Airdrie & District Angling Club
BYE LAWS & CONSTITUTION OF THE CLUB
BYE LAWS (Revised September 2023)
Anyone known to be in breach of any of the following Bye Laws will be summoned to a disciplinary hearing by the Management Committee.
Penalties at such a hearing, ranging from a warning to the expulsion from the Club, will be at the discretion of the Management committee.
1. General:
a) The Committee will summon any Annual Member or Day Member known to be in breach or any of the following Bye-Laws to a disciplinary hearing. A “no show” will not limit penalties at such a hearing, ranging from a warning to expulsion from the club, will be at the discretion of the Committee.
b) Local Rules, Regulations and Bye-Laws made from time to time by the Committee shall become, and remain binding on members until altered by the Committee or the Club. For any discrepancies between the rules published on the day tickets and rules on the club web page, the rules on the club web page will prevail.
c) A copy of all new local Rules, Regulations and Bye-Laws shall, from time to time, be posted on the notice board in the Clubhouse, and the same shall thereby be held to be duly notified to all concerned.
2. Membership:
a) Any angler must present their Annual Membership or Day Membership Permit on request.
b) Anyone without their permit will have to buy a Day Member Permit.
c) There are no refunds on any form of membership permits.
d) Anglers must, upon the request of any Club official (i.e. bailiff or committee member) make their tackle, bag, or any receptacle for carrying fish, available for inspection.
e) Fishing permits are not transferable. Members must not bring visitors to fish onto the loch without first obtaining a Day Member Permit. Any member disregarding this Bye-Law will be subject to a disciplinary hearing.
f) Overnight fishing is not permitted for Day Member Permit holders.
g) Visiting anglers must have purchased a day ticket before accessing the loch. Bailiffs have discretion to deny access to those without tickets or offer a Bailiff Lochside ticket payable online or by cash.
3. Location:
a) a. Strictly no fishing from Tanks at the dam bank or boat jetties or in areas designated “NO FISHING ZONES”.
b) b. No camping on the loch side or overnight camping around the loch at any time while fishing.
c) c. Access to Spiers Island by boat is restricted to disabled anglers only and their access to Spiers Island is prohibited during months of March and April.
d) d. No piling of stone/bricks in the disabled areas (e.g. for supporting rod rests).
e) e. No piling of stones for shelter.
f) f. Keyholders for the Shield burns gate must not lend keys at any time,
g) g. Fishing on the woods-side is restricted to Trout and Pike Membership. Anglers with Day Membership are not permitted to fish on the woods-side (From Gatehouse through to Shields Burn.)
4. Biosecurity
a) Equipment Inspection: Before fishing in club waters, anglers must be willing to have their equipment inspected by club officials. Inspection ensures equipment does not carry disease contamination from other fisheries. Anglers with potentially contaminated equipment may be refused access to the loch.
b) Approved Disinfection Protocols: Anglers who fish at other locations should, before coming to Hillend Loch, follow approved disinfection methods for their equipment. Suggested guidelines on effective disinfection methods include;
i. Bleach Solution: Diluted bleach solution can be effective for disinfecting equipment. Prepare a solution by mixing one part bleach with nine parts water. Soak the equipment in the solution for a sufficient period, then rinse thoroughly with clean water and allow to air dry.
ii. Virkon Aquatic Solution: Virkon Aquatic is a disinfectant specifically designed for aquatic environments. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for dilution and application. Ensure thorough coverage of all surfaces, then rinse with clean water and allow to air dry.
iii. Hot Water: Immersion of equipment in hot water (above 60°C) for a specific duration can also help kill pathogens. Ensure that the equipment can withstand the heat without damage.
iv. Alcohol-based Disinfectants: Alcohol-based disinfectants, such as isopropyl alcohol, can be used to wipe down surfaces of equipment. Ensure thorough coverage and allow to air dry.
v. Drying: Some pathogens cannot survive extended periods without moisture. Allow equipment to dry completely in direct sunlight for several days, as UV radiation can help kill pathogens.
vi. Steam Cleaning: Steam cleaning equipment can effectively kill pathogens. Use a steam cleaner with appropriate temperature settings for the material of the equipment.
c) Reporting Responsibility: Anglers must promptly report any signs of illness or disease observed in fish. The report should be made promptly to the clubhouse or via the club email (adanglingclub@gmail.com) or WhatsApp to 07366 606123 and ideally include a photograph of the fish, the time and location where the fish was observed and the condition (e.g. abnormal lesions, behaviour, or unexplained mortality).
5. Fishing:
a) Catch limited to four fish per day, except in team competitions such as Boat Pairs competition or Four Person Team with limits of eight and sixteen fish respectively.
b) All trout fish less than 12 inches long must be returned. Killing fish less than 12 inches in length is strictly prohibited.
c) All pike must be returned to the water. Pike hooks must be 1 barb only.
d) No swim feeders, Ground baiting of any kind, use of Salmon Roe or any illegal substances are not allowed.
e) Illegal methods such as Set lines, Netting and Otter Boarding strictly forbidden.
f) Trout season fishing with more than one rod is strictly prohibited; only one rod to be assembled at any given time. During pike season only 3 rods are permitted.
g) No keep nets are permitted.
h) No float feeders are permitted. No loose feeding and ground baiting of any kind is permitted
i) For Pike fishing spinners must be over 6". Dead bait must be sea bait.
j) All fish must be retained and count towards bag limit when fishing with Powerbait and treble hooks.
k) Anglers are not permitted to give fish away to another angler (directly or indirectly) until after both anglers have left the loch side. Anglers that have participated in the transfer of fish cannot return to fish that day.
l) On stocking days there is strictly no boat or bank fishing permitted between “Jim’s house” to "Boathouse bay" on the North side and the bridge at the East end to the and "School burn" on the South side, West of the Clubhouse. This restriction applies until 24 hours after stocking (typically 11am Thursday to 11am on Friday).
6. Protocol:
a) A distance of two rod lengths between anglers must be observed at all times, except when a third angler is invited by anglers on both sides, or when fishing as pairs. All parties must be in agreement.
b) All litter and fish waste is to be taken home. There are no bins at the lochside.
c) All anglers are expected to respect the wild life breeding season. It is illegal to deliberately disturb nesting birds.
7. Boat Angling additional Bye-Laws:
a) Life jackets must be worn at all times.
b) No anchoring of boats or tying up to floating buoys permitted.
c) No boats allowed on the loch during the hours of darkness
d) Boat users are responsible for mooring boat and returning Club property.
e) Boat users are responsible for any damage to boats and any Club property
f) Flicker Spoons, or Spinning, or Bait fishing, or Trawling from boats is strictly prohibited.
g) Only fly fishing is permitted from the boats except during pike season when lures can be used
h) Maximum of 2 persons per boat.
i) All boat fishing must be from a club boat.
8. Liability:
a) Theft of, or damage to Club property is strictly prohibited and will be severely dealt with by the committee.
b) All persons fishing Hillend Reservoir or accessing Club land or using Club boats or facilities do so at their own risk.
c) Airdrie & District Angling Club take no responsibility for the Cycleway & Walkway.
9. Parking:
a) No Member or visitor shall park his/her car at the Clubhouse in such a way as to cause obstruction, and no car or vehicle shall be driven on to the landscaped areas, cycle path, or walkways surrounding the Clubhouse.
b) No one shall enter or leave the Clubhouse car park except by the entrance provided for that purpose.
c) Shields burn key holders must not lend a key to any other person.
10. Miscellaneous:
a) The lighting of fires on the loch side is strictly prohibited.
b) No firearms, shotguns, air rifles, or other powered weapons, are permitted on or around the loch.
c) No dogs permitted on the Auchengray Estate.
CONSTITUTION (Revised Nov 2022)
1. Name:
The Club shall be called “The Airdrie & District Angling Club” (and shall be known hereafter as the Club) and shall be a non-profit making body the object of which is to provide facilities at Hillend Loch, Airdrie for and to promote participation of the whole community in the sport of angling.
2. Membership:
a. 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.
b. As such, Membership shall consist of
i. Adult,
ii. Senior (Discount for over 65 years in 31st March of the current membership year),
iii. Junior (Discount under the age of sixteen years in 1st March of the current year),
iv. Honorary,
v. Concessionary (Discount for those holding a “blue badge”),
vi. Complimentary Members, and
vii. Consistent Volunteer Member
viii. Adult Day Members and Junior Day Members.
c. Applicants for Concessionary Membership are required to exhibit to the Committee their “blue badge” whenever they register or re-register for membership.
d. Adult, Senior and Junior, Concessionary, Complimentary members may be Trout Season-only members, or Trout & Pike season members, or Pike Season-only members. Honorary members shall be Trout & Pike Season members. Adult Day Members and Junior Day Members may only be Trout Season members, and their fishing rights shall be as set out in the Bye Laws. Complimentary members shall only be Trout Season members, although the Committee shall have the discretion (on application by the Complimentary member) to allow that member to also be a Pike Season member. Consistent Volunteer members shall be Trout & Pike Season members.
e. For the purposes of this Constitution, the Trout Season shall be defined as the period between 15 March and 6 October inclusive, and the Pike Season shall be defined as the period between 7 October and 14 March inclusive. References to being a Trout Season-only or a Pike-Season-only member are to the member having rights to fish during only the Trout Season or only the Pike Season, each member being nevertheless a member of the Club for the full Club year.
3. Membership Eligibility and Enrolment:
a. Membership of the Club shall be open to anyone interested in the sport of angling, regardless of sex, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion or other beliefs, except as a necessary consequence of the requirements of angling.
b. The Committee may from time to time invite any Honorary member to sit on a Disciplinary Committee. Only Honorary members and Committee Members may sit on a Disciplinary Committee. If fewer than three Honorary and Committee members agree to form a Disciplinary Committee from time to time, the duties of the Disciplinary Committee shall be exercised by the Secretary.
c. The Club has a zero tolerance policy for poor conduct or character, and for conduct or character which is likely to bring the Club or the sport into disrepute. The Committee shall have the power to refuse membership, or to remove it, if this policy is breached. A non-member may not appeal against a decision to refuse membership. A member may appeal to the Disciplinary Committee against a decision to remove membership, by providing written grounds of appeal to the Secretary within fourteen days of being informed of the decision, following which the Disciplinary Committee will consider the matter (which may, at the Disciplinary Committee’s discretion, include a meeting between the Disciplinary Committee and the member) and make a final decision which will then be binding on the Club and the member.
d. The Membership shall be limited to 900 or such Members (more or less) as may from time to time be fixed by the Committee
e. The Committee will decide on the levels of subscriptions in each Club year and communicate that decision in advance of the annual enrolment.
f. Members are required to re-register for membership each Club year, and to pay full subscriptions for that Club year, by 15th March. If a member fails to do so, they will be suspended from membership and any rights associated with membership. Any enrolment after 15th March will be at the discretion of the Committee, as will the eligibility of such member to vote at the AGM in the year of their enrolment. Pike membership may be renewed up until 30th September. Any pike season enrolment after 30th September will be at the discretion of the Committee.
g. The Committee may fix a period during which anglers may either register/re-register and pay online or personally attend the Club to register/re-register and pay their subscriptions. Membership tickets will be made available as soon as practically possible for collection at the Clubhouse.
h. Subscriptions not paid on time (15th March for Trout Members, 30th September for Pike Members) automatically removes the member from the Club membership.
i. Members may not join mid-year except at the discretion of the Committee.
4. Members’ right and obligations:
a. All members shall be subject to the Constitution, Rules, Regulations and Byelaws of the Club, of which a copy shall always be exhibited in the Clubhouse.
b. Intimation of Change of member details: Any Member changing their contact details must intimate the change to the Secretary in order for the Club to comply with data protection legislation and enable provision of services to the member. Any notices to be issued by the Club to a member shall be issued to the contact details notified by the member from time to time, and shall be validly issued if sent to such details.
c. Assets Belong to Members. The property of the Club shall belong to the eligible voting members during their membership, but the right and interest of every such Member shall be personal to that Member and cease with their membership, and shall not be assignable or arrestable by heirs, executors or representatives.
d. Neither the Club nor its Committee shall be responsible for any property belonging to Members or visitors whether in the Clubhouse, the car park or at the loch or lochside.
e. Resignation from Membership: Any Member wishing to resign shall intimate their resignation in writing to the Secretary, who shall acknowledge same. No refund or part refund of membership paid will be given.
f. All membership tickets / cards remain the property of the Club.
5. Voting Rights:
Where members of the Club are required to vote on a decision, each member of the Club (including Honorary members) shall have a single vote, with the exception of:
a. Adult Day Members and Junior Day members,
b. Junior members,
c. Pike-only season members,
d. Complimentary members,
e. Members who have been suspended or removed from membership (whether or not an appeal is pending against such suspension or removal),
none of whom shall have any vote
6. Honorary Members:
a. Honorary Membership shall be conferred on a person by the Committee in recognition of past services to the Club, or on a person who has held office with distinction on the committee of the Club and it may be reviewed from year to year.
b. They shall have no right or interest in the property or liabilities of the Club.
c. Members, including the Committee itself, may recommend that a person be conferred with Honorary Membership at any time, but the Committee’s decision on such matter is within its entire direction.
7. Complimentary Members:
The Committee may confer one year Complimentary membership on a person in recognition of services to the Club given in the previous year.
8. Members Subscriptions:
a. The subscriptions payable by Members shall be amounts fixed by the Committee.
b. In order to convey the rights associated with membership of the Club, payment of subscriptions must be made in full and no credit facilities will be offered by the Club.
c. Members (or third parties for and on behalf of members, such as by way of gifts) may pay subscriptions at any time after the subscriptions are fixed by the Committee, subject to the final date for payment provided for in clause 3f.
9. Financial Year:
The financial year of the Club shall end on the 31st December.
10. Annual General Meeting (AGM):
a. Subject to clause 10e, the AGM will be held in a convenient place in April in each year and shall be convened by the Secretary.
b. An independent Chartered Accountant will be appointed by the Committee to audit the Club’s accounts prior to being presented to the AGM.
c. Annual Balances: Prior to the AGM, the Treasurer shall submit a statement of the Club’s Accounts, together with the report of the Auditors thereon, to the Committee for approval, and the Committee shall thereafter authorise publication.
d. Submission of Annual Balance Sheet: At the AGM, the Annual Balance Sheet shall be submitted.
e. The AGM business may be conducted remotely or by mail-in ballot and at any time prior to the meeting in April each year as circumstances may reasonably require.
f. The Committee shall give notice of the business (“Notified Business”) to be conducted at an AGM to enrolled members by 31st December. In advance of same, any member wishing to raise a matter of business at an AGM requires to give notice to the Committee of such business, including the proposed decision(s) to be taken, by 30th November. The Committee shall have the discretion on whether to include such business in the notice of Notified Business. An AGM may only consider Notified Business.
g. Members may vote on Notified Business either by ballot in advance of the AGM (whether when enrolling for membership or online or by post, but in the case of online or postal voting by ballot, the member’s vote must be in the hands of the Secretary no later than 15th March). Members may also vote on Notified Business in person at the AGM, so long as they have not already submitted a vote by ballot. Members who have submitted a valid vote by ballot may still attend the AGM, and may participate in discussion on Notified Business, but may not vote again or change their vote except by the discretion of the Secretary, whose decision on the matter will be final.
h. The Committee, at its discretion, may ask the members for a decision on a matter or number of matters without the necessity of an AGM or a Special General Meeting. Members may vote on such matter or matters by online ballot or in writing, by any reasonable deadline as may be set by the Committee. Provided that the Committee has issued details of the matter or matters to be voted upon to the membership at the contact details provided by members, and provided that at least 15 ballots are returned by the deadline, and provided a majority of those ballots is in favour of or against the matter in question, the vote on that matter will be binding on the Club. For the avoidance of doubt, the Committee may seek decisions from the members following the process outlined in this clause in relation to proposed amendments of this Constitution.
i. At any AGM, the Chairperson’s authority must be respected at all times; failure to do so may result in the offender being asked to leave the meeting.
j. To assist the orderly conduct of an AGM, every Member’s contribution to an AGM should be addressed to the Chairperson and not directly to any other individual present, and the Chairperson may limit discussion for reasons of time or to maintain good order.
11. Committee Meetings and Powers:
a. The Committee shall meet at least once every month for the dispatch of all competent business.
b. All meetings of the Club and Committee (including the AGM and any Special General Meeting) shall be chaired by the Chairperson, or in the Chairperson’s absence, by such individual as the meeting shall elect from those present.
c. Fifteen members in the case of an AGM or a Special General Meeting of the Club and five in the case of a Committee Meeting shall form a quorum.
d. A Committee Member who is absent from three consecutive Committee or general meetings of the Club, shall be automatically suspended from the Committee. The suspension will be communicated to the suspended member, and the remaining members of the Committee shall thereafter consider any explanation which is provided by the suspended member within 40 days of being notified of their suspension, and may decide whether to reinstate the suspended member or to remove them from the Committee.
e. The Committee is subject to the Constitution and decisions made by Members at any General Meeting.
f. The Committee shall have all the powers necessary for conducting of the affairs of the Club, and setting all Regulations and Bye-Laws
g. Regulations and Bye-Laws made by the Committee shall be binding on every member until set aside by a General Meeting or revoked by the Committee.
h. The Committee may appoint such Sub-Committees as they think necessary with or without full powers to act, and may appoint to any Sub-Committee other members of the Club for any special purpose.
i. For the avoidance of doubt all claims against the Club or against Committee members in respect of their actions as Committee members on Club business, will be met from Club resources and will not be the personal responsibility of office bearers/committee members.
12. Special General Meetings:
The Committee may convene a Special General Meeting of the Members when, and as often as they deem it necessary to do so.
13. Requisitioning of Special General Meeting by Members:
a. A Special General Meeting may be called for at any time by not less than 25% of the entire membership signing and delivering to the Secretary a requisition to that effect, stating therein the business to be considered and the proposed decision(s) to be taken.
b. The Committee shall be bound to convene such a meeting within twelve weeks of the Secretary’s receipt of the signed requisition, and shall give notice to the membership of (a) the date and place of the meeting, and (b) the business to be conducted and the decision(s) to be taken, at least 7 days in advance.
c. If the Committee fails to convene such a meeting within the twelve week period following receipt of a valid requisition by the Secretary, the requisitionists may themselves convene such a meeting by giving notice to the membership of (a) the date and place of the meeting, and (b) the business to be conducted and the decision(s) to be taken, at least 7 days in advance. Such notice by the requisitionists may be given by both advertisement in the local newspaper and by notice exhibited on the Clubhouse Notice Board, so long as such advertisement and notice each state (a) the date and place of the meeting, and (b) the business to be conducted and the decision(s) to be taken, and so long as the advertisement and notice are both placed at least 7 days in advance.
14. Committee: election and eligibility:
a. The Club shall be managed by a Committee. The Committee shall be elected each year by the members at the AGM. Only members of the Club, with a record of good conduct and who have provided service to the Club, are eligible for election to the Committee. The outgoing Committee at the AGM, prior to its retirement taking effect, shall be the sole judge of a member’s eligibility for election to the new Committee.
b. Following election of the Committee at the AGM, the Committee as so formed shall elect the Chairperson, Treasurer and Secretary from among their number as office bearers, provided that no office bearer shall hold the same office for more than 5 consecutive years, or return to such office within 3 years after ceasing to hold it.
c. Elected Committee members must sign the HMRC ‘fit and proper test’ declaration before being accepted into the Committee.
d. Committee members are expected to make themselves available for consultation and discussion with the members throughout the Club year, to ensure that members’ views and opinions are known. Committee members will ultimately retain a discretion on whether to act on such views and opinions, but should take them fairly into account when considering how to act.
e. Subject as follows, all members of the Committee (including those appointed under Clause 14f) shall retire annually at the AGM, and shall be eligible for re-election. In the event that an AGM is, for whatever reason, not held, or in the event that there is no election of a new Committee as provided for in this Clause 14, or if the number of eligible members seeking election to the Committee is less than the required number, the previous Committee shall remain in post until a valid election is held.
f. Vacancies in the Committee: Vacancies in the Committee occurring during the financial year may be filled by the Committee appointing any eligible member or members. If the Committee does not make such an appointment or appointments, the Committee will nevertheless remain validly constituted until the next occurring AGM.
15. Chairperson’s Duties:
The Chairperson’s primary duty is to preserve order and guide the course of Club and Committee meetings, to act impartially and to see that the business of such meetings is transacted in a proper manner.
16. Secretary’s Duties:
a. The Secretary shall keep full and correct minutes of the proceedings and meetings of the Club and Committee, and shall keep an up-to-date list of Members, conduct correspondence with Members and others, and issue all notices to Members and the Committee, and otherwise act as the Club or its Committee may direct.
b. The Committee may, if they so desire, elect a Minute Secretary from their number, who shall keep full and correct minutes of the proceedings of the Club.
17. Treasurer’s and Club Signatories’ Duties:
a. From time to time, the Committee shall appoint at least two members, who may also be Committee members but may not be the Treasurer, to be known as Club Signatories, to whom power and responsibility is delegated by the Committee to receive money due to, and to pay money due by, the Club. Working together, the Club Signatories and the Treasurer shall keep correct accounts and books showing accurate financial affairs of the Club.
b. All moneys received by the Treasurer or the Club Signatories shall be lodged in the name of the Club in the registered bank account.
c. The Treasurer must set a financial plan for each year for approval by the Committee. Any payments outside the plan must be taken to the Committee for prior approval.
d. All payments must be signed for two Club Signatories.
e. The Treasurer must foster a cashless culture within the Club in as much as possible. This includes ensuring as much as possible that all suppliers’ invoices and member’s expense payments are electronic.
f. No member (including the Treasurer or the Club Signatories) has the power to enter into any contract on behalf of the Club or dispose of any Club assets or incur any liability on behalf of the Club or compromise any claims which the Club might have without the prior approval of the Committee.
g. No other member can adopt any aspect of a Treasurer’s duties without the prior approval of the Committee.
h. All investment monies may be placed with any Bank or Building Society up to a maximum of £85,000 in each establishment and any monies placed on deposit receipt shall be placed in the name of the Club.
18. Additional obligations on Office Bearers: Trustees:
a. No office bearer shall rent or lease land to the Club.
b. All Committee members must declare any conflict of interest to the Committee, such as private connection to suppliers, or participation of other family members within any responsible position within the Club. A responsible position is a member participating in any of the roles defined under the Club’s Role Register. The Committee will decide on acceptance of any conflict on a case by case basis.
c. No Committee member can receive emoluments linked to their performance of any task on behalf of the Club, unless a declaration of interest has been approved by the Committee in advance.
d. For the avoidance of doubt and notwithstanding Clause 14, the Committee in place before an AGM in a given year is responsible for organising and conducting the enrolment and registration process before, and preparations for, the next AGM, including the decision on what constitutes Notified Business under Clause 10.
19. Bailiffs:
a. Bailiffs will be appointed at the discretion of the Committee. Duly appointed Bailiffs have power to offer a loch side ticket to an angler, and shall support the Club in relation to member and public compliance to the Club bye-laws, and shall report to the Committee and/or relevant public authorities on matters of non-compliance.
b. Bailiffs may receive commission from the sale of Permits. The Committee shall set the Bailiff commission policy for any given Club year.
c. To provide an up to date financial audit during the season all Bailiffs must hand in sold or part sold permit books and monies each month.
20. Shop outlets:
The Committee may authorize selected commercial outlets to sell day tickets on a commission basis.
21. Expenses and payments:
a. All payments made to members must be by electronic means into a bank account in their name.
b. All expenses incurred on behalf of the Club must be receipted.
c. Travel expenses to and from any Committee approved “away competitions” are covered by HMRC CASC guidance and are therefore allowable for the Club to pay, subjects to receipts being provided to the Treasurer and the costs being reasonable.
d. Travel expenses to and from the Clubhouse are not covered by HMRC CASC guidance so are not paid by the Club.
e. Honorariums are available to people providing services in the running of the Club. Qualifying roles and amounts paid are listed in the Role Register. If a role is shared then the honorarium is shared proportionally according to the share of work. The Role Register is maintained by the Committee and the payment amounts set by the Committee. Individuals receiving honorariums have responsibility to declare them to relevant agencies (e.g., HMRC, DWP and Pension Service).
22. Property:
The Title to the Clubhouse and other property and Lands shall be vested in the Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and members of the Committee, and their successors in office, as Trustees for and behalf of the Club.
23. Lending / Borrowing Powers:
a. The Club has no power to borrow or lend money. However, the Committee may seek the approval of the members to borrow or lend money from time to time for any purpose approved by the members.
b. The Committee has the power to invest and disburse the Club’s resources in the best interests of the Club as determined in its discretion.
24. Income and Assets.
a. All surplus income or profits are to be reinvested in the Club. No surpluses or assets will be distributed to members or third parties.
b. In the event of the dissolution of the Club, any assets remaining after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities shall not be paid to or distributed among the members of the Club, but shall be given or transferred to one or more of the following approved sporting or charitable bodies:
i. A registered charitable organisation.
ii. Another Club that is registered CASC.
iii. The sport’s national governing body for use by them for related community sports.
25. Complaints:
All complaints or suggestions must be made in writing to the Secretary and such complaints or suggestions shall be submitted to and dealt with by the Committee at their next meeting, and its decision shall be final and binding on all concerned.
26. Alteration of Constitution:
a. Any alterations or additions to the Constitution (“Alterations”) may be made at any AGM or Special General Meeting, and Notice calling such meeting shall state the terms of the proposed Alterations.
b. In the interests of members who elect to vote by ballot and/or not attend an AGM or a Special General Meeting, no Alterations may be considered by such a meeting unless the precise proposed wording is contained and set out in full in the notice calling the meeting, and in particular no Alterations may be made from the floor of such a meeting, and nor may the members vote at such a meeting to pass an amended Alteration.
c. Any proposed Alterations shall be notified in writing to the Secretary at least twenty one days before such meeting in the case of an AGM, or at least fourteen days before submitting a requisition in the case of a Special General Meeting. An existing member may submit proposed Alterations in advance of an AGM before that member has enrolled for the following year, but the proposed Alterations will only then be considered at the meeting if that member has, by the date of the AGM, successfully re-enrolled.
d. Alterations made at the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting shall be operative from the date of said meeting.
e. A majority of those present at an AGM or a Special General Meeting (or, where such a meeting is being held remotely and/or by ballot, a majority of those returning valid ballot papers) is necessary to authorise an alteration to the Constitution.
27. Alteration of Bye-Laws:
a. Local Rules, Regulations and Bye-Laws made from time to time by the Committee shall become and remain binding on members until altered by the Committee or the Club.
b. A copy of all new local Rules, Regulations and Bye-Laws shall from time to time be posted on the notice board in the Clubhouse, and the same shall thereby be held to be duly notified to all concerned.
This Constitution agreed and “Adopted” at the Special General Meeting on 7 November 2022.