Club Rule Book

The Duke of Connaught’s Own Club (Fareham) Ltd

Registration Number: 13845R

1)    CONDITIONS, NAME AND OBJECTS

a)    The Club shall be named the Duke of Connaught’s Own Club (Fareham) Ltd, hereafter known as (the Club).

b)    The object of the Club shall be:

1.     To carry out the business of a bona fide Members Club.

2.     To promote comradeship amongst members of the Duke of Connaught’s Own Club (Fareham) Ltd and liaison with other organisations.

2)    OFFICE

The Registered Office shall be at:

74 Western Road, FAREHAM, Hampshire. PO16 0NS

Notice of any change in the situation of the Registered Office shall be sent 14 days thereafter to the Mutuals Societies Registrar by the Secretary in the manner and form provided by section 10 (2) of the industrial and provident societies act.

3)    SEAL OF THE CLUB

The Club shall have its name engraved in legible characters upon a Seal. The Seal shall be in the custody of the Secretary or such other Officers as the Committee appoint and shall be used only under the authority of a resolution of the Committee: the date thereof shall be mentioned on the instrument to which the Seal is attached, and shall be attested by the signatures of two Officers and by the Secretary.

4)    USE OF NAME

The registered name of the Club shall be kept painted or affixed on the outside of the Club premises, in a conspicuous position in letters easily legible, and shall be engraved in legible characters on its Seal, and shall be mentioned in legible characters on all business letters, notices, advertisements and other official publications of the Club, in all its bills of exchange, promissory notes, endorsements, cheques and orders for money or goods purporting to be signed by or on behalf of the Club and on all bills, invoices, receipts and letters of credit of the Club.

5)    RULES

1)    SUPPLY

The Membership Secretary shall be supplied by the Committee with copies of the registered Rules and shall be bound to deliver a copy to all members on their election (see Rule 8) and to any other person on demand, together with copies of registered partial amendments on such payment (not exceeding 50p), as the Committee may from time to time determine.

2)    AMENDMENT

No amendment to these rules is valid until registered by the Registrar of the Friendly Societies.

a)     Rules other than 1. 5 (2) and (7) can only be amended by the assent of two thirds majority of the members present and voting at a Special General meeting called for that purpose, the proposed amendment having been posted in the Club for at least 10 days prior to the meeting.

6)    BYE-LAWS

The Committee shall have the power to make such bye-laws as it may consider necessary for the good government and order of the Club, provided that no such bye-laws shall conflict with any of the Rules. A copy of such bye-laws shall be posted in a conspicuous place on the Club notice board.

7)    ELIGIBILITY FOR MEMBERSHIP

             All members of the Club must be over 18 years of age.

1)    FINANCIAL MEMBERSHIP

All financial members of the Club must be fully paid-up members.

2)    TEMPORARY MEMBERSHIP

Person/s specially invited by the Committee, may be admitted to temporary membership for a period or periods which together do not amount to more than 90 days in any one calendar year. The total number of temporary members in a membership at any one time must not exceed 10% of the financial membership. During their period of membership temporary members shall have all rights and privileges of financial members except that they may not vote at any meetings of the Club.

8)    APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP

1)    FINANCIAL MEMBERSHIP

Applicants for financial membership shall be made to the Membership Secretary. Applicants must sign an application form for one share and provide a deposit of 5p, which will be returned in the event of non-acceptance as a member. The present name and address and occupation of each applicant signed by a proposer and a seconder who must each be a financial member of the Club must be supplied and shall be posted up in the Club for at least 48 hours prior to the proposed members name being considered by the Committee. The Committee has sole authority to admit applicants to membership or reject them. The decision of the Committee shall be final. Immediately upon admission the member shall:

a)     Receive one share valued at 5p

b)    Be provided with a copy of the Clubs Rules. If a charge is made it shall not exceed 50p.

c)     Pay the current subscription in return for which the member will receive a Club Membership card. Until this admission procedure is fully completed the applicant is not entitled to enter the Club or enjoy any of the privileges of membership.

2)    TEMPORARY MEMBERSHIP

Applications for temporary membership shall be made to the Membership Secretary. The names and addresses of applicants for temporary membership shall be posted in the Club for at least 48 hours before the membership becomes valid. The Committee may authorize the admission of temporary members from a date being two clear days from the date of receipt of the relevant application. Membership shall only become valid after the payment of a subscription in accordance with Rule 10 (1), the receipt for which shall constitute the temporary membership card.

9)    SHARES

Shares shall not be withdrawable or transferable and shall be of the value of 5p. No member shall hold more than one share and no interest or dividend shall be paid on it. A member shall forfeit the share value 5p on ceasing from whatever cause to be a member.

10)  SUBSCRIPTIONS

1)    All financial members shall pay a subscription of not less that £3.50 nor more than £20.00 per annum as may from time to time be determined by the members of the Annual General Meeting. Temporary members shall pay a joining fee and subscription as determined by the Committee. Subscriptions are applicable to Club Memberships only.

2)    WHEN DUE

The subscription for a complete year becomes due as soon as the applicant is admitted to membership (see Rule 8 (1) and subsequently on the first day of each October being the beginning of the Clubs financial year.

3)    ARREARS

Any member who has not paid his subscription four weeks after it has become due shall be considered to be in arrears. The Membership Secretary shall post in the registered office a list of the names of members in arrears within the five days of their becoming in arrears and no member in arrears shall be permitted to use the Club or take part in its affairs.

4)    LAPSED MEMBERSHIP

Any member whose subscription is still not paid within eight weeks of becoming in arrears shall cease to be a member. The Membership Secretary shall post in the registered office a list of the names of persons who, for this reason have ceased to be members.

5)    EXCUSED SUBSCRIPTION

The Committee on receiving information in writing addressed to the Membership Secretary that any member has been unable to pay the subscription owing to want of work or other good cause, may at its discretion excuse payment of such members subscription for such periods as it may think fit, in which case such member shall not forfeit the privileges of membership, nor shall the members name be included in the lists (3) and (4) above.

11)  REGISTER OF MEMBERS

1)    The Club shall keep at its Registered Office a register in which the Membership Secretary shall enter the following particulars:

a)     The names and addresses of all members

b)    A statement of the number and values of shares held by members

c)     A statement of property in the Club; whether in loans or otherwise held by each member

d)    The date at which each person was entered in the register as a member, and the date at which any person ceased to be a member

e)    The names and addresses of the Officers and Committee with the offices held by them respectively and the dates on which they assumed office.

2)    Any member changing his address shall notify the Membership Secretary of such change within 14 days. The Club shall also keep at its registered office a duplicate register of members in which the Membership Secretary shall enter all the particulars in the original register of members other than those mentioned in paragraph (1) (b) and (1) (c) hereof.

12) CESSATION OF MEMBERSHIP

A member shall cease to be a member:

a)     By non-payment of subscription (see Rule 10). Any person whose membership has ceased from this cause shall not again be considered as a candidate for membership unless he previously pay all arrears due from him at the time of his ceasing to be a member and applies for a new share in accordance with Rule 8.

b)    By expulsion.

c)     By resignation; but any member wishing to resign must send written notice to the Membership Secretary.

d)    By death.

13)  ADMISSION OF NON-MEMBERS TO THE CLUB

In addition to members the following may be admitted to the Club premises at the discretion of the Committee:

1)    AFFILIATED CLUB VISITORS

Provided that the Club is not full. Members of affiliated organisations may normally be admitted to the use of the Club facilities upon production of their Club membership card (showing that the subscription is up to date) and a current Club Affiliate card. The Committee may make special arrangements regarding the admission of the Affiliated Club Visitors to special events organized by the Club. The name and address of the visitor and the name of the Club to which he belongs must be entered in a book kept for that purpose and the doorkeeper or other appointed official be satisfied that he is duly entitled, may admit him.

2)    GUESTS OF MEMBERS

Any member may be accompanied by his/her children under the age of 18 as guests at any time when the Club is open. In addition to his family (see above) any member may introduce friends as guests provided that no member may introduce more than two guests at any one time and no individual may be introduced as a guest more than once in any calendar month. The member introducing them shall sign their name in a book kept for that purpose. Members shall be responsible for the good behaviour of guests introduced by them during the period of their stay in the Club and in the event that a guest is removed from Club premises for misconduct of any cause, the member introducing such guest may be dealt with by the Committee at its discretion.

3)    GUESTS APPROVED BY THE COMMITTEE

Persons attending the following functions organized by the Committee or organized by a member and approved by the Committee may be admitted to the Club.

a)     Sporting teams and their officials and supporters engaged in sporting fixtures in which a representative of their Club is participating.

b)    Occasions of a personal or family nature not organized for profit and which are customarily celebrated e.g weddings of members children, retirements, silver and golden wedding anniversaries etc.

c)     Functions organised to entertain exclusively the members of other organisations.

d)    In any twelve months up to 12 other functions organized to further the objectives of the Club (see Rule 1).

4)    EXCLUSIONS

Notwithstanding (1) (2) (3) above, the following may not be admitted as guests:

a)     Former members who have ceased to be members under Rule 12. Clauses (a) (b) (c) (d) and (e).

b)    Persons whose applications for membership have been refused.

c)     Members who are suspended under Rule 22.

d)    Members who have been ordered under Rule 21 to withdraw and who have not subsequently met the Committee.

14)  HOURS OF OPENING AND CLOSING CLUB PREMISES

The Club shall be opened and closed at such hours as may from time to time be fixed by the Committee and as posted in the Club.

15) PERMITTED HOURS

The permitted hours for licensable activities shall be fixed by the Committee in accordance with the Certificate granted by the Licensing Authority in accordance with the Licensing Act 2003. The permitted hours shall be incorporated in a bye-law which shall be displayed in the Club. In so far as these rules allow for conduct of licensable activities, such activities shall also be limited to the permitted hours fixed by the Committee. The permitted hours may be extended by submitting notice in writing to the Licensing Authority and the Chief Superintendent of Police in accordance with Part 5 of the Licensing Act 2003.

16) GENERAL MEETINGS

1) ORDINARY GENERAL MEETINGS

Ordinary General Meetings shall be held as directed by the Committee. The agenda for the meeting must be posted in the Club for at least 10 days prior to the meeting. Notice of motion submitted in writing by any member at least 5 days before the date of such meeting shall be added to the agenda by the Secretary. No matters other than those which appear shall be discussed at an Ordinary General Meeting.

2) ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Annual General Meeting of the members shall be held in the month of December in each year, on a date to be fixed by the Committee. The date and time of the meeting together with an agenda of the business to be conducted shall be posted by the Secretary at least 10 days prior to the date of the meeting. The business of such meeting shall be to receive a report by the Committee for the previous financial year, to receive a statement of Accounts and a Balance sheet, and the report of the accountant or if appointed the auditor for the previous 12 months to determine if the Club needs an auditor, and such business as may be included in the agenda. Notice of motion in writing submitted by any member at least 5 days before the date of such meeting shall be added to the agenda by the Secretary.

3) SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING

a)    How to be called: A Special General Meeting can be called by the Secretary in the following circumstances:

                                                        i.     Upon the direction of the Committee, and in accordance with such direction.

                                                      ii.     On a requisition, signed by one-fifth of the financial members or thirty such members, whichever is the less, stating the special object thereof. Such meeting shall be held within not less than 14 days and not more than 21 days from the date of the receipt by the Secretary of the requisition.

                                                     iii.     As mentioned in Rule 20.

b)    Notice to be given.

Notice of any Special General Meeting, and of the objects for which it was called, shall be posted by the Secretary in the Club at least 10 days prior to the date of the meeting. Should the Secretary not give notice of a Special General Meeting in the manner required within 7 clear days after a duly signed requisition has been delivered to him, any of the requisitions may call such a meeting, giving such notice as is provided by this Rule.

c)     Business.

No other business than that names in the notice shall be brought before a Special General Meeting.

4) QUOROM

A General Meeting may proceed to business if 20 members are present within an hour after the time fixed for the meeting, otherwise the meeting, if a Special General Meeting convened on the requisition of the members, shall be dissolved, but if an Ordinary, Annual or Special General Meeting convened by order of the Committee shall stand adjourned to the week following at the same time, and the meetings so adjourned may proceed to business, whatever the numbers of members present. No meeting shall become incompetent to transact business from the want of a quorum arising after the chair has been taken.

5) PRESIDING OFFICER

The President, or in his absence the Chairman, or in his absence the Vice-Chairman, or in the absence of all of these Officers, a member elected by the Meeting shall preside at all General Meetings.

6) VOTING

All financial members may attend, speak or vote at any General Meeting. Voting shall be decided by simple majority except as otherwise provided in these rules and in the event of a tied vote the motion shall be deemed to be lost.

7) ADJOURNMENT

Any General Meeting duly constituted may adjourn to such time as the members present direct and may continue any such adjournment from time to time. No business shall be brought on at any adjourned meeting, which could not have been transacted at the original meeting.

8) RESCINDED RESOLUTIONS

No resolution passed by a General Meeting shall be rescinded, except by another General Meeting called in accordance with Rule 16 (1).

17)  OFFICERS

1)    The Officers of the Club shall consist of a Chairman and Vice-Chairman who shall be elected annually and be members of the Committee (see Rule 19) and the Secretary and Treasurer and Membership Secretary who shall be appointed by the Committee.

2)    HONORARY VICE-PRESIDENTS

As many Honorary Vice-Presidents as desired may be elected by Annual General Meeting, but they shall not be Officers of the Club.

3)    VACATION OF OFFICE

Any Officer shall vacate his office:

a)     Upon removal from office under Rule 21.

b)    Upon cessation of membership of the Club under Rule 12.

c)     Upon suspension under Rule 22.

d)    Upon resignation submitted to the Secretary in writing and accepted by the Committee.

e)    Upon death.

4)    VACANCIES

In the event of a vacancy arising amongst the Officers, the Committee shall have the power to appoint an eligible member to fill the vacancy until the next Annual General Meeting.

5)    HONORARIA

Officers other than the Secretary may receive such honorarium (if any) as the members in General Meeting may from time to time decide.

6)    DUTIES OF OFFICERS

a)     The Chairman. The Chairman shall normally preside at all meetings of the Committee and shall have overall responsibility for the conduct of Club affairs as directed by the Committee.

b)    The Vice-Chairman. The Vice-Chairman shall deputise for the Chairman as necessary.

c)     The Treasurer. The Treasurer shall be responsible for paying into the Bank of monies received by the Club from all its sources into an account opened in the name of the Club and in such a manner as the Committee may direct. The Treasurer may not make any deduction from these payments for any purpose whatsoever. The Treasurer must render to the Committee or a General Meeting an account of such monies received and expended by them.

d)    The Secretary. The Secretary shall carry out the directions of the Committee and subject to such direction, shall receive monies on account of the Club, and pay the same to the Treasurer and keep such accounts as the Committee may direct. He shall attend all General Meetings as directed by the Committee, take minutes of the proceedings, ensure the preparation of accounts and balance sheet and annual returns, and submit the same to the Auditor if one has been appointed.

e)    The Membership Secretary. The Membership Secretary shall keep upon the Clubs premises a list of the names and addresses of the members of the Club, and a subscription book (or books) in which shall be recorded the payments of such members.

18)  THE COMMITTEE

1)    COMPOSITION

The Committee shall consist of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and 9 Committeemen/women, all of who shall be elected annually (see Rule 19 (2)).

2)    EMPLOYEES OF THE CLUB

The Committee shall have exclusive powers to appoint, dismiss, enter into a contract of employment with and fix the renumeration of the Secretary, Treasurer, Steward and other employees. The Secretary or Treasurer need not be members of the Club. The Steward and other employees must not be members of the Club.

3)    MANAGEMENT OF THE CLUB

The Committee shall be responsible for the management of the Club having regard to these rules and to any resolution of a General Meeting called under Rule 16. The Committee or any Officers authorized by them, shall have the power to give orders for such goods supplied and work to be done as may be necessary for carrying out the purposes of the Club, but nothing in this rule shall empower the Committee to incur expenditure except as is consistent with the purpose for which the Club is established. No members shall by virtue of his appointment have power to order goods or dispose of the funds of the Club.

4)    PAYMENTS TO MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE

Unless specifically authorised by a General Meeting held under Rule 16, no Officer or other member of the Committee:

a)     Supply goods to the Club for payment.

b)    Enter into a contract for work to be done for the Club.

c)     Hold any office of salary or profit paid by the Club. (Note) Honoraria may be paid to Officers or other members of the Committee if specifically and individually authorized by the members at a General Meeting called under Rule 16.

The only exception to this rule is if the Club does not have sufficient staff to operate, then if agreed by the Committee, a Committee member may be paid to work on the premises, on condition that they may only be paid the current statutory minimum wage for that Committee members age.

5)    CONDUCT OF MEETINGS

a)     The Committee shall meet at least once per month for general business. The Chairman or in his absence the Vice-Chairman or in his absence a Chairman elected by the members present shall take a Chair at meetings of the Committee.

b)    Voting. One third of the total membership of the Committee shall constitute a quorum. Each member of the Committee shall have one vote only. Except where otherwise provided in these rules, motions shall be decided by majority and in the event of a tie the motion shall be deemed lost

c)     Rescinding a resolution. No resolution of the Committee shall be rescinded unless notice to rescind has been given at the previous meeting and all members of the Committee informed accordingly.

d)    Minutes. Minutes of all meetings by the Committee shall be taken by the Secretary (or in his absence a member appointed by the Committee). The Secretary shall cause the minutes of the meeting to be retained for at least 10 years and to be available upon request to any member of the Committee. Any member of the Club may at the discretion of the Committee inspect the minutes of any meeting of the Committee on giving seven days’ notice in writing to the Secretary specifying the date of the minutes required and the reason for wishing to see them.

6)    VACATION OF OFFICE

Committeemen and women shall vacate their office;

a)     Upon removal from office under Rule 20.

b)    Upon cessation of membership of the Club under Rule 12.

c)     Upon suspension under Rule 22.

d)    Upon resignation submitted to the Secretary in writing and accepted by the Committee. If upon resignation it is decided by a majority vote by the remaining members of the Committee, at the next available meeting with at least two thirds of the full Committee present the reasons given for vacating their office does not have sufficient merit, the member resigning may be banned for a maximum of 3 years.

e)    Upon death.

7)    VACANCIES

In the event of a vacancy arising amongst the members of the Committee, the Committee shall have the power to appoint an eligible member to fill the vacancy until the next ballot held under Rule 19.

8)    SUB-COMMITTEE

The Committee may appoint a Sub-Committee as occasion requires and such Sub-Committees shall be responsible to the Committee, and all monies voted for the use of or received by the Sub-Committee shall be dealt with in accordance with Rule 17 (6).

9)    FINANCE SUB-COMMITTEE

The Committee shall at the first meeting following each election, appoint a Committee to be called the Finance Sub-Committee. It shall consist of three members of the Committee exclusive of the Officers. The Officers shall be entitled to attend meetings of this Committee and, with the exception of the Secretary, take part in the proceedings. It shall be the duty of the Finance Sub-Committee to arrange for a record of the stock of goods held by the Club to be taken on the first convenient day of each month, either by themselves by an agent duly appointed for that purpose; check all demands for payment with the order book of the Club, and with delivery notes and invoices; and to report to the whole Committee whether such stock vouches the correctness of the returns to the Club by the Steward, and whether the demands are in order and correct. It shall see the vouchers are produced by the Secretary for all payments made by him or by order of the Committee; and it shall especially be the duty of the Finance Sub-Committee to report to the next meeting of the whole Committee whether the Secretaries cash book  has been duly made up each week and the amount there shown as standing to the credit of the Club appears also in the Treasurers book or books, and in a statement from the bank with which the current accounts of the Club is kept in the name of the Club. These books duly made up to date shall be laid upon table at each Committee meeting. The proceedings of the Finance Sub-Committee shall be recorded by the Secretary in a minute book kept for that purpose. All cheques drawn upon the Clubs account shall be signed by at least two persons one of whom shall be an Officer and the other a member of the Finance Sub-Committee.

10)  FIDELITY INSURANCE

All Officers, Committeemen and Employees of the Club whose duties may involve them handling Club money or stock must be insured under an insurance policy which protects the Club against dishonesty and fraud. The premium shall be paid by the Club.

19)  CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS

1.     The election of Officers (other than the Treasurer or Secretary) and Committeemen / women shall be held by ballot. No member may hold more than one Office. Each member of the Club shall have one vote for each vacancy.

2.      BALLOTS SHALL BE HELD EITHER

a)    During the Annual General Meeting or

b)    During the 14 days following the AGM. Such ballots shall remain

3.     SCRUTINEERS

a)     Ballots should be carried out under the directions of the Committee by three scrutineers appointed by the Annual General Meeting. Scrutineers should not be candidates, Committeemen or Officers.

b)    The scrutineers shall, at the conclusion of the ballot, seal up the ballot papers and hand them to the Secretary, who shall retain them for seven days. A scrutiny shall take place if written demand be presented to the Secretary within seven days from the close of the ballot, signed by not less that one-tenth of the members of the Club, and a scrutiny shall be carried out by three fresh scrutineers to be named by the Committee, and their decision shall be final.

4.     ELIGIBILTY

Any member (who must give his consent) shall be eligible for election only after he has been a member of the Club for at least twelve months and must be proposed and seconded by two members who must sign the nomination sheet.

5.     NOMINATIONS

At four weeks before the date fixed for any ballot, a nomination sheet shall be posted in the Registered Office by the Secretary, on which the names of all Candidates for any Office must be entered, and such sheet shall remain open until seven days prior to the Annual General Meeting, if the ballot is to be held at that meeting, or until the expiration of at least twenty-four hours following the Annual General Meeting

6.     RESULT OF BALLOTS

The result of ballots shall be made known by the posting of a notice on the Club notice board, attested by the signatures of the scrutineers, recording the number of votes polled by each candidate and indicating which of the candidates are elected, the candidates receiving the highest number of votes being those elected.

7.     RESOLUTION OF DIFFICULTIES

a)     In the event of a member being elected to more than one Office he may choose which Office he wishes to hold, the other Office shall be filled by the member receiving the next highest number of votes.

b)    Should the ballot result in two or more candidates receiving an equal number of votes for the last or only vacancy or vacancies in a particular post the names of such candidates shall be written on slips of paper, which shall be placed so that the names are concealed, and the President, or in his absence some person appointed by the scrutineers shall draw as many slips as there are vacancies to be filled, and the members whose names are so drawn shall be declared duly elected.

20)   REMOVAL FROM OFFICE

The Committee or any member or members thereof, including the Officers, may be removed by the votes of two-thirds of the members present and voting at a Special General Meeting called for that purpose. In the event of the removal or resignation of the whole or majority of the Committee, the Secretary shall obtain nominations and appoint scrutineers and arrange for holding a ballot, and the result shall be declared to a Special General Meeting to be called by the Secretary. The time and notices required by Rule 16 for a Special General Meeting shall not apply in this case, but three days shall be allowed for nominations, the ballot shall be held on the succeeding three days and the Special General Meeting held within three days of the close of ballot.

21)  MISCONDUCT OF MEMBERS

No gaming (other than that permitted by law), drunkenness, bad language or other misconduct shall be permitted on the Clubs premises, including the grounds and any other premises belonging to or authorized to use the title of The Duke of Connaught’s Own Club (Fareham) Ltd. Any Officer duly authorized by the Committee shall have the power to order the immediate withdraw from the Clubs premises (including the aforesaid grounds and premises) of any member offending under any of the provisions of this Rule and the member may be dealt with by the Committee under Rule 22.

Such member shall have no right of reentry to the Club premises until requested to attend to meet the Committee. If the next ordinary meeting of the Committee be within less than three days the member may claim to appear before them at that meeting and to have his case dealt with, waiving the length of notice required by the said Rule 22 if applicable.

22)  DISCIPLINARY POWERS OF THE COMMITTEE

The Committee shall have the power to reprimand, suspend (for not less than 3 months nor more than 12 months) or expel any member who shall infringe any rule, or whose conduct, whether within or without the Club house, shall, in their opinion bring the name of the Club into disrepute and render him unfit for membership.

No member shall be suspended or expelled without being given an opportunity to be heard by the Committee and to advance a defence, nor unless a majority of two-thirds of the Committee then present shall vote for his suspension or expulsion so determine.

Every member required to appear before the Committee under this rule shall receive at least seven days clear notice in writing from the Secretary and appearances shall normally be within 28 days of the alleged offence (Delivery by first class post may be assumed on the day following the dispatch of the letter, for the purpose of giving notice to the member).

Such notice shall contain a statement of the reasons for the action taken by the Committee. The decision of the Committee shall be notified by the Secretary in writing to the member within 7 days. A suspended member shall remain liable to pay his subscription but shall not be permitted to use any of the facilities of the Club or take part in the affairs of the Club except as may be provided for by the Act.

23)  APPEALS

The decision of the Committee under Rule 22 shall be final, unless any member who is punished under this rule shall, within twenty-eight days of having been notified in writing of the decision of the Committee, lodge an appeal to the Secretary. The matter shall then be decided by a General Meeting in accordance with Rule 16 (1).

24)  DISPUTES

1.     BETWEEN A MEMBER AND AN OFFICER OF THE CLUB

All disputes between a member and an Officer of the Club shall unless the Committee elects to refer the matter directly to a Special Meeting be settled by the Committee. The decision of the Committee shall be final, unless any party aggrieved thereby shall within seven days produce to the Secretary a requisition satisfying the conditions mentioned in Rule 16 whereupon the decision shall be reviewed by a Special Meeting.

2.     BETWEEN A MEMBER AND THE CLUB

All disputes between a member or person aggrieved who has not for more than six months ceased to be a member, or any person claiming through such member or person aggrieved under the rules, other than provided for by Rule 23, and the Club, shall be referred for arbitration to three arbitrators, who shall be appointed by the Committee and the decision of the arbitrators or a majority of them shall be final.

25)  INSPECTION OF BOOKS BY MEMBERS

It shall be the right of any member or person having an interest in the funds, to inspect at the Registered Office or wherever they are kept, the books of account, and the books containing the names and addresses of the members of the Club, including all the particulars in the duplicate register of members, at all reasonable times, and it shall be the duty of the Secretary to produce the same for inspection accordingly; but no person, unless an Officer of the Club or specially authorized by a resolution thereof can inspect the loan account of any other member without his written consent. A member may at the discretion of the Committee, on giving seven days prior notice of his reason in writing to the Secretary, inspect the minutes of any meeting of the Committee. Such notice shall include the date of the meeting.

26) INSPECTION OF BOOKS BY MEMBERS

Every year not later than 31st March the Secretary shall send to the Registrar the annual return in the form prescribed by the Chief Registrar of the Friendly Societies relating to the Clubs affairs for the period required by the Act to be included in the return together with:

a)     A copy of the report of the accountant or if appointed the auditor on the Clubs accounts for the period included in the return and

b)    A copy of each balance sheet made during that period and of the report of the accountant or if appointed the auditor on that balance sheet.

27)  SURPLUS

An Annual General Meeting may resolve to apply the whole or any part of the surplus in any of the following ways:

a)     For providing for the redemption of loan capital

b)    In promoting mutual intercourse and united actions between members, or

c)     For any lawful purpose, subject to Rule 28.

28)  APPLICATION OF FUNDS

Except by the dissolution of the Club or as interest on loans, no profit or funds of the Club shall be distributed among the members other than in the pursuance of the provisions of Rule 27.

29)  INVESTMENTS

The Committee may invest the funds of the Club in or upon any security, being a security in which trustees are for the time being authorised by law to invest for which purpose sections 1 to 6  of the Trustee Investment Act 1961 or any Act or Acts amending or in substitution for the same and for the time being in force shall apply as if the Club were a Trustee and its funds were trust property, but not otherwise.

30)  LOANS AND LOAN STOCK

a)     The Committee may obtain advances of money for the purposes of the Club from members or others on bonds, or agreements, or promissory notes, or from members only on certificates in respect of indebtedness of loan stock as provided hereafter. The total amount so obtained shall not exceed £200.00. The Committee may take any such loan on such terms at to the rate and manner of repayment as it thinks fit; but terms as to the rate of interest agreed to be given on any such advance shall not exceed 5% per annum or 2% per annum above the Bank of England base lending rate, whichever is the higher (except monies borrowed by way of a bank loan or overdraft or by way of a mortgage of the Clubs premises). Any bond of the Club made be made a specific charge upon any property of the Club specified therein or in any schedule thereto, but a separate register shall be kept of all bonds. All such bonds and other documents shall be made in such form, and shall be signed on account of the Club by such persons as the Committee may from time to time direct. The Club shall not receive monies on deposit.

b)    Loan Stock. Any amount of loan stock for sums of 50p or multiples thereof, being within the total limit mentioned in the preceding rule, may be issued by the Committee to members only subject to the conditions following:

                                                        i.         It shall not confer a right to demand payment of the principle from the Club, unless the interest be not paid within one month of a demand made in writing.

                                                      ii.         It shall be evidenced by certificates of indebtedness under the hands of two members of the Committee and the Secretary, stating the amount of loan stock standing to the credit of the respective holders.

                                                     iii.         It shall bear interest at a rate not exceeding the rate prescribed in Section (a) of this rule.

                                                     iv.         The Secretary shall keep a register of the holders of loan stock for the time being containing such particulars as the Committee may from time to time direct.

c)     Transfer of Loan Stock. A certificate of loan stock may be transferred by a form containing such particulars as the Committee direct. A fee of 5p shall be paid by the transferor upon each transfer. A register of all transfers containing such particulars as the Committee may direct, shall be kept, but no transfer shall be registered unless it is properly stamped, or if made by a member indebted to the Club, without special order of the Committee; and until the transfer of loan stock is registered no right shall be acquired against the Club by its transferee, nor shall any claim of the Club upon the Transferor be affected.

d)    Repayments of Loan Stock. Subject to the payment of, or a sufficient provision for, all subsisting claims on the Club, the Committee may from time to time apply any monies which they cannot profitably invest, to pay off the loan stock holders in the order they are entered on the register, or in exceptional circumstances in such order as the Committee may decide. If a loan stock holder, who has received notice that the Committee is prepared to pay him off, leaves the sum to be thus repaid in the hands of the Club, he shall not be entitled to any interest thereon after the expiration of the time named in the notice of repayment.

31)  AUDITING

The members shall vote annually, as allowed by the Deregulation (Industrial and Provident Societies) Order 1996, at the Annual General Meeting, to have when necessary in law, or where the membership requires, an audit carried out by a registered auditor, or an audit carried out by two or more lay auditors, or a report carried out by a registered auditor, or unaudited accounts, where the conditions for such exist.

If a full audit or a report is required, a person who is a qualified auditor under section 7 of the Friendly and Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1968 or section 36 of the Friendly Societies Act 1974, shall be appointed. The qualified or lay auditors, if so appointed, shall not be Officers or servants of the society and nor shall they be partners of, or in the employment of, or employ, an Officer or servant of the society.

Lay auditors shall be chosen by the Committee of Management from the general membership and/or others.

If the membership vote for unaudited accounts, the society’s income/expenditure ledger shall be scrutinized by the Secretary and Committee members only and signed, as a true record, by the Secretary and two Committee members or such other number as may be required by legislation.

An income/expenditure report will be prepared to present to the Society’s members at each Annual General Meeting.

32)  NOMINATIONS AND PROCEEDINGS ON DEATH OR BANKRUPTCY

Upon a claim being made by the personal representative of a deceased member or trustee in bankruptcy of a bankrupt member to any property in the Club belonging to a deceased or bankrupt member the Committee shall transfer or pay such property to which the personal representative or trustee in bankruptcy may direct to them. A member in accordance with the Act nominate any person or persons to whom (subject to the provisions of the Act as to amount and the person to whom a valid nomination may be made) any of his property in the Club at the time of his death be transferred. On receiving satisfactory proof of death of a member who has made a nomination the Committee shall if and to the extent that the nomination is valid under the said Act either pay or transfer in accordance with the Act the full value of the property comprised in the nomination to the person entitled thereunder.

33)  STATUTORY APPLICATIONS TO THE REGISTRAR

The requisite number of members may, in accordance with the provisions of the Act apply to the Registrar:

1)    For the appointment of an Accountant or Actuary to inspect the books of the Club and report thereon.

2)    For the appointment of an Inspector to examine into the affairs of the Club and report thereon.

3)    For the calling of a Special General Meeting at the Club.

34)  DISSOLUTION

The Club may at any time be dissolved by the consent of three-fourths of the members, testified by their signatures to an instrument of dissolution in the form provided by the Treasury Regulations in that behalf, , or by winding up in a manner provided by the Act.

35)  INTERPRETATION

In these rules:

a)     Words importing the singular or plural shall include the plural and singular respectively.

b)    Words importing the masculine gender shall include the feminine.

c)     ‘The Act’ shall mean for Industrial and Provident Societies Acts 1965 to 1968 or any Act or Acts amending or in substitution for the same and for the time being in force.

Registered Office

Duke of Connaught’s Own Club (Fareham) Ltd

74, Western Road

Fareham

Hampshire

PO16 0NS

Tel: 01329 516122

These Rules are registered in accordance with

The Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965 and registered in 2011