BOSTON SPA BOWLING CLUB

CONSTITUTION

 

1          PURPOSES

The Club is a non-profit making organisation constituted for the following purposes:-

a) to provide a mutually supportive environment in which every member has the opportunity to participate in social and competitive Crown Green Bowling.

b) to organise social events for the benefit of members.

c) to support other bodies for the benefit of the community.

 

2          CONSTITUTION AND CLUB RULES AND CHANGES THERETO

The Club will abide by the rules and laws of the game as set out by the Yorkshire County Crown Green Bowling Association of which it is a member.

Subject to this the Club will fix its own rules of conduct.

Changes to the Club Constitution and Rules can only be made by a two thirds majority of members attending an Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting.

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3          MEMBERSHIP

Membership is open to anyone in the following categories:-

a) Playing and Non-Playing members who reside within a five mile radius of the centre of Boston Spa.  Applications from persons outside this radius may be considered by the Management Committee.  Members will be required to pay an annual membership subscription, may participate in all events, only full members can vote at an Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting, hold office and be a member of the Management Committee.

b) Life Membership may be conferred by a unanimous vote of the Management Committee on individuals who have been of great and prolonged service to the Club.  Life Members shall have all the rights of members but pay no annual subscription.

 

4          MEETINGS OF MEMBERS

a) An Annual General Meeting is required to be held before the end of January prior to the start of a new season.  Members will be given notice including a draft agenda at least three weeks prior to the AGM.

b) The Management Committee is responsible for drawing up the draft agenda for the AGM which must always include the following items:-

(i) An independently certified Statement of Income and Expenditure for the previous year

(ii) Election of President

(iii) Election of Officers, Management Committee and Team Captains

(iv) Proposed level of membership subscriptions and visitors fees

(v) Details of any proposed changes to the Club Constitution and /or Rules.

c) Any member may have proposals placed on the agenda by informing the Secretary at least two weeks prior to the AGM.  Any amendments to the draft Agenda will be available at the AGM.  Contentious items, as determined by the Chair cannot be raised at the AGM.

d) Except in the case of Constitution and Rule changes (see 2) decision making shall be by a majority vote of the members present.

e) A Special General Meeting may be called by the Management Committee.  Notice stating the reasons for calling the meeting must be given to members at least two weeks prior to the date of the meeting.

f) A Special General Meeting must be called by the Management Committee if requested by  a minimum of five members.  Notice arrangements must be as in 4e above.

g) A quorum will be constituted by 20% of members including two officers.

  

5          MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

a) The Management Committee is responsible for managing the affairs of the Club and will meet at least five times a year.

b) The Management Committee will consist of the following:-

(i) The Officers of the Club namely:-

            Chairman

            Vice-Chair

            Secretary

            Treasurer

(ii) Committee members will consist of:

            Captain’s Liaison Officer & Leagues Secretary

            Assistant Secretary

            Member’s Representative

In Summary the committee will consist of a maximum of 7  members

Members with SPECIAL responsibilities:

           Safeguarding Officer

           Competition Organiser

           Green Organiser

           Social Organiser

           Catering Organiser

           Clerk of Works

           Welfare Officer

           Website Editor

 

Officers and Committee members will be elected at the AGM.  Candidates for election must be nominated by another member prior to or at the AGM.  Should any Officer leave part way through the year, the Committee must fill the vacancy either from its members or by co-option.

(d) The Chair has a casting vote in the event of a tie.

(e) A quorum is constituted by Four members including at least one Officer.

The current encumbants of these posts can be found on the Officials page of this website.

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 6          MAINTENANCE

The Club is responsible for the maintenance of the Bowling Green, playing areas, surround netting and support posts and the general repair and tidiness of buildings and other areas within the compound.  To this end, in addition to raising funds from its membership and organising external events, the Club may apply for funding from any appropriate outside body.

 

7          FINANCIAL PROBITY AND VIABILITY

The Management Committee is responsible for ensuring that the Club’s assets are used properly and that the Club remains financially viable.

To this end the Committee will:-

(i) Receive a financial report from the Treasurer at every meeting.

(ii) Appoint a suitably qualified person who is not a member of the Committee to certify the Annual Statement of Income and Expenditure.

(iii) Present to the AGM a copy of the above certified Statement and also supply a copy to the Boston Spa Parish Council.

(iv) Pay to the Parish Council an annual contribution towards the rates, water and maintenance costs.

(v) Minute the approval of any expenditure in excess of a sum equal to four times the annual subscription of a playing member.

 

8          LIABILITY FOR DEBTS AND OWNERSHIP OF ASSETS

a) The ownership of the Club’s assets and liability for the debts and other obligations rests with the Club members.

b) The Club may be dissolved at a properly constituted meeting of Club members and the Club’s assets given or transferred to another Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC), a registered charity or the British Crown Green Bowling Association, as determined at the final meeting.

 

9          SECURITY OF TENURE

The Club enjoys the benefit of the lease of the land on which it operates through the periodic lease of the Playing Fields by the Parish Council who are owners in fee simple of the land.  (The current lease runs for 25 years from 1st October 2018).  The intention of all parties is to sustain the land for recreational purposes being a reflection of the Parish Council and previous owner intent at the time of purchase.

 

Note:

This Constitution was first adopted at the AGM held on 13 November 2001. 

Clause 8 was amended at the AGM on 25 November 2003.  Clause 5 was amended at the AGM on 18 November 2005.  Clause 5 was amended again at the AGM on 28 November 2011.  Clause 4a) was amended at the AGM on 3 December 2015.  Clauses 7(iv) and 9 were amended at the AGM on 6 December 2018 to reflect a new lease from the Parish Council.

This is a certified copy of the amendment to the Constitution approved at the Annual General Meeting of the Club held on 6 December 2018.

Clause 3 was changed at the 2025 AGM relating to Social Members losing their voting rights. 

Claus 5 was changed adding new Committee members title, and addition members with special responsibilties, and changes to names of signatories of the constitution reflecting changes in Committee members, as per AGM 2025.

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Signed                                                                                     date

 

                                    Janine Jackson (Honorary Secretary)

 

                                                                                                date

 

                                    David Gooch (Honorary Treasurer)

 

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