Southdown and Hydneye Community Angling Club Constitution
(January 2023)
PART 1 – CONSTITUTION
1a. Background:
The Southdown and Hydneye Community Angling Club (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Club’), was formed in 2023, evolving from a merger between the Hydneye Community Angling Club (HCAC) and the Southdown Angling Association (SAA). Previously, the Hydneye Community Angling Club had been created from the former Pike Anglers Club of East Sussex, and the Southdown Angling Association was formed by merging the previous Compleat Angler Fishing Club and the Hailsham Angling Association.
1b. Purpose:
The Club exists to:
- Promote the sport of freshwater angling including high standards of angling conduct and respect for the environment;
- Provide access to and management of its waters for the benefit of all its Members;
- Provide tuition and encouragement to enable anyone in the community to participate in angling; and
- Take action and enforcement as necessary in liaison with the relevant authorities to safeguard and enhance the environment and combat anti-social behaviour.
1c. Management Structure:
Management of the Club’s affairs will be undertaken by a Committee comprised of four designated Executive Officers (Chair, Treasurer, Secretary and Assistant Secretary) plus a number of Committee Members as deemed necessary to undertake required roles. Such roles and numbers may vary over time to reflect the Club’s needs.
In addition, the Club may appoint a President and Vice Presidents. These posts will not be part of the Executive or Committee but may be called upon by the Executive or Committee for advice and guidance when required. The primary function of the President and Vice Presidents will be to act as ambassadors in promoting the Club and its ethos.
All of the above-mentioned roles and posts will be subject to election at the AGM. However, the Executive Officers can collectively propose and, with Committee approval, make any in-year Committee appointments necessary either to fill vacancies or to add where necessary to meet workload demands.
1d. Financial Management:
The Club’s financial year shall be nominally from 1st April to 31st March, with a suitable cut-off date to allow for production and presentation at the AGM.
1e. Asset Management:
All assets held by either the former Hydneye Community Angling Club or the Southdown Angling Association will automatically become assets owned by the Southdown and Hydneye Community Angling Club.
The land asset previously owned by SAA will be subject to the provisions of a legal agreement limiting the circumstances under which it may be sold. The Committee will be bound by the terms of this agreement.
All property of the Club, including leases, but excluding cash or equivalent (which shall be under the control of the Treasurer), shall be vested in Trustees, to be dealt with by them as the Committee shall from time to time direct. There shall not be less than two or more than four Trustees, appointed by the Committee, who shall hold office until death, resignation or removal from office by resolution of the Committee. The Trustees shall include representatives of HCAC and SAA for at least 3 years following the formation of the Southdown and Hydneye Community Angling Club. Trustees can, but need not be, Officers of the Club.
Trustees shall be empowered to borrow or mortgage in support of the Club as directed by the Committee.
1f. Liabilities:
- Trustees shall be indemnified out of the assets of the Club against any expense incurred in the exercise of their duties;
- The Executive Officers and Committee Members shall not be personally liable for loss of any kind whatsoever suffered by the Club that may occur as a result of the correct, lawful and approved discharge of their duties;
- Third party liability will be limited to the assets of the Club only and will not extend to any personal liabilities of Club Officers and Committee Members;
- Personal, individual liability may be incurred by any Club Officer, Committee Member, or other Members, where such liability has been incurred as a result of specific individuals acting unlawfully, illegally or without approval on behalf of the Club; and
- The Club reserves the right to instigate proceedings against any individual(s) deemed to have acted in a manner harmful to the Club’s assets or reputation.
1g. Dissolution:
- If at any Committee meeting of the Club, a resolution is passed calling for the dissolution of the Club, the Secretary shall convene an EGM to be held not less than one month thereafter to discuss and vote on the resolution;
- If at that EGM, the resolution is carried by at least two-thirds of the Members present at the meeting, the Committee shall thereupon, or at such date as shall have been specified in the resolution, proceed to realise the assets of the Club and discharge all debts and liabilities of the Club;
- After discharging all debts and liabilities of the Club, the remaining assets shall not be paid or distributed amongst the Members of the Club unless the amount is greater than £10,000. If less than this figure, the assets shall be given or transferred to an organisation having objectives similar to those of the Club; and
- Should no other organisation be found wishing to receive the remaining assets, then the Trustees are empowered to sell all the assets and donate the proceeds to The Angling Trust.
1h. Interpretation:
The Committee is the sole authority for the interpretation of this Constitution and associated Operational Rules and for any decision not provided for therein. However, the Committee shall seek professional advice before deciding on any issues not specifically provided for in this Constitution. This guidance may be from legal and/or insurance bodies as relevant before any resulting decisions can be finalized and made binding upon the Membership.
1i. Updates:
This Constitution is a live document and will be subject to ongoing updates and improvements. The Committee is authorised to make any technical adjustments that improve clarity and remove ambiguity in respect of existing content and to add to or amend existing content in order to ensure legal or financial compliances. Where fundamental new content is proposed that has a significant bearing on Club policies or objectives, such content will require approval at an AGM or EGM. The general Operational Rules of the Club are set out in Part 2 and the Committee is fully authorised to maintain, update or amend them as necessary.
