COSBY CRICKET CLUB CONSTITUTION
1. Name And Location
1.1The name of the club shall be Cosby Cricket Club (hereinafter referred to as “the Club”).
1.2The premises shall be at The Clubhouse, Victory Park, Cosby, Leicester.
2. Aims And Objectives
2.1The objects of the Club shall be:
The furtherance of the Amateur game of cricket in Cosby and community participation in the same and in general.
The provision and maintenance of the Club premises and ground.
To foster community participation in cricket by providing facilities for playing, coaching, and competition, alongside opportunities for social and recreational engagement for the benefit of members.
To promote the progression of Juniors into Senior cricket.
To maintain ECB Clubmark Status
3. Affiliation
3.1The Club is affiliated to the England and Wales Cricket Board through the Leicestershire & Rutland Cricket Board.
3.2The 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.
3.3The club will 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.
3.4The Club shall adopt and implement the ECB Anti-Discrimination Code of Conduct and any future versions of this policy.
4. Membership
4.1Membership of the Club shall be open to anyone interested in the sport on application regardless of sex, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion or other beliefs. However, limitation of membership according to available facilities is allowable on a non-discriminatory basis.
4.2The 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.
4.3 Categories of Membership
Full Playing Member: Open to individuals wishing to participate in the playing of senior cricket at any level.
Junior/Youth Member: Open to individuals under the age of 18 who wish to participate in cricket, subject to parental/guardian consent.
Non-Playing Member: Open to supporters, volunteers, coaches, and others who wish to be involved in the Club but do not play.
Honorary or Life Member: Conferred upon individuals who have rendered exceptional service to the Club. The Committee shall nominate candidates for this category.
4.4The Club Committee may refuse membership, or remove it, only for good cause such as conduct or character likely to bring the Club or sport into disrepute. Appeal against refusal or removal may be made to the members
4.4.1The Committee may only refuse to admit a new member if a resolution is passed at a meeting where the person in question has been notified in writing in advance and been given 14 days to submit written representations for the Committee to consider at the meeting. Appeal against a refusal of membership shall be to the Appeal Committee as detailed in clause 10.2.
4.4.2The procedure for taking disciplinary action against a member, including removing membership, is dealt with in clause 10.0.
4.5The annual subscription fee for playing shall be such a sum as is determined at the AGM on a resolution submitted by the Management Committee. The annual fee shall be paid to the Treasurer in advance of or before the 31st May or within 28 days of it becoming due in the case of a member elected after that date. Members elected on or after the 15th July shall be entitled to all the privileges of the Club upon payment of one half of the annual playing fee
4.6An elected member of the Club shall be entitled to all the privileges of membership and shall be deemed to have agreed to be bound by the clubs code of conduct relating to their status. A Code of Conduct for Members and Guests must be displayed prominently to ensure that all Club guests and non-member volunteers are aware of the code and the requirement to abide by it.
4.7The membership of a member shall terminate:-
- Upon his or her resignation under rule 4.10
- In the case of the playing members if they fail to pay their subscription in any year before the 1st of September in that year and the Management Committee do resolve that their membership be terminated.
- If they are expelled under the provision of rule 10.0
4.8Any person on ceasing to be a member of the Club shall forfeit all rights and claims upon the Club, its property and funds.
4.9An elected official by the committee will keep a register of members.
4.10Membership is not transferable and shall cease on death.
4.11A member may resign by written notice to the Club, but the return of any subscription paid is at the discretion of the Committee.
5. The Committee
5.1 Role
5.1.1Subject to these Rules the Committee shall have responsibility for the management of the Club, its funds, property and affairs.
5.2 Property
5.2.1The 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 Rules and all surplus income or profits are reinvested in the Club.
5.2.2The Club may provide sporting and related social facilities, sporting equipment, coaching courses, insurance cover, medical treatment, away match expenses, post match refreshment and other ordinary benefits of Community Amateur Sports Clubs as provided for in the Finance Act 2002.
5.2.3The Club may also in connection with the sports purposes of the Club
- Sell and supply food, drink and related sports clothing and equipment;
- Employ members (though not for playing) and remunerate them for providing goods and services, on fair terms set by the Committee without the person concerned being present;
- Pay for reasonable hospitality for visiting teams and guests;
- 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).
5.3 Composition
5.3.1The Officers of the Club shall consist of the Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Head of Cricket
5.3.2The Club shall be managed by an elective committee (hereafter called the Management Committee) which shall consist of: - The Officers of the Club. The Captains of the First, Second teams plus other elected members.
5.3.3The Committee shall appoint a Club Safeguarding Officer to ensure compliance with safeguarding legislation and the ECB Safe Hands policy. The Club Safeguarding Officer shall be a Committee member and report to relevant Committee meetings and the reports, together with any action taken, must be minuted
5.3.4The Officers and elected members of the Management Committee shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting in each year and hold office until the close of the Meeting in each year following their election and shall be eligible for re-election.
5.3.5At least three of the Committee must be unrelated to each other and not cohabiting
5.3.6The Committee members shall consider skills needed and diversity on the Committee
5.3.7The Management Committee shall have the power to appoint a member of the Club to fill any casual vacancy on the Committee or any sub-committee of the Club until the next Annual General Meeting. Any member so appointed shall retire at the next Annual General Meeting but shall be eligible for re-election as a member of that Committee.
5.3.8A Committee member ceases to be such if they: Cease to be a member of the Club; or Resign by written notice to the Club; or Are removed by the Committee in accordance with clause 5.3.9
5.3.9The committee will have the power to remove any member of the committee after such a letter is received from any member of the club to the secretary. After such, within 14 days the committee will convene (excluding the member in question) to vote on the removal of the member in question. Quorum for the committee at this meeting must be 8 members and votes in favour must be 75%. The committee member in question shall have the right to appeal as in clause 10.2
5.3.10The leadership committee will consist of the Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Head of Cricket and President
5.3.11To be on the Leadership Committee you must have been a member of the Club for 3 consecutive years
5.4 Committee Meetings
5.4.1Whenever 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.
5.4.2The Committee shall meet at least four times each year. The Committee may decide its own way of operating. Unless it otherwise resolves the following rules apply:
- At least 5 Committee members must be present for the meeting to be valid;
- Committee meetings may be held either in person or by telephone, televisual or other electronic or virtual means agreed by the Committee in which all participants may communicate simultaneously with all other participants;
- The Chairman or whoever of those present choose who shall chair meetings
- Decisions shall be by simple majority of those voting
- A resolution in writing signed by every Committee member shall be valid without a meeting; and
- The chair of the meeting shall not have a casting vote.
5.5 Bank Account
5.5.1Any 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.
5.6 Delegation
5.6.1The Committee may delegate any of their functions to sub-committees but must specify the scope of its activity and powers; the extent to which it can commit the funds of the Club; its membership; its duty to report back to the Committee. The Committee may wind up any sub-committee at any time or change its mandate and operating terms
5.6.2The organisation of social functions and other social and fund-raising events for the benefit of members of the Club shall be managed by an elective Committee (hereafter called the ‘Social Committee’) and this Committee shall consist of not less than three members who shall hold office until the close of the Annual General Meeting next following their election. Members of the Social Committee shall be eligible for re-election.
5.7 Disclosure
Annual Club reports and statements of account must be made available for inspection by any member and all club records may be inspected by any Committee member.
6. Permitted means of advancing the purposes
The Committee has the power to:
6.1acquire and provide grounds, equipment, coaching, training and playing facilities, clubhouse, transport, medical and related facilities;
6.2provide coaching, training, medical treatment, and related social and other facilities;
6.3take out any insurance for the Committee, employees, contractors, players, guests and third parties;
6.4raise funds by appeals, subscriptions, loans and charges;
6.5borrow money and give security for the same, and open bank accounts;
6.6make grants and loans and give guarantees and provide other benefits;
6.7set aside or apply funds for special purposes or as reserves;
6.8deposit or invest funds in any lawful manner;
6.9employ and engage staff and others and provide services;
6.10co-operate with any organisation, club, sporting body, government or government-related agencies; and
6.11do all other things reasonably necessary to advance the purposes.
6.12NONE of the above powers may be used other than to advance the purposes consistently with the Rules below and the general law.
7. General Meetings
7.1All members may attend all general meetings of the Club in person.
7.2At all General Meetings of the Club each member (Over the age of 18) shall be entitled to be present and to give one vote and no more upon every question, provided that in the case of equality of votes, the Chairman of the meeting shall have a second and casting vote in addition to his own.
7.3The Chair or (in his or her absence) another member chosen at the meeting by the members shall preside over the meeting.
7.4Except as otherwise provided in these Rules or in Club Regulations every resolution shall be decided by a simple majority of the votes cast on a show of hands.
7.5Not less than 14 days notice of the General Meeting shall be given by letter by the Secretary to every member and such notice shall state the nature of the business to be transacted at such meeting. The accidental omission to give such notice to, or the no receipt of such notice by any member shall not invalidate the meeting.
7.6Twelve members or one fifth of all members entitled to vote, whichever is the less shall be a quorum for a General Meeting.
7.7If a quorum is not present within 15 minutes of the start of the meeting, the meeting will be adjourned to the following week at the same time and place or such other time and place as the Committee decide and any voting members attending the adjourned meeting will constitute a quorum
7.8Formalities in connection with general meetings (such as how to put down resolutions and nominate candidates for election to the Committee) shall be decided by the Committee in Club Regulations and publicised to Club members.
8. Annual General Meetings (AGM)
8.1An Annual General Meeting of the Club shall be held once in every year for the election of members to serve on the Committee and of the Officers of the Club and for such other purposes or business as may be considered. The Annual General Meeting shall be held within a period of fifteen months after the holding of the last preceding Annual General Meeting.
8.2Candidates for election to the post of any officer of the Club or the Management Committee shall be nominated by two members of the Club. In the absence of nominations or sufficient nominations, any member upon being proposed by one member and seconded by another may be elected upon a majority of votes of those members present at the AGM.
8.3The members will elect a Committee including a Chair, Treasurer, Secretary and Head of Cricket (“the Officers”) to serve until the next AGM [provided that no Committee member shall serve for more than nine consecutive terms without spending one year out of office before being eligible for appointment again]
8.4The Treasurer will produce accounts of the Club for the latest financial year audited as the Committee shall decide
8.5The Committee will present a report on the Club's activities since the previous AGM
8.6The members will appoint a suitable person to audit the accounts as required
8.7The members will discuss and vote on any resolution (whether about policy or to change the Rules) and deal with any other business put to the meeting.
8.8On the recommendation of the Management Committee, the club at its Annual General Meeting, may elect any person to be a Life or Honorary Member of the Club in recognition of long membership or past services to the Club. Membership fees for these elected members will be waived
8.9Anyone who wishes to become a Captain of the club must advise the Leadership Committee at least 30 days before the next AGM and the leadership committee will agree who can go forward for consideration at the AGM meeting
9. Extraordinary General Meetings (EGM)
9.1An EGM shall be called by the Secretary within 14 days of a request to that effect from the Committee or on the written request of not less than 12 members signed by them. Such EGM shall be held on not less than 14 nor more than 28 days’ notice at a place decided upon by the Committee or in default by the Chair. If the Committee fails to call a meeting within 14 days of receiving a valid request from the members then the requisitionists may themselves call a meeting, the costs of which will be reimbursed by the Club.
10. Discipline and Appeals
10.1Any complaints regarding the behaviour of members, guests or volunteers should be lodged in writing with the Secretary.
10.2Any person that is the subject of a written complaint or appeal shall be notified of the procedures to be followed by the relevant committee in reasonable time to prepare for any hearing.
10.3The Committee shall appoint a disciplinary sub-committee (Disciplinary Sub-Committee) who will meet to hear complaints within [21] days of a complaint being lodged. Any person requested to attend a Disciplinary Sub-Committee shall be entitled to be accompanied by a friend or other representative and to call witnesses. The Disciplinary Sub-Committee has the power to take appropriate disciplinary action on behalf of the Committee, including the termination of membership or exclusion from Club premises.
10.4The outcome of the disciplinary hearing shall be put in writing to the person who lodged the complaint and the person against whom the complaint was made within [14] days following the hearing.
10.5There shall be a right of appeal within 14 days of receipt of the disciplinary decision or decision to refuse membership:
- 10.5.1 against the Disciplinary Sub-Committee’s findings or the sanction imposed or both; and
- 10.5.2 against the Committee’s refusal to admit a new member
10.6In either case, the Committee shall appoint an appeals committee (“Appeals Committee”). The Appeals Committee shall have a maximum of three members which shall not include members involved with the initial disciplinary hearing but may include non-members of the Club. The Appeals Committee shall consider the appeal within [21] days of the Secretary receiving the appeal. The individual who submitted the appeal shall be entitled to be accompanied by a friend or other representative and to call witnesses. The decision of the Appeals Committee shall be final and binding on all parties.
11. Amendments to the Constitution
12.1These Rules may be amended at a general meeting by resolution passed by two-thirds of the votes cast [but not (if relevant) so as to jeopardise the Club’s status as a Community Amateur Sports Club as first provided for by the CASC Regulations and not in any event to alter its purposes (unless the procedure set out in 12.2 has been followed) or winding up provisions.]
12.2The Club Purposes may be changed to include another eligible sport if the Committee unanimously agrees and the members also agree to the change by a 75% majority of votes cast.
12. Club Regulations
13.1The Committee may make Club Regulations consistent with these Rules and will publicise these to the members.
13. Dissolution
15.1The members may vote to wind up the Club if not less than two thirds of those present and voting support that proposal at a properly convened general meeting.
15.2The Committee will then be responsible for the orderly winding up of the Club’s affairs.
15.3After settling all liabilities 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.
Declaration: This Constitution was adopted at a meeting held at Cosby Village Club on 13/11/2024
Signed (Chair of meeting)
Mark Newitt
Name: Mark Newitt
Witness
Matthew Bills
Name: Matthew Bills
Role: Committee Member
Amendments to Constitution
| What |
When |
Where |
Signature (Chair) |
| Additions - Rules: 5.3.10, 5.3.11, 8.9 |
AGM November 3rd 2025 |
Cosby Village Club |
Mark Newitt |