1. The name of the Club shall be The Bideford, Littleham and Westward Ho! Cricket Club and the name ‘Bideford Cricket Club' shall be used as an abbreviated name for certain administrative purposes.
2. The Club is to be affiliated to the Devon Cricket Association and the England and Wales Cricket Board and its home ground shall be The Cricket Field at Golf Links Road, Westward Ho!
3. The Club colours shall be navy blue and gold.
4. Cricket shall be played under the current Laws issued by the Marylebone Cricket Club.
5. The aims and objectives of the Club shall be as follows: i. To promote good and sporting cricket at all times and to promote Social and fund raising activities in connection therewith ii. To introduce young players into the heart of good club cricket and to provide them with coaching and competitive opportunities and every incentive and facility needed for them to become good club men. iii. To encourage the attitude amongst players that cricket is a team game and is not just for the individual, thereby encouraging a good 'club spirit.' iv. To provide cricket as an amenity at Westward Ho! and to promote the Club within the local community. v. To manage the Bideford, Littleham and Westward Ho! Cricket Club and ensure a duty of care to all members of the Club. vi. To provide all its services in a way that is fair to everyone and to ensure that all present and future members receive fair and equal treatment.
6. Officers: The Officers of the Club shall consist of The President, The Chairman, Honorary Secretary Honorary Treasurer and Club Captain. Such Officers shall be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting with the exception of the Club Captain who will be appointed by the General Committee in accordance with 16.6. All officers will retire each year but will be eligible for re-election.
7. Management: . The management of the Club, including adopting new policies, Codes of Conduct and Rules that affect the organisation of the Club, shall be vested in the General Committee which shall consist of the Officers, the Chairmen of the four Committees (or their deputies), the Colts Organiser and three ordinary members of the Club who shall include the member responsible for the organisation of the bar. Only the holders of these posts will have the right to vote at meetings of the General Committee. The General Committee shall have power to co-opt if necessary. The Honorary Secretary shall notify all Committee members of the date and venue of all committee meetings and five members shall form a quorum.
8. Voting: At all meetings of the Club including Annual and Special General Meetings each member over the age of 18 shall be entitled to one vote. In the event of an equal vote, the Chairman of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote. Voting at all meetings shall be by a show of hands except where the General Committee or meeting Chairman decides voting shall be by ballot. At all meetings, decisions shall be made by a simple majority, except in relation to a change in the Club Rules.
9. Committees: The Officers and General Committee members shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Club in addition to which the General Committee shall elect annually, four additional Committees as follows:- 1. Ground Committee 2. Resources and Finance Committee 3. Team Administration Committee 4. Fixtures and Public Relations Committee, and such other sub-committees that may be required.
10. The General Committee shall have power to delegate to Committees who may be given full power to act where such course is considered appropriate and necessary for the well being and proper management of The Club, such power being regarded as delegated to the Officers of the Club for the purposes of dealing with any urgent matters requiring attention and which cannot await a full meeting of the General Committee.
11. Honorary Secretary: The Secretary shall be responsible for all correspondence, the Notice, Agenda and Minutes of the Annual, Special and General Committee meetings. Minutes of the aforementioned meetings (and any sub-committee meetings) shall be presented for confirmation at the following meeting.
12. Honorary Treasurer: The Treasurer shall be responsible for all financial matters including receipt of monies, payments, banking and the production of an audited Annual Balance Sheet/Statement of Accounts and Annual Report. The Treasurer will also be responsible for producing an up-date of the financial position as required by the General Committee. Any cheques drawn from the Club Accounts shall hold the signature of the Honorary Treasurer together with the signature of either the President or Chairman of the Club.The Treasurer shall also ensure the agreed insurance policy/policies is/are in place.
13. Membership: Membership shall consist of officers and members of the Club. All members will be subject to the Club Rules and by joining the Club will be deemed to accept these Rules and any other Regulations or Codes of Conduct that the Club has adopted. There shall be the following classes of membership:- 13.1 Full Membership 13.1.1 The President 13.1.2 Vice Presidents 13.1.3 Honorary Life Members 13.1.4 Senior Playing Members 13.1.5 Student Playing Members (defined as being over 18 on 1st September in full time education or not being in full time employment No full member shall be entitled to hold office or nominate for office at a General Meeting of the Club unless all subscriptions have been paid. 13.2 Associate Membership 13.2.1 Patrons 13.2.2 Social Members 13.2.3 Junior Playing Members (defined as being under 18 on 1st September) No associate member shall be entitled to hold office, vote or nominate for office at any General Meeting of the Club.
14. Election of Members: 14.1 The General Committee shall have absolute discretion in electing prospective persons as members of the Club being fully aware of the desirability that membership shall be open to all irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, ethnic origin, creed, colour, social status and sexual orientation. If for any other reason, the General Committee decides not to elect a prospective person to membership, the General Committee shall not be required to give their reasons for such refusal. All full members shall be entitled to attend and vote at all meetings of the Club. 14.2 Any person wishing to become a member of the Club must be proposed and seconded by a full member of the Club. A period of at least 48 hours must elapse between proposing and election of such new members.
15. Membership Fees: The annual subscription for all classes of Club members shall be determined by the General Committee. Such subscription shall become due on 1st May. The General Committee shall have power to reduce the subscription for a new member joining after 31st May. Should subscriptions not have been paid by the 30th June, membership will be deemed to have lapsed. A list of members in all categories shall be maintained by the Treasurer.
16. Annual General Meeting: 16.1 The Annual General Meeting of the Club shall be held by 30th November. The Honorary Secretary shall give not less than 14 clear days notice to all members entitled to attend. 16.2 The audited Accounts shall be presented to the members for adoption. 16.3 Nominations for Officers of the Club and for members of the General Committee should be forwarded to the Honorary Secretary prior to the meeting but this will not preclude the acceptance of nominations at the meeting. 16.4 The quorum for the Annual General Meeting shall be 12 members. 16.5 All members shall have the right to vote at the Annual General Meeting. 16.6 The following business shall be transacted at the Annual General Meeting: The presentation of the minutes of the previous AGM A report from the Chairman and/or the Honorary Secretary The presentation and approval of the Annual Accounts Reports from the Captain and Other Officials Election of Officers Election of General Committee Election of other positions including Appointment of Independent Person, Welfare of Children Policy Resolutions to alter The Rules of the Club Any other business that is considered relevant The appointment of captains and vice-captains shall be a matter for the General Committee following recommendations from a properly convened Players’ Meeting attended by The Chairman and Honorary Secretary.
17. Special General Meeting: A Special General Meeting of the Club may be called at any time by the General Committee or upon the request of ten members of The Club. Only the business for which the meeting is called shall be discussed. A notice specifying the business, the time and the place of the meeting shall be notified to each full member at least 14 days before the date fixed for the Special General Meeting.
18. The Rules: The Rules of The Club may be altered at the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting convened solely for that purpose. At least two-thirds of the votes cast is required for an alteration. Not less than 14 days notice shall be given to the Honorary Secretary of any proposed alteration. A copy of the Rules shall be posted on the Club Notice Board in the Clubhouse and be available to members at all times. Due notice of such alterations shall be given within 28 days to the Chief Officer of Police and to the Clerk of the Local Authority in compliance with the provisions of the Licensing Acts.
19. The General Committee shall have the power to decide any matters not covered by The Rules and any decision shall be final.
20. No Member shall at any time raise any claim against The Club for any injury or damage whatsoever suffered whilst in or about The Club premises which includes its grounds and adjoining premises.
21. Disciplinary Rules: The General Committee shall be responsible for the setting up of disciplinary hearings of members who infringe the Club Rules or such other Regulations applicable to the Club arising from membership of Cricketing Leagues or other proper activities of the Club. 21.1 It shall be a disciplinary offence for any player or member in the course of or in connection with a cricket match or other activities related to the Club to misconduct himself or to act at any time in a manner likely to prejudice the good name or interests of the Club. 21.2 For the purposes of these Rules the expression "player or member" shall throughout these Rules be deemed to mean and include not only any player or member but, if appropriate, any other person involved in any incident or possible misconduct occurring on the field of play, on the premises of the Club or in any other activities relating to the Club, as may be appropriate in the particular circumstances. 21.3 The General Committee of the Club of its own volition and without any need for the receipt of a written complaint or other prompting shall, where any possible case of misconduct occurs as stated above, or otherwise as the General Committee may think fit, forthwith convene an Internal Club Enquiry to consider any such possible misconduct involving a player or member of the Club involved in the incident. 21.4 The purposes of the Internal Club Enquiry shall be to establish the facts and where appropriate to take the necessary disciplinary action so as to ensure that the Club does not fail properly to control or discipline its player or member and to ensure that the Club acts in a manner designed to protect the good name of the Club and of cricket generally. 21.5 Any player or member requested to attend such an Internal Club Enquiry, or any Appeal therefrom, shall be told that he/she is entitled to be accompanied at the Enquiry by a friend or other representative. 21.6 If at the Hearing the Internal Club Enquiry finds that misconduct has been proved the General Committee shall have the following powers: (a) if the conduct constitutes gross misconduct the General Committee shall have the power to terminate the player's or member’s membership of the Club forthwith. (b) To suspend the player's or member’s membership of the Club for a period. (c) In the case of a player, to suspend the player's right to be considered for selection by the Club to play in one or more matches. (d) To record a reprimand and to give a warning as to future conduct in the case of a first offence, save that the General Committee for the same offence may if it is thought fit impose more than one of the above penalties. 21.7 The outcome of a disciplinary hearing shall be notified in writing to the person who lodged the complaint and the member against whom the complaint was made within seven days of the hearing. 21.8 Where the General Committee has imposed any penalty the player or member shall have the right to appeal to the President of the Club or to the President's nominee for a review of the findings of the Internal Club Enquiry and of the penalty or penalties imposed. 21.9 The decision of the President or his nominee in all cases shall be final and binding. 21.10 Matters relating to disciplinary offences involving Junior Playing Members taking part in Colts Cricket shall be at the sole discretion of the Colts Organiser but subject to the appeals procedure as above.
22. (a) All real and personal estate and properties belonging to or at any time hereafter acquired by The Club, are to be vested in Trustees (not less than two or more than four) acting on behalf of the General Committee. Each such Trustee is to be elected by a majority of the General Committee. In the case of a death or a resignation of any Trustee, a new Trustee or Trustees may be appointed. Only members of The Club are to be eligible for appointment as Trustees. The present Trustees are: Peter Adams, Brian Champion and Andrew Davies. (b) The Club may borrow any monies without limit or restriction on the resolution of the General Committee of whom not less than 50% shall be present and voting and subject also to the Trustees approving such borrowing. A certificate to this effect signed by two out of the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer shall be sufficient evidence to any lender. For the purpose of borrowing monies the Trustees shall have full power on receipt of instructions from the General Committee to sell mortgage charge lease or otherwise dispose of all or any part of The Club's property whether freehold, leasehold or personal.
23. The General Committee is to have power to make such Rules as may from time to time be necessary for the proper function of The Club. The provisions of this Rule shall apply subject to the same ratification at a General Meeting as is provided in Number 18 in addition to which the statutory authorities will be notified of such alterations to the Rules.
RULES GOVERNING THE BAR: 24. Generally the Duty Bar Steward shall have all the rights and powers which may be necessary for the proper conduct of the Club House and the due observance of the Rules of the Club and the Licensing Acts and other statutory provisions.
25. The Honorary Secretary is to take all steps to ensure that the Club is registered under the Licensing Acts and that the provisions of the Acts are at all times strictly observed. All members shall give every assistance to the Duty Bar Steward in complying with this rule.
26. Opening hours. The said premises shall be open to members from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. as required.
27. Intoxicating liquor shall be supplied only to members and their guests, and the following, namely: (a) Members of visiting cricket clubs, (b) Members of Clubs and teams participating in any competition provided by the General Committee and organised by the General Committee on or from the Club premises, (c) Persons visiting the Club by invitation for official or sporting purposes. Provided that no person under the age of 18 shall be supplied with intoxicating liquor.
28. No intoxicating liquor shall be supplied to or consumed by a member under 18 nor is it permissible for anyone to buy intoxicating liquor for consumption by a person under 18.
29. No member is to introduce more than 5 guests in any one day into the Club Headquarters and every guest is to be accompanied by the Member introducing him/her, both of whom shall sign the Visitors Book immediately on entering the Club premises. No person may be a guest of any member on more than six days of any calendar month. No person whose membership has been terminated or for the time being suspended or whose application for membership has been refused shall at any time be introduced as a guest.
30. In the event of any behaviour by a member which, in the opinion of the Duty Bar Steward, is prejudicial to the Club or is likely to infringe the Rules of the Club or to lead to any offence being committed, the Duty Bar Steward may request the Member to leave the Club and, if necessary, may have him/her forcibly ejected without being liable in any way or manner for his/her action.
YOUTH POLICY 31. The Club enthusiastically pursues a Youth Policy involving the regular coaching of young players throughout the year under the supervision of qualified coaches. It shall be the responsibility of the Chief Coach to ensure that all Coaches and supervisors are aware of The Code of Practice for Safeguarding the Welfare of Children in Voluntary Organisations in England and Wales "Safe from Harm" published by the Home Office in 1993 and the 13 recommendations contained therein. As recommended, an Independent Person, to whom children can talk, shall be appointed at the AGM each year.