Sitwell Cycling Club
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Constitution

Effective from 1st April 2022.

1. The club will be called: Sitwell Cycling Club

The Club kit will be the following colours: yellow; green; black; and white.

2. The Purposes of the Club

The purposes of the Club are to:

  1. Promote the amateur sport of cycling in Whiston, Rotherham and its surrounding geographical counties and local council areas, and to further seek community participation in the same area.
  2. Encourage racing, sportive activities, charity participation, friendship and camaraderie within cycling.

3. Permitted means of advancing the purposes The Committee has the power to:

  1. Acquire and provide grounds, equipment, coaching, training and playing facilities, club house, transport, medical and related facilities
  2. Provide coaching, training, medical treatment, and related social and other facilities
  3. Take out any insurance for club, employees, contractors, players, guests and third parties
  4. Raise funds by appeals, subscriptions, loans and charges
  5. Borrow money and give security for the same, and open bank accounts
  6. Buy, lease or licence property and sell, let or otherwise dispose of the same
  7. Make grants and loans and give guarantees and provide other benefits
  8. Set aside or apply funds for special purposes or as reserves
  9. Deposit or invest funds in any lawful manner
  10. Employ and engage staff and others and provide services
  11. Co-operate with or affiliate to firstly any bodies regulating or organising the Sport and secondly any club or body involved with it and thirdly with government and related agencies
  12. Do all other things reasonably necessary to advance the purposes.

NONE of the above powers may be used other than to advance the purposes consistently with the Rules below and the general law.

4. Membership

  1. Membership 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.
  2. 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.
  3. All applications for membership shall be approved by the Membership Officer.
  4. A new member joining after October 1st shall be credited with the next year's membership.
  5. Where appropriate an AGM shall award Honorary Life Membership for outstanding services to the Club.
  6. Annual Subscription Fees are due by 1st January. Members paid up for the previous year remain members until 31st December. Anyone not paid up by the 1st January shall be deemed to have left the Club.
  7. The Club's membership period runs from 1st January to the 31st December.
  8. Members are not eligible to compete in racing events unless their subscriptions are up to date.
    1. Members who race will be required to offer assistance at either one of the Club's own events or at another local club's event.
    2. Youth members (12-15 years of age), shall only be eligible to compete in Club Competitions with written consent of their parent or guardian.
    3. No second claim member with less than 5 years unbroken membership shall be allowed to compete in club competitions.
  9. Members will be asked to:
    1. Be respectful, not threaten physical violence, refrain from obscene publication, refrain from profanity, name calling, intimidation, harassment or bullying.
    2. Be aware that they are the public face of the Club when out on Club activities or wearing Club branded kit.
    3. Be mindful of drug use / misuse (prescribed and recreational).
    4. Refrain from race / event cheating by known or intended means.
    5. Use mudguards between and including the months of November and March of the following year (non BST months).
    6. Use lights when required.
    7. Follow individual social media platform regulations / rules / conduct.
    8. Follow the British Cycling safeguarding, and the protecting children and vulnerable adults policies.
  10. The Club Committee may refuse membership, or remove it, only for good cause such as but not limited to conduct or character likely to bring the Club or sport into disrepute, antisocial behaviour or abuse. Appeal against refusal or removal may be made to an appointed panel consisting of club members.
  11. If a current Club Member has acted in such a way as to merit disciplinary action, the Club Committee must notify the member and convene a disciplinary hearing as outlined in the Club's Complaints Procedure.
  12. When disciplinary action is necessary, it will be followed up by a member of the Club Committee in the following manner:
    1. 1st offence - Verbal conversation
    2. 2nd offence - Letter of notification and required resolution
    3. 3rd offence - Termination of Membership

5. All General Meetings

  1. All members may attend all general meetings of the Club in person.
  2. Such meetings need 21 clear days’ written notice to members.
  3. The quorum for all general meetings is 10 members present or 10% of the total membership whichever is fewer.
  4. The Chair or (in his or her absence) another member chosen at the meeting shall preside.
  5. Except as otherwise provided in these Rules, every resolution shall be decided by a simple majority of the votes cast on a show of hands.
  6. Formalities in connection with General Meetings (such as how to put down resolutions) shall be decided by the Committee and publicised to Club members.

6. Annual General Meetings (AGM)

The Club will hold an AGM once in every calendar year and not more than 15 months after the last AGM. At every AGM:

  1. The Members will elect a Committee consisting of a Chair, two Vice Chairs and Treasurer to serve until the next AGM;
  2. The Treasurer will produce accounts of the Club for the latest financial year audited as the Committee shall decide;
  3. The Committee will present a report on the Club's activities since the previous AGM;
  4. The Members will appoint a suitable person to audit the accounts; and
  5. The 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.

7. Extraordinary General Meetings (EGM)

An EGM shall be called by the Chair within 14 days of a request to that effect from the Committee or on the written request of not less than 10 members signed by them. Such an EGM shall be held on not less than 14 or more than 21 days’ notice at a place decided upon by the Committee or in default by the Chair.

8. The Committee

  1. Role – Subject to these Rules the Committee shall have responsibility for the management of the Club, its funds, property and affairs.
  2. Property etc –
    1. 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 Rules.
    2. The Club may provide sporting and related social facilities, sporting equipment, coaching, courses, insurance cover, medical treatment, event expenses, post event refreshments and other ordinary benefits of Community Amateur Sports Clubs as provided for in the Finance Act 2002.
    3. The Club may also in connection with the sports purposes of the Club:
      1. Sell and supply food, drink and related sports clothing and equipment;
      2. Employ members (though not for riding) and remunerate them for providing goods and services, on fair terms set by the Committee without the person concerned being present;
      3. Pay for reasonable hospitality for visiting teams and guests;
      4. 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).
    4. The Committee will have due regard to the law on disability discrimination and child protection
  3. Composition etc -
    1. The Committee shall consist of at least 10 members or 10% of the Club's Membership, whichever is fewer.
    2. The diverse make-up of the Committee should represent where possible the make-up of the Club.
    3. The Committee members may co-opt club members as Officers to serve until the end of the next AGM.
    4. Any Committee member may be re-elected or re-co-opted without limit.
    5. A Committee member ceases to be such if he or she ceases to be a member of the Club, resigns by written notice, or is removed by the Committee for good cause after the Member concerned has been given the chance of putting his/her case to the Committee with an appeal to the Club members, or is removed by club members at a general meeting. The Committee shall fairly decide time limits and formalities for these steps.
  4. Committee meetings -
    1. 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.
    2. The Committee may decide its own way of operating. Unless it otherwise resolves the following rules apply:
      1. At least 50% of the Committee's members must be present for the meeting to be valid;
      2. Committee meetings shall be held face to face;
      3. The Chair, or whoever else those present choose shall chair meetings;
      4. Decisions shall be by simple majority of those voting;
      5. A resolution in writing signed by every Committee member shall be valid without a meeting;
      6. The Chair of the meeting shall have a casting vote.
  5. Delegation etc - The 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 to change its mandate and operating terms.
  6. 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.

9. Amendments

  1. These Rules may be amended at a general meeting 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 Finance Act 2002 and not in any event to alter its purposes (unless the procedure set out in 9 (b) has been followed) or winding up provisions.
  2. The Club Purposes may be changed to include another eligible sport if the Committee unanimously agree and the members also agreed the change by a 75% majority of votes cast.
  3. Any matter not provided for in these Rules shall be dealt with by the Committee, whose decision shall be binding on all parties.

10. Winding up the Club

  1. The members may vote to wind up the Club if not less than three quarters of those present and voting support that proposal at a properly convened general meeting.
  2. The Committee will then be responsible for the orderly winding up of the Club's affairs.
  3. After settling all liabilities of the Club, the Committee shall dispose of the net assets remaining to one or more of the following:
    1. To another Club with similar sports purposes which is a charity and/or
    2. To another Club with similar sports purposes which is a registered CASC and/or
    3. To the Club's national governing body for use by them for related community sports.

Constitution adopted via an online poll.

On: Tuesday 15th March 2022

Proposed by: The Committee

Accepted by: 97.6% of respondents. 83 from 85 respondents.