An Extraordinary General Meeting will take place to discuss the move to Community Amateur Sports Club Status, on 17 February 2025 and all current Members of the Club are invited to attend.
The meeting will take place on Zoom and details can be obtained from the Secretary.
The Agenda for the meeting will be as follows:
1. Welcome by the Chairman
2. Apologies for Absence
3. Presentation of HMRC-required amendments to the Club Constitution in pursuance of CASC-status including Membership rates, Appeal and Choice of signatories
4. Member’s vote on proposed amendments to Club Constitution
The current Club Constitution is below
1. Title
The Club shall be named the Broadhalfpenny Brigands Cricket Club, abbreviated to “Brigands Cricket”.
2. Objectives
The objectives of Brigands Cricket shall be:
a. The main purpose of the club is to provide facilities for and to promote participation in the amateur sport of cricket in Hambledon and the surrounding area.
b. to preserve the traditions of the game of cricket in both its play and in related social gatherings at the Bat and Ball Inn, Hambledon, Hampshire.
c. to ensure women’s, disabled, ethnic minority group and youth cricket teams can access BHD for the purpose of playing cricket and engaging in related activities.
d. to remain affiliated to England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) sponsored bodies as the Committee consider appropriate in order to carry out the objectives of the Club.
e. to ensure a duty of care to all members of the Club by adopting and implementing the ECB “Safe Hands – Cricket’s Policy for Safeguarding Children” and any future versions of the Policy
f. to ensure a duty of care to all members of the Club by adopting and implementing the ECB Club Inclusivity and Diversity Policy and any future versions of the Policy
g. to acknowledge and adopt Sport England definition of Sports Equality.
h. to continue to maintain close relations with Royal Navy cricket.
3. Membership
a. Membership shall be open to anyone who shares in the values and objectives of the Club as set out in paragraph 2 regardless of sex, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion or other beliefs, except as a necessary consequence of the requirements of cricket. The club may have different classes of membership and subscription on a non-discriminatory and fair basis. The club will keep subscriptions at levels that will not pose a significant obstacle to people participating. However, limitation of membership according to available facilities is allowable on a non-discriminatory basis. Children under the age of 16 attending any Club activity must be accompanied by their parent or guardian who shall be entirely responsible for them. For young people aged 16 or 17, a parent or guardian is to be entirely responsible for their attendance at all Club activities. The club committee may refuse membership, or remove it, only for good cause such as conduct or character likely to bring the club or the sport into disrepute. Appeal against refusal or removal may be made to members. Note, no member previously involved in the decision to refuse or remove membership may be part of any Appeal Committee.
b. The club will continue to maintain a close relationship to the Royal Navy and will continue to welcome members drawn from all three armed services.
c. There are 3 categories of membership:
i. Playing member – adult
ii. Playing member – junior U18 / full-time education
iii. Non-playing member.
d. All applications for membership are to be submitted to the Secretary who shall put them to the Committee for consideration. The Secretary shall maintain a list of current members. Playing members will be accepted into the Club on payment of their subscription, and this event will be marked with the award of a Club Cap.
e. 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.
f. Honorary Vice Presidencies shall be awarded to Club members who have given long and distinguished service as officers of the Club, and to notable benefactors. Individuals will be proposed by the Management Committee to the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the members.
g. The President of the club shall be a distinguished member, invited by the Management Committee to assume the title. The President shall serve for a period of no more than three years or such time as the committee might decide.
h. Any member wishing to resign from the Club must do so in writing or by email to the Secretary before the 1st April, failing which, they may be liable for the ensuing year’s subscription. Resignations will not be accepted if the member is financially indebted to the Club, i.e. has not paid their subscription for the current year. In this case, acceptance of the resignation will be withheld until the debt has been discharged.
i. The Management Committee shall have the power to suspend or exclude any member for contravention of this Constitution or any published codes of conduct that may exist at that time. They are to be given at least 21 days’ notice of the meeting at which this expulsion is to be considered or such longer notice as is considered fair and sufficient to respond to the proposal. Appeal against refusal of or removal from membership may be made to members of the club.
4. Subscriptions
a. Members may be playing or non-playing and shall be required to pay an annual subscription by 1st April. Where a subscription has not been paid by 1st May, that member may be deemed to have forfeited their membership.
b. Subscription rates shall be decided by the members at the AGM, following a recommendation from the Management Committee.
c. The annual combined cost of membership fees and match fees will not exceed the stipulated maximum mandated by HMRC under the rules for CASC.
d. For Brigands Cricket games, a Match Fee will be charged to each participating player. Junior / Student members will be charged at a reduced rate.
5. Club Colours and Badge
The emblem of Brigands Cricket shall be an old-time wicket, a bat and ball, a foaming tankard on either side, coloured dark green on a white background. The Club colours shall be navy blue and dark green.
6. Management Committee
a. The affairs of the Club shall be managed by the Management Committee (hereafter ‘the Committee’). Until amended by agreement at an AGM, the Committee shall consist of the following positions:
The Chairman
The Honorary Secretary
The Honorary Treasurer
The Honorary Ground Manager
The Honorary Facilities Manager
The Honorary Fixture Secretary
The Honorary Member for Partnerships
The Honorary Member for Communications
The Honorary Fundraising and Events Manager
Club Safeguarding Officer (normally the Secretary)
b. Each member of the Committee shall be elected by the AGM of the Club for a period of one year and the post shall be subject to re-election after that period has expired, unless after a shorter period, he offers himself for re-election, or offers his resignation.
c. A quorum shall consist of The Chair, or their nominated representative, plus three other elected Committee members.
d. Committee posts shall normally be restricted to those who are, or have been, playing members of the Club for a period of at least three years prior to their nomination.
e. At least three of the Committee must be unrelated to each other and not co habiting.
f. The Committee members shall consider the skills needed to effectively contribute to managing the Club as well as ensuring maximum diversity within its make-up.
g. Each Committee member shall normally serve for a one year term. At the end of that term, the vacancy will be notified in the AGM calling notice sent out to all members as stated in para 8. Nominations for any Committee post must be received by the Secretary at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the AGM.
h. If any Committee member wishes to resign from their post prior to the end of their one-year term, they shall, where practical, continue in role until the next AGM as well as make every effort to find an individual to replace them in the intervening time. If they are unable to continue in role, the Committee may appoint such person as it thinks fit to fill the post until the next AGM.
i. A Committee member may only be removed from their post by a resolution of the members at an AGM or EGM. In such cases, they are to be provided notice as is set out in paragraph 8 and 9.
j. Where, due to resignation or expulsion, the Committee becomes inquorate, the remaining members shall have the power to make such temporary appointments as are required. Where no such members remain, then that power shall fall to the President of the Club.
k. The Committee shall have power to co-opt other members, as it considers necessary. Any such co-opted member shall not be entitled to vote in Committee on Club issues.
l. The Committee shall also have the power to establish any sub-Committee deemed appropriate to assist in meeting the objectives of the Club, and to delegate to these sub-Committees such duties as may be considered appropriate.
m. The Committee shall have the power to appoint individuals to perform specific duties on behalf of the Committee, and to delegate to those individuals such duties as they consider appropriate.
n. Complying with para a, the Committee shall appoint a Safeguarding Officer to ensure compliance with Safeguarding legislation and the ECB Safe Hands policy. The Club Safeguarding Officer shall be a Committee Member, usually the Honorary Secretary, and report to relevant Committee meetings. The reports, together with any action taken, must be minuted.
7. Conduct of Committee Meetings
a. The Committee shall meet at least four times each year.
b. The meeting shall be run via an agenda that has been distributed ahead of the
meeting and include, but not limited to, reports from all Club Officers, review of
outstanding actions on Committee Members and agreement on date of next meeting.
c. Whenever a Committee member has a personal interest in a matter to be
discussed he/she must declare it, withdraw from that part of the meeting (unless asked
to stay), not be counted in the quorum for that agenda item and withdraw during the
vote and have no vote on the matter concerned. Conflicts of Interest must be recorded
and minuted.
8. Annual General Meeting
a. The AGM will be on a convenient Sunday post-season. The date and venue shall
be published in the fixture card and in the Calling Notice. The Calling Notice shall contain the agenda and be sent to each member at least 21 days prior to the date of the meeting. It shall consist of the following:
i. Statements by each member of the Committee on his area of responsibility.
ii. The election of officials as required.
iii. Any other business which members may from time to time raise.
b. A quorum for the AGM shall be 10 members including Committee members.
c. All members shall have an equal vote on any resolution.
d. Proposals put to the members shall be determined by ordinary resolution of those present, i.e. a simple majority of those present, unless otherwise specified in the Constitution.
e. The following matters shall be determined by special resolution, i.e. a majority of seventy-five per cent of the members present:
i. Any proposed change to the Club Constitution.
ii. Any motion or proposal to dissolve the Club.
9. Extra-Ordinary General Meeting
a. An EGM may be called by the Committee on its own authority. Additionally, an EGM must be called following the Committee’s receipt of a written requisition from at least 10 members. The EGM will be held to deal with important issue(s) that require a resolution of the members, and which cannot be postponed until the AGM. The period of notice required shall be 21 clear days.
b. The notice shall contain the date, venue, purpose of the meeting and names of
the members calling the EGM, where it is not being called by the Committee.
c. Where the members require an EGM to be called, they shall give written notice,
containing their signatures, to the Secretary and to the members.
d. A quorum shall be 10 Club members.
e. All members shall have an equal vote on any resolution.
f. Proposals put to the members shall be determined by ordinary resolution of
those present, i.e. a simple majority of those present, unless otherwise specified in the
Constitution.
g. The following matters shall be determined by special resolution, i.e. a majority of
seventy-five per cent of the members present:
i. Any proposed change to the Club Constitution.
ii. Any motion or proposal to dissolve the Club.
10. Finance
a. The financial year of the Club shall end on 31st December.
b. Any Bank Account in which any part of the Club’s funds are deposited shall be operated by the Committee and shall be held in the name of the Club. Unless regulations state otherwise, all cheques and orders for payment of money from such accounts must be signed by at least two people authorised by the Committee, including at least one Committee member.
c. Expenditure above agreed budget levels may only be authorised at a Committee meeting
11. Property and Funds
a. The property and funds of the Club cannot be used for the direct or indirect private benefit of members other than as reasonably allowed by the Constitution. All surplus income or profits are reinvested in the Club. No surpluses or assets will be distributed to members or third parties.
b. The Club may provide sporting and related social facilities, sporting equipment, coaching, courses, insurance cover, medical treatment, travel expenses and other ordinary benefits of Community Amateur Sports Clubs as provided for in the Finance Act 2002.
c. The Club may also in connection with the sports purposes of the Club:
i Sell and supply food, drink and related sports clothing and equipment.
ii. Employ members and remunerate them for providing goods and services, on fair terms set by the Committee without the person concerned being present.
iii Pay for reasonable hospitality for visiting guests.
d. Indemnify the Committee and members acting properly in the course of the running of the Club against any liability incurred in the proper running of the Club (but only to the extent of its assets).
12. Winding Up
a. Dissolution of the Club shall only take effect by special resolution of the
members at either the AGM or at an EGM.
b. In the event of the Club being dissolved, the Committee will then be
responsible for the orderly winding up of the Club’s affairs.
c. Upon dissolution of the club any remaining assets shall be given or transferred to another registered CASC, a registered charity or the sport’s governing body for use by them in related community sports.
13. Alterations to the Constitution
The Constitution may be altered but only by a resolution passed by two-thirds of those present and voting at an AGM or an EGM called for that purpose.
14. Priority
Interpretation of all the above rules must be consistent with the statutory requirements for CASCs (which means Community Amateur Sports Clubs as first provided for by the Finance Act 2002).
15. Review
This constitution should be reviewed on a bi-annual basis and changes approved by the management committee and ratified by the membership at the AGM.
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