Blackheath CC Constitution

Blackheath Cricket Club The Rectory Field Charlton Road Blackheath SE3 8SR

RULES (as revised and adopted Dec 2005)

Title:
1. The Club shall be called "The Blackheath Cricket Club" (hereinafter called "The Club").

Purpose:
2. The purpose of the Club is to organise the playing of cricket against other Clubs in such competitions as the Club may decide to enter from time to time, in particular participation in the Kent Cricket League, and in friendly fixtures. In addition, to organise cricketing and social activities which ensure the continuation and progress of the Club.
3. In so doing the Club will ensure a duty of care to all members of the club; provide all its services in a way that is fair to everyone and ensure that all present and future members receive fair and equal treatment (see Appendices below on Equity policy; Youth and Ladies sections).
4. The Rules are subject to the Bye-Laws and Regulations of the Blackheath Cricket, Football and Lawn Tennis Company Limited (hereinafter called "the Company") for the time being in force, to which every member shall conform.
5. The colours of the Club shall be chocolate, green and white. Members playing in matches shall, as far as possible, wear Club colours. All members may wear the club tie.

Management:
6. The Club shall be managed by a Committee of not more than nine (9) members, together with, as ex-officio members, the President, the Captains of all the XIs, the Hon Secretary; the Hon Fixtures Secretary, the Hon Treasurer, the Cricket Directors (see rule 13 below); the Chairs of the Youth and Women's Sections (see Appendices) and the Child Welfare Officer.
7. The Committee as constituted shall elect a Chairman at its first meeting following the Annual General Meeting of the Club.
8. At any Committee Meeting, five (5) members shall form a quorum.
9. The Committee shall have the power to elect the President and Cricket Directors and to appoint Honorary Vice presidents as it sees fit.

General Meetings:
10. The Annual General Meeting shall be held not later than 31st December annually. At this meeting the Officers and Committee (see rule 6 above) shall be elected and the Statement of Accounts shall be laid before the members and passed. (See Rule 23 below). Other business may be transacted at any General Meeting.
11. The Hon Secretary shall, on the written request of any three (3) members of the Committee or any ten (10) members of the Club, call a Special General Meeting. The requisition and the notice of the Meeting must state the object of the special Meeting and no other business may be transacted.
12. The Hon Secretary shall give fourteen (14) days notice of any General Meeting at which seven (7) members shall form a quorum.

Cricket Directors:
13. The Club has the right to nominate three (3) Directors to the Board of the Company who are called in the said Company the "Cricket Directors". One shall retire annually but may be re-appointed.

Rectory Field Pavilion Club:
14. All members of the Club are automatically elected members of the Rectory Field Pavilion Club without any further payment.

New Members:
15. Membership is open to all, regardless of age, ability, gender, race, ethnicity, religious belief, sexuality or social/economic status and shall be elected by the Committee solely on the basis of the contribution the candidate will make to the purpose of the Club (see 2. Above).
16. Each candidate for election must be known personally to his proposer and seconder. The Committee may however elect a candidate without a proposer and seconder provided he has played at least one game for the club and that the report by the captain of that game is considered satisfactory.
17. The Hon Secretary is to send every new member a notice in writing of his election together with a copy of the Rules and request him to pay his subscription forthwith. As every member will, on such payment, become entitled to the benefits and privileges of the club, such payment shall be considered to accept the Bye-Laws and Regulations of the Company and the Club and the Codes of Conduct relating to player behaviour laid down by the England & Wales Cricket Board, Kent Cricket Board and Kent Cricket League or similar authority.

Subscriptions:
18. The annual subscription shall be reviewed by the Committee annually and the levels communicated to members before 1st April of each year. In its discretion, the Committee may set separate subscription rates for student members, youth members, non-playing members and any other category it may determine from time to time.
19. The Committee shall have the power, if it sees fit, to remit a proportion of a member's subscription.

Misconduct:
20. If the conduct (whether in matters relating to the Club or not) of any member is, in the opinion of the Committee injurious to the character or interests of the Club, the Committee may (either with or without enquiry) recommend such member to resign. If such member does not comply within seven (7) days with such recommendation, the Committee may call a Special General Meeting. If such meeting determine, by a majority of two-thirds of the members present and voting, to expel such member, he is thereupon to cease to be a member and is to forfeit any subscription paid and is not to have any right or claim to or upon the Club or its property or its funds.
21. The conduct of club members whilst playing in matches shall at all times be in line with the Codes of Conduct as laid down by the England & Wales Cricket Board; the Kent Cricket Board and the Kent Cricket League or any relevant authority. Any breach of the Code, as advised from any source, including but not limited to the umpires officiating in the match or the opposition, will be considered by the Selection Committee within seven days.
Breaches of the Code render the member liable to a suspension from selection for a period of up to six (6) weeks without appeal. More serious cases may lead to a further period of suspension, in which case the player will have the right of appeal to the General Committee. In such cases the Committee shall appoint an Appeal Committee of three (3) members not party to the original decision who will consider the case before the expiry of the maximum 6 weeks suspension. The Appeal Committee will have the power to amend the suspension and this may include, if deemed appropriate, an increase in the period of suspension.

Visitors:
22. Members and Officials of visiting teams become ipso facto temporary Honorary Members of the Club for the day or days on which matches are played.

Accounts:
23. A Statement of Accounts, signed by the Honorary Treasurer and certified by the signature of an Auditor (who shall, if possible, be a member of the Club) shall be laid annually before a General Meeting.

Complaints:
24. All complaints, suggestions or disputes must be made in writing to the Honorary Secretary who shall bring the same before the Committee whose decision shall be final.

Addresses:
25. Each member of the club shall furnish his address from time to time to the Honorary Secretary and all notices and letters sent by post or otherwise to such address shall be considered as duly delivered.

Amendments to the Rules:
26. The Rules of the Club may be repealed or amended and new rules made only at a General Meeting but no change in the rules shall be admitted without a two thirds majority of those present and voting.

Dissolution:
27. In the event of the dissolution of the club, any remaining funds shall revert to the Blackheath, Cricket, Football and Lawn Tennis Company Limited to help support its responsibilities in providing cricket at the Rectory Field.

APPENDIX 1:
Equity policy statement

Blackheath CC is committed to ensuring that equity is incorporated across all aspects of its development and as a result has adopted the following principles in addition to the open membership policy incorporated in the club rules:

These principles acknowledge and adopt the 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.

October 2004 and adopted at AGM 6/12/04.

APPENDIX 2:

CONSTITUTION OF BLACKHEATH CRICKET CLUB YOUTH SECTION

Title:
1. The name of the section shall be Blackheath Cricket Club Youth Section

Object:
2. The object of the section shall be the acquisition of knowledge and the skills pertaining to cricket by:
a) Encouraging youth members to obtain enjoyment from the game of cricket, coupled with good sportsmanship and fair play.
b) Developing their natural skills by a regular programme of coaching and matches.
c) Acting as a nursery for Blackheath Cricket Club (the Main Club) by providing the club with future players.
3. In supporting these objects, the Club will ensure a duty of care to all members; provide all its services in a way that is fair to everyone and ensure that all present and future members receive fair and equal treatment. In particular it adopts the England and Wales Cricket Board's policy "Safe Hands - Welfare of Young people in cricket " and will implement policies accordingly.

Management:
4. The Section shall be administered by a Sub Committee which shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting of Blackheath Cricket Club. The Sub-Committee shall consist of the Youth Section Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, the Child Welfare Officer and at least one other member. In addition the Sub Committee shall include one representative of the Main Club's General Committee, appointed by that General Committee.
The day to day running of the Youth Section will be carried out by the Youth Section Sub Committee. The affairs and general policy of the Section shall be as directed by the General Committee of Blackheath Cricket Club.

Membership:
5. Membership shall be open to young cricketers who are sixteen years of age and under on 31st August of the year preceding any current season and as such have been recommended to the Sub committee by the Secretary of the Youth Section.

Subscription:
6. The annual subscription shall be determined by the Sub Committee and agreed by the General Committee of the Main club. The subscription is due by 1st May annually and young players not having paid their subscription by 30th June shall at the discretion of the Sub Committee be debarred from representing the Section in games and attending practices.

Accounts:
7. The day to day finances of the Section shall be handled by its Treasurer. All funds are to be submitted to the Honorary Treasurer of Blackheath Cricket Club without undue delay. The Youth Section Treasurer shall keep such records of financial transactions as necessary. These records shall be presented to the Honorary Treasurer of Blackheath Cricket Club by 30th September each year and will be subject to audit.

APPENDIX 3:

CONSTITUTION OF BLACKHEATH CRICKET CLUB WOMEN'S SECTION

Title:
1. The name of the section shall be Blackheath Women Cricket Club.

Object:
2. The object of the section shall be the acquisition of knowledge and the skills pertaining to cricket by:
a) Encouraging women and girls to obtain enjoyment from the game of cricket, coupled with good sportsmanship and fair play.
b) Developing their natural skills by a regular programme of coaching and matches.
3. In supporting these objects, the Club will ensure a duty of care to all members; provide all its services in a way that is fair to everyone and ensure that all present and future members receive fair and equal treatment. In particular it adopts the England and Wales Cricket Board's policy "Safe Hands - Welfare of Young people in cricket " and will implement policies accordingly.

Management:
4. The Section shall be administered by a Sub Committee which shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting of Blackheath Cricket Club. The Sub-Committee shall consist of the Women's Section Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, the Child Welfare Officer and at least one other member. In addition the Sub Committee shall include one representative of the Main Club's General Committee, appointed by that General Committee.
The day to day running of the Women's Section will be carried out by the Women's Section Sub Committee. The affairs and general policy of the Section shall be as directed by the General Committee of Blackheath Cricket Club.

Membership:
5. Membership shall be open to any regardless of age, ability, race, ethnicity, religious belief, sexuality or social/economic status and as such have been recommended to the Sub committee by the Secretary of the Women's Section.

Subscription:
6. The annual subscription shall be determined by the Sub Committee and agreed by the General Committee of the Main club. The subscription is due by 1st May annually and any member not having paid their subscription by 30th June shall at the discretion of the Sub Committee be debarred from representing the Section in games and attending practices.

Accounts:
7. The day to day finances of the Section shall be handled by its Treasurer. All funds are to be submitted to the Honorary Treasurer of Blackheath Cricket Club without undue delay. The Women's Section Treasurer shall keep such records of financial transactions as necessary. These records shall be presented to the Honorary Treasurer of Blackheath Cricket Club by 30th September each year and will be subject to audit.