon his ceasing to be a Member the vacancy shall be filled by election at the next General Meeting of the Club. Subject to these Rules the Trustees must deal with the property of the Club as the Club Council may from time to time direct. The Trustees shall be indemnified against risk and expense out of the Club property.
2.3 In the event of the dissolution of the Club, any surplus assets remaining after the discharge of any debts and liabilities shall not be distributed among the members but will be given or transferred to another registered Community Amateur Sports Club, a registered Charity or the Sports Governing Body.
3. MEMBERSHIP
3.1 Membership and Associate Membership may be divided into such classifications as the Club Council considers appropriate.
3.2 The Associates of the Club shall comprise:-
House Associate – non-playing social membership
Youth Associate – aged 7 and under 18 years
Young Junior Associate – 6 years and under
Parent Associate – parents of existing Youth Associates or Young Junior Associates restricted to playing from 3.30-5.30 in term time and 8.00-10.00 in the holidays. No weekend play.
Associates shall not have the right to vote at any General Meeting of the Club.
3.3 Where such classifications are according to the age of the Member or Associate, the age at the date the subscription is due will apply. (see 4.7)
On 1st April immediately after reaching the age of 18, subject to the approval of the Club Council and payment of the relevant subscription, Youth Associates shall become Members of the Club.
A House Member is a member who has ceased being a playing member but who wishes to remain being involved in other Club activities and support the Club, or a House Associate whose membership has been automatically transferred following two full subscription years of membership.
3.4 Life Membership may be granted at the discretion of the Club Council to any Member on his making application to the Club Council accompanied by payment of a single life subscription of such amount as the Club Council shall decide.
3.5 The Club Council shall have the power to confer Honorary Life Membership on any member in recognition of outstanding services in pursuance of a Resolution of the Club Council at which at least two thirds of the Club Council are present.
3.6 Every candidate for admission as a Member or Associate shall be proposed by one Member and seconded by another. Membership of the Club shall be open to all persons irrespective of age, sex, ethnicity, nationality, disability, sexual orientation, religion or beliefs. The proposer and seconder in each case shall, at the date of the proposal, have been a Member of the Club for at least two years.
3.7 The name and category of each new Member and Associate shall be brought to the notice of the Club Council at the meeting following their application and the application may be accepted or rejected by motion or, if demanded, by ballot, a simple majority to decide.
3.8 If, in the opinion of the Club Council, the conduct of any Member or Associate is prejudicial to the interest and well being of the Club, the Club Council shall have the power to remove the name of that Member or Associate from the Club Register. This decision shall require a two-thirds majority of a Club Council Meeting at which at least two-thirds of the Club Council are present and for which a minimum of seven days notice has been given that the conduct of a Member or Associate is to be considered.
4. SUBSRCIPTIONS
General
4.1 The membership year shall begin on 1st April.
4.2 Entrance fees and subscriptions shall be decided by the Members at a General Meeting, held prior to the beginning of the membership year. All subscriptions are annual and due for a complete membership year regardless of whether paid by direct debit or a member leaves during a membership year or is unable to play due to injury or other incapacity.
4.3 All subscriptions are calculated by the Hon Membership Secretary shall be for the complete membership year, and will be due without deduction. Club Council shall have the power to make conditions upon which subscriptions may be paid by instalments and as to the consequences of default in payment of subscriptions.
Members joining part way through a membership year shall pay a subscription pro-rated as to the number of months (or part thereof) remaining in the membership y ear.
4.4 All entrance fees and subscriptions shall be a debt from the Member or Associate to the Hon Treasurer for the time being and shall be paid as the Hon Membership Secretary shall direct.
Existing Members
4.7 Subscriptions payable for renewal of membership shall be due on 1 April unless arrangements have been made with the Hon Membership Secretary for the subscription to be paid by monthly instalments.
4.8 A Member or Associate who fails to give written notice to the Hon Secretary or Hon Membership Secretary prior to the 14 May in each membership year of his or her intention to resign shall be liable to pay the renewal subscription in full.
4.9 A reminder shall be sent to any Member or Associate whose subscription has not been paid by 30 April after which date payment of a late payment levy shall be a condition of renewal of membership. Any member or Associate whose subscription has not been paid by 14 May shall not be entitled to take part in any of the Club’s activities or serve on any committee or propose or second any candidate for membership until their subscription and any late payment has been paid.
4.10 A Member or Associate who gives notice of resignation shall not be liable to pay an entrance fee on re-joining the Club.
5. MANAGEMENT
5.1 The management of the Club shall be entrusted to a Club Council which shall consist of the following Officers of the Club who shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting each year:
The President
The Chairman
The Hon Secretary
The Hon Treasurer
The Hon Membership Secretary
Respective Chair persons of the Ground, House, Cricket, Hockey, Squash and Tennis Committees with the addition of four ordinary Members, who shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting each year, and the Trustees.
5.2 A Committee, consisting of the current President, the Hon Secretary and the previous two Club Presidents, shall consider nominations, duly proposed and seconded, for the office of Club President.
5.3 No elected Member, other than the Officers, shall serve a term on the Club Council of more than three years and, after expiry of such a term, shall not be eligible for re-election to the Club Council for a period of one year, provided always that the elected Members who are appointed at the General Meeting to be held in February 2007 shall be able to serve a term expiring in September 2010 notwithstanding that such term is for more than three years.
5.4 Every President of the Club, on the expiration of their term of office shall be an additional member of the Club Council for the ensuing two years.
5.5 The Club Council shall have power to fill any casual vacancy during the year in the Officers or among the ordinary Members of the Club Council, and to co-opt not more than four Members of the Club to serve on the Club Council.
5.6 Six shall form a quorum at any meeting of the Club Council.
5.7 The President as Chairman, or the elected Chairman in the President’s absence at a General Meeting or of a meeting of the Club Council shall, in the case of equality of votes, have a casting vote.
5.8 The Club Council shall have the sole management of the Club, ground and property. It shall have control over the Club Funds and all games recognised by the Club. It shall determine any question which may arise in the construction of the Rules or Bye-laws.
5.9 The Club Council may delegate to Sub-committees such of its responsibilities as may from time to time be found convenient or necessary and shall define the constitution and functions of such Sub-committees. A member of a Sub-committee need not also be a member of the Club Council.
5.10 The Hon Secretary shall keep minutes of all General Meetings and meetings of the Club Council and a record of the names and addresses of the Members and Associates. Every Member and Associate shall communicate any change in their address to the Hon Membership Secretary and all notices posted to the address last given shall be deemed to have been duly delivered.
5.11 Any matter of Club policy which involves the selling of any land, the commitment of the use of Club facilities to outside parties for more than twelve months or a proposal to incur works to the value of more than £30 000 shall be brought to a General Meeting of the Club for approval by the Members prior to proceeding.
6. THE SUPPLY OF INTOXICATING LIQUOR
6.1 The Club Manger shall have the sole control and management of the purchase and supply of intoxicating liquor and tobacco upon the premises of the Club. The Club Manager shall arrange for the purchase thereof for the Club and the supply thereof by the Club to the Members of the Club and their guest, also the sale thereof by or on behalf of the Club to other persons whose admission to the Clubhouse is provided for by the rules of the Club.
6.2 The permitted hours for the supply and consumption of intoxicating liquors shall be at such general licensing hours as are permitted under section 62 of the Licensing Act 1964 (as amended from time to time), subject to any modification thereof by the Licensing Justices from time to time as is permitted by Section 60(4) of the Licensing Act 1964.
6.3.1 No one may receive at any time at the expense of the Club any commission, percentage or similar payment on or with reference to purchases of intoxicating liquor by the Club.
6.3.2 No one may directly or indirectly drive any pecuniary benefit from the supply of intoxicating liquor by or on behalf of the Club to members or guests or others so entitled apart from any benefit accruing to the Club as a whole and apart from any benefit derived indirectly by reason of the supply giving rise to or contributing to a general gain from the carrying on of the Club.
6.4 Intoxicating liquor may be sold to non-members admitted to the Club premises under the Bye-laws or pursuant to arrangements made by the Club Council for the use of the whole or part of the Club premises for functions unconnected with the Club’s activities.
6.5 Intoxicating liquor may, during permitted hours, be supplied or sold (as the case may be) to all Members and guests of Members and to all Members and Associates of other Clubs and associations whilst they are visitors of the Club in connection with any activity of the Club.
6.6 No intoxicating liquor shall be supplied or sold to any person on the Club premises except in accordance with the Rules of the Club.
6.7 Intoxicating liquor bought outside the Club shall not be brought into or consumed on Club premises at any time.
7. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
7.1 The Annual General Meeting of the Club shall be held on such a day as the Club Council shall appoint, not being later than the end of September and, in any event, not more than 18 months from the last previous meeting. The Notice calling such meeting shall be sent to each Member of the Club at least 14 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting, together with a copy of the Balance Sheet and Income and Expenditure account of the Club and auditors’ report thereon for the last financial period of the Club, which shall have been approved by the Club Council, signed by the Hon Treasurer and duly audited, and which shall be submitted at the said meeting. A full set of the accounts will be sent to any member on request. A copy of the full set of the accounts will be displayed on the Club Notice Board for a period of at least 14 days prior to the date fixed for the Annual General Meeting.
7.2 At each Annual General Meetin all the Officers and other members of the Club Council (except the Trustees) shall retire and shall be eligible for re-election subject to the provisions of Rule 5.3. nominations for election as an Officer, a Trustee or a Vice-President or as a member of the Club Council shall be valid only if received by the Hon Secretary seven clear days before the Annual Genera Meeting at which the election is to take place, the nomination must be signed by two Members and, except in the case of nominations by the Club Council, must be accompanied by the written agreement of the nominee to serve in the capacity designated. In all cases in which it shall be necessary to take a vote on the election of Officers and other Members of the Club Council the vote shall be by ballot.
7.3 Vice-Presidents may be elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Club, the total number not to exceed 20. Vice-presidents shall continue in Office as long as they shall remain Members of the Club.
8. EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING
8.1 The Club Council shall, within thirty days of the receipt of a requisition in writing signed by not less than fifteen Members of the Club stating the purpose for which such a Meeting is to be called, and may on their own authority call and Extraordinary General Meeting, of which fourteen clear days’ notice shall be given, stating the place, time and purpose of such a Meeting.
9.0 CONDUCT OF GENERAL MEETINGS
9.1 At any General Meeting of the Club, only such business shall be transacted as is specified on the notice convening the meeting. Any Member wishing to move an amendment to any resolution to be submitted at such a meeting shall notify their intention, setting out their amendment in full, to the Hon Secretary seven clear days before the meeting. The Hon Secretary shall forthwith, by posting on the notice board the details of the amendment, give notice to all Members.
9.2 Fifteen Members shall form a quorum at a General Meeting.
9.3 Youth Associates or Young Junior Associates shall not have the right to attend any General Meeting of the Club.
9.4 Associates (House, Youth, Young Junior and Parent) shall not have the right to vote at any General Meeting of the Club.
10. GENERAL
10.1 These rules may not be altered, abrogated, rescinded or added to either generally of for the particular occasion except at an Annual General Meeting or Extraordinary General Meeting provided as follows:
(i) If the proposal is made by the Club Council, particulars of any proposed amendments shall be set out in the notice convening the meeting.
(ii) If the proposal is made by a Member, notice in writing shall be given to the Hon Secretary twenty-eight clear days before such a meeting.
10.2 The Club Council shall have power to make Bye-laws for the use of the Club’s premises and amenities and to vary or rescind such Bye-laws from time to time as they may deem advisable. A copy of the Bye-laws shall be posted in the Clubhouse.
10.3 The Hon Secretary shall send a copy of the above Rules to each Member and Associate and a copy shall also be posted in the Clubhouse.
BYE-LAWS
1. CLUBHOUSE HOURS
1.1 The Clubhouse shall be closed on New Year’s Day and on any other day at such hours as the Club Council from time to time appoints.
2. USE OF CLUB FACILITES BY MEMBERS AND VISTORS
2.1 No person except he/she be a Member of the Club, a Member or Associate of a visiting Club or a visitor introduced by a Member, who shall enter the visitor’s name in the Visitors’ Book, or is on the Club premises as a result of a letting, shall be admitted to the Club.
2.2 Members may introduce visitors to play on the Squash or Tennis Courts by payment of such fees and under such conditions as are determined by the Club Council from time to time, and posted in the Clubhouse. All fees must be paid prior to commencement of play. The names of all such visitors must be entered in the Visitors’ Book in the Clubhouse. Youth Associates our Young Junior Associates are not allowed t o introduce visitors.
2.3 No visitor shall be admitted to any part of the Clubhouse or Club premises more than three times in any one year.
2.4 The Visitors’ Book shall be kept in a prominent position in the Clubhouse for the above purpose.
2.5 No person shall be allowed to wear spiked or studded boots or shoes in the Clubhouse, other than in the changing room and toilet areas.
2.6 All Members and Associates must carry their security cards at all times on Club premises. Failure to comply may result in the person being asked to leave the premises.
2.7.1 The Club is not responsible for any damage, injury or loss caused by the acts or omissions of any Member of visitor.
2.7.2 Any Member or visitor must indemnify the Club against any liability for damage, injury or loss.
2.7.3 The Club is not responsible for any articles brought onto the Club’s premises by any Member or visitor.
3. UPSTAIRS LOUNGE
3.1 Any person under 18 years of age shall be admitted to the upstairs lounge of the Clubhouse only when the Bar/Club Manager is present or when accompanied by a Member. After 8.00pm ay person under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a Member.
4. SPORTS EQUIPMENT
4.1 Sports equipment is not allowed upstairs
5. SMOKING
5.1 Smoking is not permitted in the Clubhouse.
6. PARKING
6.1 Parking is prohibited on the Club drive. (This is also a requirement of the fire safety certificate.)