The Club shall be known as Draycott and Hanbury Cricket Club.
2.1 To encourage the playing of the game of cricket through the provision of practice and playing facilities, coaching and fixtures for all playing members.
2.3 To ensure all members, playing and non-playing, conform to the Laws of the game and Codes of Conduct.
2.4 To encourage members of all categories to participate in the life of the Club through playing, social and fund-raising activities and general management.
3.1 Membership shall be open to all irrespective of age, gender, ability, race, ethnic origin, creed, colour, social status, and sexual orientation.
3.2 A bona fide member of the Club shall be deemed as such upon payment of the appropriate subscription by the stipulated date each year or by Management Committee recorded decision. A list of members in all categories shall be maintained by the Treasurer.
3.3 A candidate who is admitted to membership shall be given four (4) weeks to pay their subscription. If after this time the subscription has not been paid in full, the member is ineligible to play until such time that their subscription is paid in full.
The Club's financial year is from 1st October to 30th September.
The management of the Club shall be vested in a General Committee of up to 20 members, who will be elected at the Annual General Meeting. The Committee will comprise President, Chairperson, Treasurer, Secretary, Welfare Officer and Club Captain plus ten (10) to fifteen (15) others who shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting to hold office until the next Annual General Meeting when they will be eligible for re-election. The Committee will form sub-committees in accordance with Rule 17 herein. The Committee in addition to the powers of authority of this Constitution may exercise all powers and authority and undertake all acts in the furtherance of the aims for which the Club is established and are not hereby expressly directed.
6.1 The Annual General Meeting shall be held as soon as possible after the end of the Club year but not later than the end of January. Not more than fifteen (15) months shall elapse without an Annual General Meeting.
6.2 At least 21 days notice shall be given of the AGM in writing to all Club members accompanied by the Agenda and Papers signifying the business to be transacted which shall include:
The Committee shall have the power to appoint a member to fill any vacancy on the Committee until the next Annual General Meeting. Any member so appointed shall retire at the next Annual General Meeting but shall be eligible for election as a member of the Committee at the same meeting.
The Committee shall meet at least once a month during the season to examine the accounts and arrange the affairs of the Club. However, during the close season meetings may be held at longer intervals if there is no pressing business requiring a meeting. Four (4) members of the Committee shall form a quorum. Minutes shall be taken of all the proceedings of the Committee, and shall be open to inspection by any member of the Club applying to the Secretary therefor. The Committee shall from time to time make, repeal and amend all such regulations (not inconsistent with these rules) as they think expedient for the management and well-being of the Club. All regulations made by the Committee under this rule shall be binding upon the members until repealed by the Committee or set aside by a resolution of a general meeting of the Club.
If at any time the Club in General Meeting shall pass a resolution authorising the Committee to borrow money, the Committee shall thereupon be empowered to borrow for the purposes of the Club such amount of money either at one time or from time to time at such rate of interest and in such form and manner and upon such security as shall be specified in such resolution.
All members of the Club whether voting on such resolution or not and all persons becoming members of the Club after the passing of such resolution shall be deemed to have assented to the same as if they had voted in favour of such resolution.
Any member desirous of moving resolutions at the Annual General Meeting shall give notice thereof in writing to the Secretary not less than two (2) weeks before the date of such meeting. Such notice shall be signed by the member, being the proposer, and also by a member acting as seconder of the resolution.
11.1 By simple majority of the Committee or on a requisition signed by at least ten (10) members a Special (or Extraordinary) General Meeting shall be convened by the Secretary giving at least fourteen (14) days notice in writing to all Club members specifying the business to be transacted.
11.2 No business other than that of which notice has been given shall be brought forward at such meeting.
11.3 At all general meetings of the Club, the Chairperson or in their absence a member selected by the Committee shall take the chair. Every member present shall be entitled to one vote upon every motion and in case of equality of votes, the Chairperson shall have a second or casting vote. Voting at all meetings shall be by a show of hands except where the Management Committee or meeting Chairperson decides voting shall be by ballot. At all meetings decisions shall be made by a simple majority.
11.4 The quorum at all general meetings shall be ten (10).
11.5 No amendment (other than a motion for adjournment) shall be moved to any resolution proposed at any annual or special general meeting unless written notice thereof shall have been sent to the Secretary not less than seven (7) days prior to the meeting. Any such notice shall be given the same shall be forthwith posted in the Clubhouse.
The accounts shall, as soon as possible after the end of the financial year, be examined by a qualified accountant, who shall be appointed at each Annual General Meeting. A vacancy occurring in this office during the year shall be appointed by the Committee.
Every member of the Club shall from time to time communicate to the Secretary their address or that of their agent and all notices posted to such address shall be considered as having duly been given on the day following the date of posting.
The Committee shall be sole authority for the interpretation of these rules and of the regulations made from time to time by the Committee and the decision of the Committee upon any question of interpretation or upon any other matter affecting the Club and not provided for by these rules or by the regulations shall be final and binding on the members.
This Constitution may only be added to, repealed, or amended by resolution at any annual or special general meeting provided that no such resolution shall be deemed to have been passed unless it is carried by a majority of at least two thirds of the members voting thereon.
16a. Any surplus income or gains of the Club must be reinvested in the Club. No surplus or assets may be distributed to members.
16b. If at any general meeting a resolution for the dissolution of the Club shall be passed by a majority of the members present and at a general meeting held not less than six (6) weeks thereafter of which not less than four (4) weeks written notice shall have been given to each member and at which not less than half of the members shall be present that resolution shall be confirmed by a majority of two thirds of the members voting thereon the committee shall thereupon or at such future date as shall be specified in such resolution, proceed to realise the property of the Club. After the discharge of all liabilities, the proceeds thereof shall be applied towards charitable purposes for the provision of sporting facilities for the inhabitants of the local area as may be approved by the Charity Commissioners for England and Wales.
The Committee from time to time may appoint such special committees as they may deem necessary or expedient and may depute or refer to them such of the powers and duties of the committee as the committee may determine.
Any member may resign their membership by giving to the Secretary notice in writing to that effect but shall be liable to pay in full the annual subscription for the year in which resignation takes place.
The Management Committee shall have power to suspend or exclude any member, in any category, for contravention of this Constitution and/or documented rules and/or Codes of Conduct.
20.1 Any member suspended or excluded by the Management Committee (or a delegated sub-committee) shall have the right to attend an appeal hearing, be represented and produce witnesses in support of their appeal. The Appeal Board (a maximum of three) shall not include members of the original decision-making committee but may include non-members of the Club.
20.2 The decision of the Appeal Board shall be final and binding on all parties.
21.1 All subscriptions shall be decided by the Committee and remain at the rates in force until altered by a subsequent Committee decision.
21.2 All subscriptions are payable on the 1st October in each year and any member who has not paid their subscription by 31st March the following year cannot thereafter participate in any match until they have paid their subscription.
21.3 The Committee shall have discretion to charge such lesser subscription as they deem expedient for members joining after the commencement of the Club year.
Each member shall be issued with a membership card and shall be entitled to a fixture list and club rules. Each member must produce their membership card when attempting to gain admittance to the Club premises.
23.1 President - The President should attend all general meetings and committee meetings and should represent the Club whenever necessary.
23.2 Chairperson - The Chairperson shall preside at all general meetings and committee meetings and shall have a casting vote in addition to their ordinary vote.
23.3 Secretary - The Secretary shall convene and attend where possible all general and committee meetings, keep a record of the proceedings in the Minute Books, conduct the correspondence of the Club and be responsible for the safe custody of all club documents.
23.4 Treasurer - The Treasurer shall receive all the monies of the Club which shall be deposited at such bank as the Committee may decide, shall render to the Committee a statement of receipts and payments at each committee meeting and may not pay any accounts over the sum of 1500.00 without the prior approval of the Committee. All cheques must be signed by the Treasurer or Chairperson and one other nominated member.
23.5 Club Captain - The Club Captain shall have overall responsibility for the playing activities of the Club.
24.1 The Club shall be opened and closed at such hours as from time to time be fixed by the Committee and posted on the Club notice board.
24.2 The permitted hours for the sale of alcoholic liquor shall be such as from time to time be fixed by the Committee and made effective by notification to the Justices under the provision of Section 62 (3) of the Licensing Act 1964.
25.1 No person at any time shall be entitled to receive at the expense of the Club any commission percentage or similar payment on or with reference to purchase of intoxicating liquor by or on behalf of the Club or directly or indirectly derive any pecuniary benefit from the supply of intoxicating liquor to members or guests apart from any benefit which a person derives indirectly by reason of the supply giving rise to or contributing to the general gain from the carrying on of the Club.
25.2 The purchase for the Club and the supply by the Club of intoxicating liquor shall be in the absolute discretion of the General Committee and no intoxicating liquor shall be supplied on the premises otherwise than by or on behalf of the Club.
Members of other sports clubs visiting for the express purpose of participating in sporting activities at the club premises shall on their Captain having signed the visitors book be entitled to the privileges of the Club during the period of their stay, including the right to purchase intoxicating liquor which privileges shall extend to the officials and members of those sporting clubs even though they themselves may not be actively participating in the sporting activity.
Members may introduce and entertain guests at the Club and there shall be kept at the Club premises a visitors book which both the member and the guest sign. The member introducing a guest shall be responsible for their guest strictly observing these rules and the Club by-laws and shall not leave the Club premises before their guest. No person whose membership of the Club has been terminated under Rule 19 or whose application for membership has at any time been rejected shall be introduced as a guest.
On not more than twelve (12) occasions in any one calendar twelve-month period persons attending a function held at the Club premises with the authority of the General Committee may purchase and be supplied with intoxicating liquor for consumption on the premises only.
The Club has adopted the ECB Safe Hands Policy.
The Club is affiliated to the England and Wales Cricket Board through the Staffordshire Cricket Board.
The Club and its members shall ensure that members, playing and non-playing, abide by the ECB Code of Conduct which incorporates the Spirit of Cricket and by the Laws of Cricket.
The Club shall adopt and implement the ECB Safe Hands - Crickets Policy for Safeguarding Children and any future versions of the policy.
The Club must also have a separate club safeguarding Policy Statement, as required by the ECB.
The Club shall adopt and implement the ECB Club Inclusion and Diversity Policy and any future versions of this policy.
The Club shall adopt and implement the ECB Anti-Discrimination Code.
December 2021