Constitution

Affiliation

The Club shall be affiliated to the Angling Trust, the Trout and Salmon Association
and/or such other similar clubs, associations and societies as the Club’s trustees
may from time to time decide.

Aims and Objectives

2.1 The Club is an unincorporated, not-for-profit association
2.2 The aims and objectives of the Club are:
2.2.1 to provide facilities to its members including the organisation and provision of
angling;
2.2.2 to promote the Club and angling within the local community;
2.2.3 to ensure a duty of care to all members of the Club;
2.2.4 to provide all its services in a way that is fair to everyone; and
2.2.5 to promote such other non-political, sporting, social and recreational activities
as the Management team may from time to time decide.
2.2.6 to promote the protection and restoration of nature in and around the clubs
venues.

Trustees

3.1 There shall at all times be not less than two but not more than three trustees of
the Club (the “Trustees)
3.2 The Trustees shall hold office until death or resignation. A trustee can be
removed from office by a simple majority resolution of the trustees if there is clear
and consistent evidence of wrong doing or not acting in the best interests of the club.
3.3 Where, by reason of any such death, resignation or removal, it shall be deemed
expedient to appoint an additional Trustee or Trustees, the trustees, at their sole
discretion, shall by a simple majority resolution nominate the person or persons to be
appointed as the new Trustee or Trustees.
3.4 All property and assets of the Club are vested in the Trustees for and on behalf of
the Club’s members from time to time, to be dealt with by the Trustees in such
manner as the Trustees may from time to time decide.
3.5 The Trustees shall be indemnified by the Club against any liabilities, costs and
expenses arising in connection with the vesting in the Trustees of the Club’s property
and assets
3.6 The Trustees shall be authorised to borrow for the purposes of the Club any such
amount of money, either at one time or from time to time, and at such rate of interest
and in such form and manner and upon such security being given, as the Trustees
may from time to time decide.
3.7 The Trustees shall make all such dispositions of the Club’s property and assets
or any part thereof and enter into such agreements in relation thereto as the Trustees
may from time to time decide.

Membership & Fees

4.1 All applicants to membership of the club are expected to be responsible persons
of good standing.
4.2 Club membership is open to all those interested in promoting, volunteering or
participating in angling, regardless of sex, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, sexual
orientation, religion or other beliefs.
4.3 The Club’s membership shall consist of the following categories:
4.3.1 Adult Membership: open to those aged 18 or over when joining the Club or
renewing their annual subscription.
4.3.2 Joint Membership: open to spouses/partners aged 18 or over when joining the

Club or renewing their annual subscription. Any existing member can take advantage
of Joint Membership without having to pay another entrance fee. New members will
pay a joint entrance fee and annual subscription.
4.3.3 Junior Membership: open to those between 12 and 17 (inclusive) years of age
when joining the Club or renewing their annual subscription. Under 12’s are free
when accompanied by an adult member.
4.3.4 Senior Citizen: Open to those who are senior citizens based on date of birth
and who are of state official retirement age on May 1 st .
4.3.5 Honorary and Life Honorary Membership: Life Honorary members may be
elected by the Trustees at their sole discretion. Honorary Members may be elected
for one year or such other period as may be determined by the Trustees at their sole
discretion.
4.3.6 Blue Badge Holders: Open to those who hold a Blue Badge and can produce a
current issue Blue Badge
4.4 All members aged 12 or over must be in possession of a current Environment
Agency Licence and must carry their licence when fishing the Club’s waters at all
times.
4.5 The annual subscription for Club membership shall be such sum the Trustees, in
their sole discretion, shall determine on an annual basis to be necessary for the
proper running of the Club.
4.6 Applications for membership or the renewal of existing memberships shall be
accompanied by the fee appropriate to the class of membership required. New
Members must provide passport size photograph when applying for Membership.
4.7 Membership renewals shall be payable on or before 1 April in each year. After
this date the appropriate entrance fee will be required.
4.8 All members will be subject to the rules of this Constitution and, by joining the
Club, will be deemed to accept the rules of this Constitution and such other rules,
regulations and/or codes of practice as the Trustees shall publish from time to time.
4.9 The Trustees reserves the right at all times to refuse or rescind membership.

5. Expulsion
   5.1 The Trustees may expel from the Club any member for conduct which, in their
   opinion, is injurious or tends to be injurious to the interests of the Club, its objects, its
   members and/or angling in general.
   5.2 Before expelling a member the Trustees shall enquire into his or her conduct and
   the member shall be given a reasonable opportunity to defend or justify
   himself/herself, either in writing or by appearing before the Trustees, as he/she shall
   elect.
   5.3 The Trustees power to expel a member shall be on a simple majority vote of
   those present at the enquiry. An expelled member shall forfeit all rights and privileges
   of Club membership.
6. Sports Equity
   6.1 This Club is committed to ensuring that equity is incorporated across all aspects
   of its development. In doing so it acknowledges and adopts the following Sport
   England definition of sports equity: “Sports equity is about fairness in sport, equality
   of access, recognising inequalities and taking steps to address them. It is about
   changing the culture and structure of sport to ensure it becomes equally accessible
   to everyone in society.”
   6.2 The Club respects the rights, dignity and worth of every person and will treat
   everyone equally within the context of their sport, regardless of age, ability, gender,
   race, ethnicity, religious belief, sexuality or social/economic status.

6.3 The Club is committed to everyone having the right to enjoy their sport in an
environment free from threat of intimidation, harassment and abuse.
6.4 All Club members have a responsibility to oppose discriminatory behaviour and
promote equality of opportunity.
6.5 The Club will deal with any incidence of discriminatory behaviour seriously,
according to Club disciplinary procedures.

7. Management
   7.1 The management of the Club shall be conducted by The Trustees.
   7.2 The Trustees shall be responsible for all aspects of the management and
   operation of the Club and for the adoption of all policies, codes of practice, rules and
   procedures that affect the Club and its members.
   7.3 The Trustees shall be the sole authority for the interpretation of the Club’s
   Constitution. The decision of the Trustees on any question of interpretation or of any
   other matter affecting the Club shall be final and binding on all members.
   7.4 All Trustees must be members of the Club of at least 3 years’ standing.
   7.5 Business shall be agreed by a simple majority vote by The Trustees
   7.6 In order to smoothly run, develop and grow the club The Trustees shall convene
   at least four meetings per annum with experts on different themes. These experts
   coming from both within and external to the club. Themes are expected to change
   over time but could include Finance and Marketing, Water Quality and Habitat,
   Predation, Fish Stocks and Land & Water Maintenance. Attendees for these
   meetings would be invited by The Trustees.
   7.7 The Trustees and nominated individuals shall be remunerated in return for their
   services to the Club at agreed rates for work undertaken. Such remuneration shall be
   in addition to and separate from the reimbursement of expenses incurred by the
   Trustees and individuals on behalf of the Club, as agreed by the Trustees from time
   to time.
8. Finances
   8.1 The financial year of the Club will run from 1 November and end on 31 October in
   each year.
   8.2 All club monies will be banked in an account held in the name of the Club.
   8.3 Any significant investment / expense to be agreed by at least two trustees.
9. Amendments to the Constitution
   The Constitution shall only be amended through agreement by the Trustees at their
   sole discretion.
10. Site and Angling Rules
    10.1 The attention of all members is drawn to:
    10.1.1 the Site Rules, which apply to each water individually, which can found in the
    Club’s Waters Book, under the name of each water quoted; and
    10.1.2 the Angling Rules which can be found on Club membership cards.
    10.2 All members shall be bound by the Site Rules and the Angling Rules.
11. Discipline and Appeals
    11.1 Trustees will be responsible for disciplinary hearings of members who infringe
    the Constitution.
    11.2 All complaints regarding the behaviour of members should be presented and
    submitted in writing to the Trustees.
    11.3 The Trustees will meet to hear complaints within 90 days of a complaint being

lodged. The Trustees have the power to take appropriate disciplinary action,
including the termination of membership, as it shall in their sole discretion decide.
11.4 The outcome of a disciplinary hearing should be notified in writing to the person
who lodged the complaint and the member against whom the complaint was made
within 30 days of the hearing.
11.5 Before his/her membership is terminated, the member shall have the right to
defend himself/herself before the Trustees, either in person or in writing.

Dissolution

12.1 A resolution to wind-up or dissolve the Club can only be passed by The
Trustees at their sole discretion.
12.2 On the winding-up or dissolution of the Club, after provision has been made for
all its debts and liabilities, any assets or property that remains available to be
distributed or paid, shall not be paid or distributed to the Club’s members but shall
instead be transferred to another body (charitable or otherwise) with objects similar to
those of the Club. Such body shall be determined by a resolution of The Trustees, at
its sole discretion, at or before the time of winding-up or dissolution.