Home About Fixtures And Results Our HistoryGreen And Clubhouse Hall Of Fame Peter And Pauline Franklyn Constitution Contact
Address We Are Adjacent To Peoples Park And Just Behind The Old Labour Club On West Bar.
Section 1: Name and Objectives
Section 2: Officers of the Club
Section 3: Membership
Section 4: Trustees
Section 5: Management
Section 6: Annual General Meeting
Section 7: Finances
Section 8: Safeguarding
Section 9: Indemnity
Section 10: Data Protection
Section 10: Dissolution of the Club
The Club shall be known as the ‘BANBURY CHESTNUTS BOWLING CLUB’ hereinafter referred to as ‘THE CLUB’
The Officers of the club must be full members, and shall consist of:
President
Vice President
Honorary Secretary
Honorary Treasurer
Match Secretary
Men’s Captain
Ladies Captain
The Officers will hold office for one year and be elected at the Annual General Meeting. They shall be eligible for re-election annually. All Officers and Committee Members shall be nominated for election from and voted into office by fully paid up members eligible for voting.
3.1 Classes of membership:
Full Bowling Member – Voting
Honorary Life Member – Voting
Junior Member – Non-Voting
Associate Member – Non-Voting
Social Member – Non-Voting
Guest Member – Non-Voting
Temporary Member – Non-Voting
3.2 The election of applicants to Membership shall be vested solely in the Committee. Any person who has attained the age of 14 years shall be eligible to apply to become a Member of the Club. The candidate’s application must be supported by a proposer and seconder, each of whom should be Full Bowling Members, and countersigned by an Officer or Committee Member.
3.3 The application form is to be posted on the notice board for seven days prior to consideration by the Committee at its monthly Committee Meeting.
3.4 Any objections to the candidate must be given to the Honorary Secretary within the seven-day period. The Honorary Secretary shall bring the objection before the Committee meeting without disclosure of its source.
3.5 Any person aged 18 years or over, who has been properly elected in accordance with the rules, shall become a Full Bowling Member of the Club and be able to attend and have full voting rights at all AGM’s.
3.6 Applicants aged between 12 and 17 inclusive, who have been properly elected in accordance with the rules, shall become Junior Members of the Club but will not be eligible to attend or vote at any General meeting.
3.7 Members rendering valuable or outstanding services to the Club may be recognised by the committee and nominated for Honorary Life Membership. This nomination will be put to the Annual General Meeting and ratified by a simple majority of the votes cast by Members. Once ratified, the member retains the full rights of a Full Bowling member.
3.8 The Committee may on their absolute discretion, admit adult persons (aged 18 and over) in the category of Social Member subject to such restrictions as they deem necessary. These Members shall not be eligible to attend or vote at any AGM of the Club.
3.9 An officer of the club or in their absence any Committee Member, shall be empowered to warn or order the removal of any Member or guest whose conduct, on the Clubs premises, is in conflict with the rules of the Club.
4.1 There shall not be less than two nor more than five Trustees.
4.2 Trustees shall be appointed as necessary by the Members at a Committee Meeting, from among the Members of the club willing to be so appointed. Members will be advised of any changes to trustees
4.3 A Trustee shall hold office until such time as the Trustee resigns by notice in writing to the Committee, or until a resolution to remove the Trustee shall be agreed to at a General Meeting by 75% of the voting members present and entitled to vote.
4.4 All property of the club shall be vested in the Trustees as from time to time appointed, and the Trustees act in all respects as regards to such property, land or investments in strict accordance with the direction of the Membership at a General Meeting. They shall have the power to sell, lease, mortgage or pledge Club property for the purpose of raising or borrowing money for the benefit of the club, in accordance with the direction of the Membership as exercised by resolution in a General Meeting. The liability of each and every Trustee shall be limited to the extent of such funds of the club as may be actually received by the Trustee.
4.5 The Trustees shall be effectually indemnified by the members of the club out of the assets of the club from and against any liability, costs, expenses and payments whatsoever which may be properly incurred or made by them in the exercise of their duties or relation to any property of the club vested in them, or in relation to any legal proceedings, or which otherwise relate directly or indirectly to the performance of the functions of a Trustee of the club.
5.1 The quorum for an Annual, Special or General Meeting shall be 25 percent of the Voting Members. No motion shall be put to a meeting attended by fewer than that number.
5.2 Paid-up Full Bowling Members and Honorary Life Members are entitled to attend and vote at, Annual, Special or General Meetings.
5.3 Junior Bowling Members may attend but are not allowed to vote, they may speak at the meeting.
5.4 The affairs of the Club shall be managed by elected Committee, which shall consist of the officers of the Club and up to nine Voting Members elected at the Annual General Meeting.
5.5 The Members of the Committee shall be elected each year and their term of office shall be three years. Retiring members shall be available for re-election.
5.6 If an interim vacancy occurs on the Committee, the Committee shall have the power to temporarily appoint a person from among the Voting Membership to fill that vacancy until the next Annual General Meeting.
5.7 The Committee at their first meeting shall elect the Chair of the Committee, and any such sub-Committee (s) as may be required.
5.8 The general and financial management of the club shall be entirely in the hands of the committee. A quorum of 50% of the total Members is required.
5.9 The constitution of the Club may at any time be amended or repealed or replaced by resolution at a Annual or Special meeting of the Club.
Any resolution will require a vote in favour of 75 per cent of the Voting Members present.
A period of twenty-eight days’ notice in writing to Voting and Junior Members either electronically, by letter or via club notice board must be given for this General Meeting. The proposed change(s) or amendment(s) must be included in detail in this notice.
5.10 The process for managing Complaints is set out in Policy document number 9 on the Bowls England Site. In all cases of misconduct at the Chestnuts the, BE guidance for regulation 9 must be followed.
5.11 The Committee may from time to time make Byelaws, not inconsistent with these Rules, for the conduct of Members and the governing of the affairs of the Club. A copy of these Byelaws will be available, for inspection by any Member.
6.1 The Honorary Secretary shall, on the instructions of the Committee, call the Annual General Meeting for the first Thursday of March each year.
6.2 The purpose of the AGM is to transact the following business:
a) Receive reports from Officers,
b) Receive and approve a statement of the Clubs Accounts to the end of the preceding financial year (30th September),
c) To elect Officers and Members of the Committee,
d) To appoint an Auditor(s)
e) To deal with any special matter or motion which the Committee or members desire to bring before the members. Provided due notice has been given (see 6.4)
6.3 Due notice of an Annual General Meeting is 28 days and this may be given by notice to Voting Members and Junior Members either electronically or in writing or by the Honorary Secretary duly posting a notice to that effect on the Members notice board in the club house.
6.4 The time period for nominations for election of officers and/or Membership of the Committee and notification of special matters or motions to be raised at the Annual General Meeting closes 14 days prior to the meeting.
Once closed, the Honorary Secretary will notify Members of the full agenda and nominations either electronically, or in writing, such notification may be satisfied by notices displayed within the club and copy agendas left for collection in a prominent position in the club house not less than seven days prior to the Annual General Meeting.
(Nb Main Rule changes require 28 days’ notice to be given, in writing, to all Voting Members and Junior Members).
6.5 If members who have been proposed and seconded, agree to the position as officer or committee member, they do not have to be present at the AGM to be voted for and for them to accept the position.
6.6 The Honorary Secretary shall convene a Special General Meeting at any time by order of the Committee or on receiving written requisition to that effect signed by not less than 10 voting members.
This meeting shall be convened not less than 28 days after receipt of the requisition and 21 days’ notice of such meeting shall be given to all Voting Members and Junior Members such notification may be satisfied by notices displayed within the Club and copy agendas left for collection in a prominent position in the club house.
6.7 The notice of the meeting shall specify the matter to be dealt with at the meeting and no other business shall be transacted. (Rule 5.6 takes precedence if the subject requires Rule(s) change(s)
6.8 Any complaints from the Members as to the management or arrangements of the Club shall be made in writing to the Honorary Secretary who will then lay it before the appropriate Committee.
The financial and administrative year of the club shall be the period commencing the first day of October and ending on the last day of September.
The annual subscription for the forthcoming year for all classes on Membership shall be paid not later than the AGM of the current year. Any member who has not paid by the specified date shall be deemed to be in arrears, membership shall therefore lapse and they will not be able to vote at the Annual General Meeting.
Any person becoming a Member during the year shall pay a subscription determined by the committee.
The Annual accounts are to be audited by a body or person(s) nominated by the Voting Membership before presentation to the Voting Members at the Annual General Meeting.
Liability for all bowls equipment and other personal property belonging to all Members of Visiting Teams shall not be a charge for the Club. All members shall be responsible for arranging their own insurance to cover and such eventualities.
8.1 Banbury Chestnuts is committed to ensuring that everyone who participates in bowls can do so in a safe, positive and enjoyable environment. All participants are entitled to feel safe and protected from any form of abuse and neglect.
8.2 The club will comply with the Bowls England safeguarding policy
8.3 Safeguarding Officers will be identified within the club.
9.1 The Banbury Chestnuts Committee and each and every member of its sub committees or members acting under delegated powers from such committees/sub committees shall, except in the case of wilful default or fraudulent acts or admissions, be indemnified equally from the funds of Banbury Chestnuts against any loss, damage, expense or liability incurred by reason of, or in connection with, any legal proceedings instituted against them or any of them for any act done, admitted or suffered in relation to the performance of any of their duties in respect of Banbury Chestnuts or committees thereof.
9.2 The Committee shall ensure that appropriate insurance cover is held in respect of the indemnity provision in this clause.
Banbury Chestnuts is committed to respect the privacy of members under the 2018 Data Protection Act
11.1 A motion for the winding up of the Club may be put at a special General Meeting called for this purpose, on 21 days’ notice in writing to all Voting and Junior Members.
11.2 At such a Meeting, 75% of the Voting Members present shall be required to be in favour of dissolution.
11.3 The assets of the Club, after payment of all debts and liabilities, shall be distributed, by resolution in the Special General Meeting, as to:
(i) 90% in value equally among the fully paid-up members of the Club.
and
(ii) 10% in value to the Banbury Charities Trust or to such other charity as the Voting Members may by resolution decide.
11.4 For the purposes of this Rule 10, “fully paid-up members” means those Full Bowling Members and Honorary Life Members who as at the Special General Meeting have been Full Bowling Members and Honorary Life Members of the Club for a continuous period of 5 years or more and who, in the case of Full Bowling Members, have paid all subscriptions up to date.
11.5 For the avoidance of doubt, “fully paid-up members” shall not include Junior, Associate, Social, Guest or Temporary Members.
11.6 In the event that a resolution for the dissolution of the Club is passed, the Trustees and the Management shall cooperate to ensure an orderly and prompt dissolution of the Club and shall have the power for these purposes to instruct such legal and other advisers as they in their absolute discretion consider appropriate.
The Club shall admit as Visitors, Members of visiting teams, officials and bona fide supporters of teams or persons who are playing matches against the Club. These visitors may purchase refreshments and intoxicating liquor while on club premises, in accordance with section 49(4) of the Licensing Act 1964 as amended. Persons hiring the club will be considered as visitors.
Persons visiting the town may be elected Temporary Members for each week or part thereof provided they are introduced by a Voting Member who shall submit their names to two members of the committee for their approval.
Voting Members shall have the privilege of introducing a friend who may play no more than 4 times without Membership, the name and address of the friend and the voting member introducing the friend, shall be entered in the visitor’s book and all expenses will be defrayed by the Voting Member concerned.
The name and address of all guests and the name of the Voting Member signing them in shall be entered into the Visitors book maintained for that purpose and kept on the premises.
No intoxicating liquor shall be supplied otherwise than to:
a) A Member who has been a Member of the Club for at least two days, or who’s nomination or application for Membership was made at least two days before his admission to the privileges of Membership.
b) Members and officials of teams visiting the Club premises for the purpose of playing a match or fulfilling a social engagement.
c) Bona fide guests of Members in pursuance of the rules.
d) Members of the Club in pursuance of Section 494(4), Licensing Act 2003 as amended: which include the following:
(e) Members of any such other Club registered in the locality which is temporary closed.
There shall be no supply of intoxicating liquor for consumption off the premises except to a member in person.
No intoxicating liquor shall be supplied to any person under the age of 18. Intoxicating liquor may be sold to persons who are attending a social function at the Club premises authorised by the Committee and organised by a reputable body who will control the function.
The permitted hours shall be those allowed by the Licensing Act 1964 as amended, and as determined by the Bar Committee from time to time
The Rules and Byelaws determining the organisation and control of play, including green opening times, competitions, playing guests and any other matter specifically related to the sport of Bowls will be separate from these club rules. A copy of the Clubs Bowling Rues will be available for inspection by any Member. All play will abide by Bowls England rules and regulations
The green will be open for play, subject to the weather and state of the green, every day from 1pm, except for Bank Holidays, when it may be played from 10am. Competitions or other arranged games may be from 10am on Saturday or Sunday by arrangement with the Green Keeper. The opening and closing of the Green or rinks shall be at the discretion of the Green Committee.
During the playing of Finals, no other play will be allowed on the green, unless sanctioned by the Tournament Committee.
Application for use of the Green by any Club or Organisation shall be made in writing to the committee, and any Member requiring more than one rink must obtain the consent of the committee.
The numbers of rinks in any Club Fixture may be varied at the discretion of the Captain or Vice-Captain.
Club competitions will be organised by a Competitions Committee.
The entrance fee for all competitions shall be determined by the Club Committee at their first Meeting annually.
The winners of any Club Competitions shall hold their trophy for one year, these Trophies are the property of the Club, and the winners should ensure their safe keeping whilst in their possession. Winners and runners up of all Club Competitions will receive a suitable prize as agreed by the Committee to be presented to the recipient at the annual dinner.
Rink reservations for National, County, other External, including mixed and Club Competitions are limited to five rinks at any time, except when there is a home match, when one rink, if available, may be booked. Preference will be given to National and County Competitions and then other external Competitions.
Reservations for National, County and Other external Competitions should be made not later than 48 hours before the date is required and must be entered in the Rink Reservation book in the clubhouse. Rinks available for play will be decided on by the Greenkeeper and from those made available, competitors will draw to decide which rink they shall play on.
Order of priority draw shall be National, County, External and Club.
CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP (non-handicap) Mens and Ladies.
Singles, knockout, four woods, 21 up, two trial ends.
JUBILEE CUP (handicapped) Mens.
Singles, knockout, four woods, 21 up, two trial ends.
Handicaps applied on the first end.
DURRAN (handicapped) Mens.
Singles, knockout, four woods, 21 up, two trial ends.
Handicaps applied on the first end.
PAIRS (handicapped) Mens and Ladies
Four woods, 18 ends, two trial ends.
Individual handicaps added together and applied on the first end
MIXED PAIRS (handicapped)
Round robin format, games of between seven and nine ends. Two points per
win one point for a draw, added to matches shots. If, one group the Pair
with highest overall points are the winners. If, two groups, two semi finals
(i.e. topG1 v secondG2) and final.
Individual handicaps are halved and rounded up
JOYCE FLETCHER (non-handicap) Ladies.
Singles, two woods, 7/9 ends, round robin.
DOROTHY LOVETT (non-handicap) Ladies.
Triples, three woods, 7/9 ends, round robin. Players to be seeded.
NEVER WON BEFORE (non-handicap) Mens and Ladies.
Singles, four woods, 18 ends, knockout, two trial ends.
Open to all bowling members who have never won a singles competition at
any club in the last five years.
PRESIDENTS DAY Mixed.
Format to be decided on by the President.
CAPTAINS DAY Mixed.
Format to be decided on by the captains.
The Committee may from time to time make Byelaws, not inconsistent with these Rules, for the conduct of Members and the governing of the affairs of the Club. A copy of these Byelaws will be available, for inspection by any Member.
No Bill, Notice, placard or newspaper, shall be posted or distributed on or about the Club premises without permission of the Committee or some such person authorised by them.
No Committee member or Officer of the Club shall sign any petition or document on behalf of the Club, relating to matters not immediately connected with the Management of the Club, without the express sanction of the Committee.
All Complaints or suggestions shall be made in writing to the Honorary Secretary.
Any person damaging the furniture or other property of the Club shall make good the same to the satisfaction of the Committee.
No person shall on any pretence take away, injure or destroy any article being the property of the Club, except in the course of their duties.
Casual wear is allowed on the green for ‘roll ups’, but greys and club tops (unless specified otherwise by the captain) for friendly games.
No betting, unlawful gaming, drunkenness, bad language or disorderly conduct shall be permitted on the Clubs premises. Any infringement of this rule will render the person offending liable to be dealt with by the Committee under rules 3.9 and (Main Club Rules)
Any disputes on the Green shall be referred to the Senior Officer present, or in their absence, a Committee Member.
Dogs will be allowed on Club premises provided they are kept on a lead. It is the responsibility of the dog handler to ensure that their dog(s) do not foul Club premises and to clean up any fouling that does occur.
Members can only play in the club competitions if they have played 4 games for the club. Games are friendly, League or otherwise having represented the club officially in the current season.
