Club Constitution

CONSTITUTION OF OLDBURY ON SEVERN VILLAGE CRICKET CLUB

NAME

The Club is called ‘Oldbury on Severn Village Cricket Club’ (hereafter called ‘the Club’).

AFFILIATION

The club is a member of the England and Wales Cricket Board and Gloucester Cricket Association. The youth teams are members of the local Stroud Cricket Association.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the club are:

a)       To provide opportunities for members of the club to participate in friendly cricket matches.

b)       To promote the game of cricket within the parish community, particularly for the youth.

c)       To organise events in order to sustain the club, provide enjoyment for members and their friends, and contribute as appropriate to associated organisations within the parish of Oldbury.

GROUND

The club facilities are located on the Playing Fields, Westmarsh Lane, where we have a lease for 30 years from 1 April 2004.

DATE FORMED

The club was originally founded in approximately 1870. The current club was formed in 1992.

MEMBERSHIP

The club shall consist of Officers and Members.

The Committee shall determine types and annual fees of membership.

For the 2007 season, these are:

Life membership £300.

10 Year membership option – 10 times the annual membership fee minus a 20% discount (not available for Junior membership).

Adult and Junior memberships each qualify for one vote at Committee Meetings and AGMs. Family membership is for immediate family members only and holds only one vote. Associate members do not have a vote

To qualify for Adult, Junior or Family membership, individuals or families should reside within the parish of Oldbury. This can be waived in special circumstances at the discretion of the Committee. Associate members have no restrictions on residence.

In accepting membership, the person agrees to abide by the Constitution and any rules as determined by the Committee of the Club, and agrees to support the running of the club, whenever and however possible.

Each member, whatever the grade, should be approved at Committee Meetings, as advised by the Membership Secretary.

The Committee can implement changes in grades or fees of membership at Committee Meetings as may be required to maintain the objectives of the club.

Membership runs on a calendar year.

COMMITTEE

The Management of the Club shall be vested in the Committee, which is composed of the following Officers of the club, with individuals elected at the November 2005 AGM:

All Officers shall retire annually, but shall be eligible for re-election at the AGM.

Should an Officer retire during the year, or new positions be deemed appropriate, the chairman can invite nominees to be presented for election at Committee Meetings or the AGM.

Any Officer wishing not to stand for re-election should advise the Secretary at least one month before the AGM.

Officers of the club must also be members.

COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Committee meetings shall be held on the first Sunday of every month throughout the year, subject to alteration as deemed necessary by the Secretary. Additional meetings may be convened as necessary.

The quorum for a decision to be taken by the Committee shall be the presence of six members, including three Officers, at the Committee meeting.

The Committee can appoint sub-committees for specific activities who are accountable to the Committee.

Committee meetings are open to all members.

Decisions to be taken by the Committee shall be determined by a majority of the vote of Officers and Club Members present, as determined by voting rights above. In the event of an equality of votes, the Chairman of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote.

Non-members and Associate Members may also attend and may be invited to speak by the Chairman, but do not have voting rights.

The Chairman shall delegate the chair of a Committee meeting if he cannot attend.

The secretary shall maintain a record of all meetings that shall be available on request to any club member.

SPORTS DEVELOPMENT

The club is committed to the ongoing development of skills and opportunities to play cricket within the parish. To this end it will develop and maintain a development plan for the club, to include:

·         Continued operation of the U11, U13 and U15 league teams, developing links with other clubs and organisations where necessary to ensure sufficient numbers.

·         Promote the club and encourage participation at U11 level through close links with the local school. Contact all new families to the parish to inform them of the opportunities for the cricket club.

·         Organise regular weekly coaching during the season, and pre-season nets and coaching for all ages and levels within the club.

·         Develop the new ground and facilities to ensure ongoing and improved skill development. Commence playing at the new ground during the 2004 season, subject to the progress of ground development work.

·         Develop plans for the ongoing improvement of coaching skills.

·         Develop and support links with other clubs for the ladies team.

·         A new post of youth team captain, aimed at the U15 age group. The youth team captain will seek friendly games and assist in the organisation of such games, and represent and organise input from other youth members in the running of the club and its events.

FINANCE

The financial year of the club shall end on the day prior to the AGM. The AGM shall be held in or around the third week in November.

A statement of accounts shall be presented to the AGM by the Treasurer for approval. The committee may request an interim statement of accounts at two weeks notice.

Subject to small amounts held in Petty Cash, the funds of the Club shall be held in a Bank or Building Society account, and all payments drawn on these accounts shall be signed by the Treasurer with one additional signature.

No member should commit funds without the prior discussion with the Treasurer or agreement of the Committee.

Payments made in excess of £200 shall be reported to the following Committee meeting.

Signatories to the account are Jim Russell, Colin Johnson and Gerry Dyke.

In the event of the Club ceasing to exist, the disposal of the assets of the club shall be decided by the Committee.

As long as there remain enough willing and able players within the Parish and membership to play regular friendly cricket on behalf of the village, Club funds shall not be used either for any purpose outside the objectives of the club or for disposal amongst members.

Match fees shall be collected from all players, with rates set as follows for the 2006 season. Captains have discretion for the collection of match fees from opposing teams.

Weekend fixture, Home or Away Adult: £5.00       U16: £2.50        Away team: £3.00

Weekend teas for non-players:    £1.00

Midweek fixture, home or away:  Adult: £2.50       U16: £1.00

DISCIPLINE

The Committee shall have the power to take appropriate disciplinary action against any member(s), and shall have the authority to expel from the club any member guilty of conduct deemed detrimental of the club.

Players, officials, members, supporters and employees must adhere to the code of conduct that prohibits racially abusive comments and actions against fellow players, officials, members, supporters and employees. Failure to comply with this instruction will result in disciplinary action against the offender(s).

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

Membership shall be open to all irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, ethnic origin, creed, colour, social status and sexual orientation.

CHILD PROTECTION

To ensure a duty of care to all members of the club by adopting and implementing the ECB ‘Safe Hands – Welfare of Young People’ in cricket policy and any future versions of the policy

FIXTURES

Fixtures shall only be made with opposition of similar standard and disposition.

All fixtures for the Weekend and Mid Week sides shall be friendly fixtures.

Junior sides may be entered into leagues to ensure they have adequate and sufficient fixtures.

SELECTION

Captains shall select from available club members as a priority, but if unable to field a full side, they can use their discretion to field non-member players or those outside the immediate parish.

All efforts shall be made to encourage the youth of the club.

Captains shall ensure that all members wishing to play are given opportunities, within the limitations of availability.

INSURANCE

The club shall provide Public Liability insurance, covering accidental bodily injury to any third party and accidental loss or damage to third party property, up to the value of £5,000,000 plus legal costs incurred in defence of claims (as defined ni the policy).

The club shall provide Personal Accident insurance for players, umpires and scorers and members engaged in cricket activities (as defined in the policy), with benefits up to £10,000 for loss of limbs/sight or fatal accident (£2,500 for U16). Members are advised to consider their own additional personal accident insurance.

The club shall provide buildings insurance for the cricket pavilion and outbuildings, up to a maximum of £10,000. Contents and machinery are not covered. All risks cover for club bags, cups and trophies shall also be included.

TRUSTEES

The Chairman of the Club shall, of right, be appointed a Trustee of the Club, and there shall not be more than three additional Trustees of the Club.

The Trustees shall be appointed by the Committee, and the property of the club shall be vested in them as the Committee shall direct from time to time by resolution. This includes responsibility for management of the Lease from Oldbury Parish Council, and ensuring conformance of all conditions therein, for the Cricket Ground at The Playing Fields, Westmarsh Lane, Oldbury on Severn.

The Trustees of the Club shall meet formally at least twice each season and at other such times as the Trustees shall determine. The Chairman of the Club shall preside at all such meetings of the Trustees and shall ensure formal minutes are provided. Should he signify his inability to attend the meeting, the Trustees present shall choose one of their number to preside at the meeting. In all meetings of the Trustees, three shall form a quorum.

The Trustees shall be indemnified against risk and expense out of Club property.

The Trustees shall hold office until death or resignation or until removed from office by a resolution of the Committee with a majority vote.

Where by reason of any such death, resignation or removal it shall appear necessary to the Management Committee that a new or additional Trustee or Trustees shall be appointed, the Committee shall by resolution nominate the person or persons to be appointed the new Trustee or Trustees.

For the purposes of giving effect to such nomination the Chairman is hereby nominated as the person to appoint new Trustees of the Club within the meaning of Section 36 of the Trustee Act 1925 and he shall by deed duly appoint the person or persons so nominated by the Committee as the new Trustee or Trustees of the Club and the provisions of the Trustee Act 1925 shall apply to any such appointment.

Trustees of the club are Colin Johnson, Derek Garrett, Gerald Porter (replacing Jon Dyke) and Pete Tandy (replacing Ian Knapp) as elected at the 2005 AGM.

CONSTITUTION

The interpretation of this Constitution shall be vested in the Committee. In the event of any question or matter arising which is not provided for in the constitution, subsequential matters shall be dealt with by the Committee whose decision shall be final.

Any proposals, including changes to this Constitution, should be presented to the secretary of the club at the Committee meeting prior to the AGM. Only proposals from members entitled to vote at the AGM can be accepted. A two-thirds majority of Officers and members present is required to approve a substantive change to this Constitution.

The quorum for an AGM shall be the presence of eight members, including four Officers, at the Committee meeting.

Last amended after 2006 AGM with new officers.