Constitution
CONSTITUTION OF THE THAMES VALLEY CRICKET LEAGUE
In the following League Constitution, Format, and Rules any reference to “he/his” should be interpreted to include “she/her.”
1. TITLE
The title shall be The Thames Valley Cricket League (hereinafter known as "the League").
The League may elect a President and vice Presidents at a General Meeting and nominations for President and vice Presidents shall first be approved by and nominated by the Management Committee to the League at its Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting.
2. INTENTION
The intention of the League shall be to organise cricket on a Championship basis for the Members of the League with the object of playing Club cricket in the spirit of the game as it exists and as it is understood by all who play within the auspices of the England and Wales Cricket Board and the Club Cricket Conference.
3. COMPOSITION
The League shall consist of such number of Clubs as shall be decided upon at an Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting. Any Member Club that enters a 1st XI and/or a 2nd XI team(s) shall be deemed to be full members of the League. Any member Club not entering a 1st and/or a 2nd XI team(s) shall be deemed to be an associate member of the League. All such Clubs shall be affiliated to the Club Cricket Conference and to their relevant county board. Any Member Club wishing to resign from the League must do so in writing to the League Secretary by 30th June in the preceding season to their intended departure.
Any Club wishing to join the League must be recommended by the Management Committee to a General Meeting of the League.
Any proposal to expel a Member Club from the League shall be decided upon at an Annual or Special General Meeting of the League.
The Management Committee shall have the authority to place any newly elected Full Member Club at a level it considers appropriate within the League structure.
Any Full Member Club wishing to add any further team or teams to the League must obtain the approval of the Management Committee, who shall have the authority to place such team or teams at what it considers to be an appropriate level within the League structure.
Any Associate Member Club wishing to add any further team or teams to the League must obtain the approval of the Management Committee, who shall have the authority to place such team or teams at what it considers to an appropriate level within the League structure.
4. ADMINISTRATION
a. The affairs of the League shall be vested in a Management Committee, comprising of the Officers of the League, being Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and Fixture Secretary, together with other Officials, duly elected at an Annual General Meeting. The Management Committee shall have the power to co-opt a representative from any full Member Club and likewise fill any vacancy until the following Annual General Meeting at its sole discretion. The President, if elected, may attend General Meetings of the League, and meetings of the Management Committee and its elected Sub Committees. At all such meetings the President shall have no voting rights.
b. The Management Committee may, at its absolute discretion, appoint extra posts of Officer, except that if the person so appointed is not already a member of the Management Committee they shall have no voting rights.
c. Each Member Club of the League shall notify the League Secretary, on the form supplied to each Member Club, of its Officials for the coming season by 28th February each year. Any Member Club failing to do so by that date shall be liable to a fine of £50.
d. The Management Committee shall have the power to create Sub-Committees as it considers necessary.
e. Wherever the words “in writing” or “written” appear, this may be by email, fax, or letter only.
5. FUNCTIONS OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
a. A meeting of the Management Committee shall be held at least on a quarterly basis, and may be called at any time by the Secretary or any three Management Committee members acting together. At least seven days notice shall be given of any such meeting.
b. A quorum of such a meeting shall be 60% of elected members.
c. Each member, elected by an Annual General Meeting, of the Management Committee shall be entitled to one vote. Any proposals shall be decided on a simple majority. In the event of a tied vote the Chairman or his nominated deputy (who shall not otherwise vote) shall have the casting vote.
d. The Management Committee shall be responsible for the efficient running, and shall control the finances of the League.
e. All members of the Management Committee shall be entitled to be indemnified against any costs or expenses arising from the proper performance of their duties.
6. GENERAL MEETINGS
a. Special General Meetings
Such a meeting may be convened at any time by;
(i) the Management Committee, or
(ii) written communication addressed to the League in a manner acceptable to the League signed by the Chairmen and/or Secretaries of not less than twelve full Member Clubs. Upon receipt of such a written communication the League shall within 21 days arrange for the meeting to take place and shall notify all Member Clubs giving a of the date, time and venue of the meeting and informing them of the reason for which the meeting has been convened.
The written submission of any proposal(s) to be discussed shall be in a format set out by the League. At such a meeting the only matter(s) to be discussed shall be the matter(s) raised in the written communication that caused the meeting to be called. No other business may be dealt with.
The Chairman of the meeting's decision on any procedural matter shall be final.
b. Annual General Meetings
The Annual General Meeting shall be held no later than the 15th December each year when the following business shall be attended to:
(i) receive the Secretary's Report.
(ii) receive and adopt the Statement of Accounts.
(iii) elect the Officers for the coming year as per Rule 4 above.
(iv) elect the Management Committee for the coming year as per Rule 4 above.
(v) appoint an Independent Examiner of the League's Accounts.
(vi) attend to any other business.
The League shall notify all Member Clubs giving a minimum of four weeks notice of the date, time and venue of the meeting. The Chairman of the meeting's decision on any procedural matter shall be final.
c. Proposals made to the Annual General Meetings
All proposals to be considered by an Annual General Meeting may be made by;
(i) the Management Committee whose proposals shall not require to be seconded, or
(ii) a Full Member Club whose written communication of such proposal(s) shall be in a format set out by the League and shall be supported by a separate communication from another Full Member Club seconding such proposal(s). Both the proposal(s) and the written communication seconding the proposal(s) must be in a manner acceptable to the League, or
(iii) an Associate Member Club with the approval of the Management Committee, who if they approve, will second the proposal. Such proposal shall be made in the manner described in (ii) above.
All proposals made by either (ii) or (iii) above, and, where necessary, the separate written communication seconding such proposals, must have been received by the League no later than 8 weeks prior to the meeting.
d. Representation and Voting at General Meetings
(i) Each Full Member Club shall have one vote and shall be entitled to send two delegates one of whom may vote on its behalf, no other person shall be entitled to vote except that in the event of a tied vote on a proposal that requires a simple majority (see e. below).
(ii) Each Associate Member Club shall be entitled to send two delegates and shall be entitled to speak but not vote.
(iii) Any Member Club that does not send a delegate to a General Meeting shall be fined £50.
(iv) A quorum for a General Meeting shall be two thirds of the Full Member Clubs of the League.
e. Majorities required for Proposals to be passed at General Meetings
Proposals made in respect of:
(i) amendments to, deletions from or additions to the:
(a) Constitution of the League.
(b) Discipline Complaints and Appeals Procedures.
(c) Match Rules.
(d) Format of the League.(ii) Finance.
(iii) The election of a Club to the League or the expulsion of a Member Club from the League shall require to obtain two-thirds of the votes cast for and against such proposals at the meeting to be adopted.
The decision to adopt all other proposals shall be decided by a simple majority of the votes cast for and against such proposals at the meeting and in the event of a tied vote of such a proposal the Chairman of the meeting shall have the casting vote.
In the event that a recount is requested and allowed by the Chairman of the meeting no further discussion on the relevant matter shall be permitted.
7. POSTAL VOTING
At the absolute discretion of the Management Committee a proposal may be the subject of a postal vote of all Full Member Clubs. For the vote of a Club to be included in the count it must be made in the manner set out by the League, signed by the Chairman and/or Secretary of the Club and be received by the League on or before the date set by the Management Committee for the votes to be cast.
The majorities required for such proposal(s) to be adopted shall be the same as those required at a General Meeting - see Rule 6.e above but in the event of a tied vote on a proposal requiring a simple majority the Management Committee shall have the casting vote.
8. FINANCE
a. An independently examined account for the financial year ending 30th September shall be prepared and sent to Member Clubs with the notice convening the Annual General Meeting.
b. The annual subscription shall be paid by 1st April of each year, and shall be fixed at the preceding Annual General Meeting.
c. The League Accounts shall be held by a local bank as decided by the Management Committee. Cheques drawn on this account must bear the signature of the Treasurer and either the Chairman or Secretary.
9. WINDING UP
In the event of the League being wound up a final statement of accounts shall be prepared and independently examined. If these accounts reveal a deficit every full Member Club at the date of winding up and every Club that ceased to be a member within the year preceding the date of winding up shall contribute equally to clear the said deficit. If a surplus is revealed it shall be equally divided among the Member Clubs at the date of winding up.
10. GENERAL
All matters not covered by the Constitution shall be dealt with by the Management Committee whose decision shall be final.
(Updated 2012-01-18)