5                                      

Any member who is of the opinion that any candidate so proposed would not be a desirable member, shall inform the Secretary in writing with the reason why, who shall communicate the objection to the Committee.

                   6                                      

The Committee may require the attendance of any candidate to answer such questions as may be put to them.  Should they not appear before the Committee if summoned to do so, or send an explanation in which the Committee shall deem to be satisfactory for not doing so within four weeks, that application for election shall be rejected.

                                   Special Classes of Membership

                   7                                      

Life Members
Life members shall be entitled to the full rights and privileges of membership without payment of any subscriptions.

                                    Disqualification of Candidates

                   8                                      

No rejected candidate shall again be able to apply for membership until the expiration of twelve months from the date of such rejection.

No person who shall have been expelled from this or any other Conservative Club affiliated to or inter-affiliated with the Association of Conservative Clubs Limited, shall ever again be proposed as a candidate, or make use of the Club premises, except by consent of the Committee.

No person who has at any previous time been a member of the Club, shall be eligible for re-election before the period of one year therefrom has elapsed, unless he pays all subscriptions, otherwise due from him had he not ceased to be a member.

                                      Resignation of Membership

                   9                                      

Any member wishing to resign must send a written notice to the Secretary, together with the subscription due to the date of its taking effect, and shall thereupon cease to be a member.

The Committee may accept the verbal resignation of a Member provided it is reported and approved at a subsequent Committee Meeting.

                                             SUBSCRIPTIONS

                   10                                    

The ordinary subscription shall be of such sum as shall from time to time be determined by the Committee.

                   11                                    

A suspended member shall remain liable to pay his subscription.

                   12                                    

Every member shall produce his card of membership, whenever called upon to do so by any person authorised by the Committee to make such demand on the Club premises.

                                    Non-Payment of Subscription

                   13                                    

Subscriptions must be paid by 23rd December each year.  If a Member's subscription remains unpaid at the 23rd December he shall cease to be a Member of the Club forthwith and his name shall be erased from the Club Register, unless a satisfactory reason be given to the Committee for such non-payment.

                                        CHANGE OF ADDRESS

                   14                                    

Any member changing his address shall, within fourteen days, give notice to the Secretary in writing of such change, and until such notice is given, all communications and notices sent to his last address shall be deemed to have been served upon such member.

                        INTER-AFFILIATION TICKET HOLDERS

                   15                                    

Members of clubs inter-affiliated with the Association of Conservative Clubs Limited, subject to the Rules and Regulations of that Association, may on presentation of their Inter-Affiliation Ticket be admitted to the Club premises and intoxicating liquor may be sold to them by or on behalf of the Club for consumption on the premises.

                                 CESSATION OF MEMBERSHIP

                   16                                    

Membership shall terminate:

(a)  On resignation (Rule 9)
(b)  On non-payment of subscription (Rule 13)
(c)  On expulsion (Rule 27)
(d)  On death.

                                                   OFFICERS

                   17                                    

The Officers of the Club shall consist of four Trustees (who may include any of the following), a Chairman, a Treasurer and a Secretary.

The Trustees shall be elected at an Annual General or Special General Meeting by a majority of the members present and entitled to vote thereat, and shall remain in office during the pleasure of the Club.

The Chairman shall be elected by the Committee from their own number.

The Treasurer and Secretary shall remain in office until their successors are elected and shall be elected at an Annual General Meeting and at the end of their term of two years shall be eligible for re-election.

                                            COMMITTEEMEN

                   18                                    

There shall be four Committeemen who shall be elected by ballot at an Annual General Meeting for a term of two years and at the end of their term shall be eligible for re-election.
.

                                            THE COMMITTEE

                   19                                    

The Committee shall consist of the Officers and Committeemen referred to in Rules 17 and 18.
The Committee concerned with the purchase for and supply of intoxicating liquor on behalf of the members shall be as above with the exception of the Trustees who shall be excluded therefrom solely for this purpose.

The Committee shall meet at least once a month.  Six members shall form a quorum.
The Chairman, or in his absence, a Chairman elected by the meeting shall preside.
Each member shall have one vote and in the event of equality of votes the presiding Officer shall have in addition to his vote as a member of the Committee a second or casting vote.
All references to the Committee shall include the Officers and Committeemen.

                   20                                    

Any member of the Committee being absent from three consecutive meetings of the Committee shall, unless he sends a written explanation which the Committee shall deem satisfactory, cease to be a member of the Committee and he shall also cease to be an Officer or Committeeman.
Any member or members of the Committee not being the whole of the Committee shall cease to be members thereof on resignation and such resignation shall be deemed to be effective upon receipt by the Secretary of written notification. The Committee may accept the verbal resignation of a Committee Member provided it is reported and approved at a subsequent Committee Meeting.
Any member of the Committee ceasing to be a member of the Club, or who is suspended from the privileges of membership shall cease to be a member of the Committee and he shall also cease to be an Officer or Committeeman.
Any vacancy so caused shall be filled as provided in Rule 35.

                   21                                    

(1)         The Officers and Committeemen shall receive such honorarium, if  any, as the Committee shall from time to time determine.
(2)         Any Officer or Committeeman, and the Manager or any other employee dealing with moneys of the Club shall give such security as the Committee may from time to time determine, and shall discharge their duties under the direction of the Committee.

                                        DUTIES OF OFFICERS

                                        President and Chairman

                   22                                    

The President, or in his absence the Chairman, shall preside at all meetings (other than Committee meetings) of the Club.
The Chairman shall ensure that upon the Club premises a register of the names and addresses of the Club members and a record of the latest payment of their subscription is kept.

                                                     Trustees

                   23                                    

All property whether real or personal shall be vested in at least two Trustees upon trust for the members for the time being and shall be applied and dealt with by the Trustees in accordance with the directions and wishes of the members as expressed in the Rules, and in accordance with such resolutions and directions as may from time to time be passed or given under the authority of the Rules.

The Trustees shall have the power, subject to authorisation by the Committee, to borrow money and mortgage or charge the premises and other property of the Club for the purposes of raising such moneys as may be required to carry on the Club for the benefit and convenience of its members.  All borrowing shall be made in the name of “Warrington Conservative Club”.

Every Trustee shall be entitled to be indemnified by the Club from and against all liability, costs, damages, claims and demands incurred or suffered by him arising out of and in connection with anything done by him bona fide as such Trustee of the Club or at the request of and in accordance with a Resolution of the Committee and the Trustees shall be authorised to charge the assets of the Club in their hands to satisfy any such liability.  If the assets of the Club shall be insufficient for the purpose aforesaid then a special subscription shall be raised from and become payable by those persons who shall at the time such indemnity is invoked be the members of the Club who shall contribute thereto such amounts as shall be determined by the Committee.

For the purpose of giving effect to such election the Chairman is hereby nominated as the person to appoint new Trustees of the Club within the meaning of Section 36 of the Trustee Act 1925 and he shall by Deed duly appoint the person or persons so nominated at the Annual General or Special General Meeting as the new Trustee or Trustees of the Club and the provisions of the Trustee Act 1925 shall apply to any such appointment.  Any statement of fact in any such Deed of Appointment shall in favour of a person dealing bona fide and for value with the Club or Committee be conclusive evidence of the fact so stated.

Any or all of the Trustees may be removed by a majority of three fourths of the members present at a Special General Meeting called for that purpose, fourteen days’ notification of which must be given to the Trustees.

                                                    Treasurer

                   24                                    

The Treasurer shall be responsible for seeing that all moneys, whether received by himself, the Secretary, any other Official, Manager or any other employee or agent of the Club, are duly paid into the Clubs Bank at least once a week.  He shall also see that all debts of the Club are paid as directed by the Committee (except petty cash payments) by cheques signed by any of the authorised signatories and countersigned by the Treasurer.  He shall produce the Paying-in Book and Bank statements for inspection by the Committee as and when required, showing that the foregoing duties have been carried out.
He shall keep such accounts, documents and other papers of the Club, not otherwise kept by the Secretary, in such manner and for such purposes as the Committee may direct.
He shall in every year prepare or cause to be prepared the balance sheet and income and expenditure account and submit the same to the Auditor of the Club.
He shall comply with the requirements of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue with regard to the deduction of income tax from the wages or salaries of employees and with the requirements of the National Insurance Acts in respect to such employees.

                                                     Secretary

                   25                                    

General Duties

The Secretary shall on all occasions in the execution of his office act under the superintendence, control and direction of the Committee.
He shall keep such documents and papers of the Club in such manner and for such purposes at the Committee may direct.
He shall summon and attend all meetings and take minutes of the proceedings.
He shall ensure that the Club is registered under the provision of the Licensing Acts.
He shall ensure that the Club Premises Certificate, or a Certified copy thereof, is kept at the Club premises in the custody of the person nominated for the purposes of Section 94(2) of the Licensing Act 2003.  The nominated person shall be the Secretary unless otherwise decided by the Club Committee and shall be identified in writing to the Licensing Authority.  The Secretary shall ensure that the summary of the Certificate issued by the Licensing Authority is prominently displayed on the Club premises.
He shall be responsible for the insurance of the Club against fire and burglary and in respect to liability for accidents occurring to the Club employees and for any other purposes directed by the Committee.
He shall carry out such other duties as are reasonably incidental to his office.

AUTHORITY OF THE COMMITTEE

                   26                                    

The Committee shall conduct the general business of the Club, regulate the internal management, have power to enforce Rules, and make such bye-laws as may be necessary for the conduct of the Club in conformity with these Rules.
At the first meeting after the Annual General Meeting the Committee shall appoint two representatives to the Executive Committee of the local Constituency Conservative Association.
It may appoint other Sub-committees, which shall manage the several departments of the Club under the supervision of the Committee.
The appointment and dismissal of the Manager and all other Club employees shall be vested solely in the Committee.

                   27                                    

No resolution passed by the Committee shall be rescinded unless notice shall have been given at a previous meeting of the intention to propose such rescission.

                   28                                    

(1)         (a)     The Committee shall have power to reprimand, suspend from the facilities of membership for a period not exceeding one year, or expel from membership of the Club any member who shall infringe any Rule or whose conduct in or out of the Club premises, shall in their opinion, be prejudicial to the Conservative Cause, or to the character or interests of the Club; and any member guilty of conduct likely to endanger the welfare, unanimity or good order of the Club, or whose political opinions or actions are found to be inconsistent with the Rules shall be expelled from membership of the Club by the Committee.
(b)     Any member of the Committee or Club management shall be empowered to order the immediate withdrawal of any member whose conduct on the Club premises is in conflict with the Rules of the Club, and who, after warning as to conduct given by an empowered person, persists therein.  The matter must be reported to the Committee’s next monthly meeting.  Such member shall have no right of re-entry to the Club premises until summoned to appear before the Committee.
(c)         In all cases other than as provided for in paragraph (b) of this Rule, any complaint or complaints against a member shall be considered by the Committee at their next regular meeting held in accordance with Rule 19, and the Committee shall be empowered to require the member concerned to withdraw from the facilities of membership upon receipt of the notice summoning him to appear before them, until the date of the meeting to which he shall be summoned.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND COMMITTEEMEN

                   30                                    

Every candidate for office shall have been a Member for at least two years and be proposed and seconded by two members entitled to vote.  His current subscription must have been paid and he must be not less than 18 years of age.

                   31                                    

Each member of the Club shall have one vote for each vacancy, and no member shall give more than one vote to any candidate.

                   32                                    

At least three weeks prior to the day appointed for Annual General Meeting a notice shall be posted on the Club Notice Board by the Secretary, inviting the nomination of candidates for the office of Committeemen or Officer of the Club whose term of office has ended.  The notice shall remain so posted for ten days. Apart from existing Committeemen and Officers, candidates must provide two photographs (45mm x 35mm) to the Secretary which meet the current requirements of the British Passport Office together with a brief personal resumé in a standard format agreed by the Committee before the notice is taken down at the end of the ten days otherwise their candidacy will be invalid.

                   33                                    

The names of all candidates for office in the Club, together with their photographs and resumés (where applicable) and the names of their proposers and seconders, shall be entered on a nomination sheet which shall be posted on the Club Notice Board seven clear days before the day appointed for the Annual General Meeting and shall remain so posted until the result of the ballot has been declared.

                   34                                    

(1)         The Committee shall appoint at least three scrutineers to carry out the ballot under their direction and the result of the ballot shall be declared at the ensuing Annual General or Special General Meeting.
No Officer or Committeeman of the Club or candidate may be appointed a scrutineer.
(2)         In the case of a tie between two or more candidates, the names of such candidates shall be placed in a receptacle, from which the Chairman of the meeting shall draw as many names as there are vacancies to be filled.
The names thus drawn shall be declared duly elected.
(3)         If a member is elected for two offices, he shall choose which office he wishes to fill.
The vacancy thus arising shall be filled by the unsuccessful candidate with the highest number of votes, but if there shall be no such candidate, the office shall be filled by the Meeting who shall elect by ballot a member to fill the office.

                                                           
Casual Vacancies

                                                          35

Any casual vacancies, except vacancies occasioned by removal under Rule 38, occurring amongst the Officers (other than Trustees) and the Committeemen may be filled up by the Committee, who may appoint a person to fill the office.  Any person so appointed shall retain his office so long as the vacating Officer or Committeeman would have retained the same if no vacancy had occurred.

                                    Resignation of the Committee

                                                          36

In the event of the whole Committee resigning at any time, the Chairman shall obtain nominations during the following three days, and a ballot shall be held within seven days of such resignation for the election of a new Committee.
The result of the ballot shall be declared at a Special General Meeting called by the Chairman within ten days of such resignation.
The time and notice for nominations under Rule 33 and for Special General Meetings under Rule 44, shall not apply in this case.

Removal of Committee and

                                       Election of new Committee

                                                          37

The Committee, or any member or members thereof, may be removed from office by a majority of three-fourths of the members of the Club present and voting at a Special General Meeting called for that purpose.
The election of a new Committee or any member or members thereof shall take place in the manner prescribed in the previous Rule upon resignation of the Committee.

                 APPOINTMENT AND DUTIES OF THE AUDITOR

                                                          38

(1)         The members, at the Annual General Meeting, shall elect an Auditor who publicly carries on the business of an accountant to audit the accounts for the ensuing year.
(2)         The auditor shall audit the accounts and for that purpose shall have access to all books of the Club.

(3)         He shall examine the accounts and receipts and expenditure, funds and effects of the Club, and shall verify the same with the vouchers relating thereto, and shall either sign the same as found by him to correct and duly vouched, or shall report in what respects he finds them incorrect or unvouched.
(4)         None of the following persons shall be appointed as auditor of the Club:
(a)         an Officer or employee of the Club,
(b)         a person who is a partner or in the employment of or who employs an Officer or employee of the Club,
(c)         a member of the Club.

GENERAL MEETINGS

                                        Annual General Meeting

                                                          39

The Annual General Meeting shall be held in the month of February on a day to be fixed by the Committee.

                                                          40

Notice of such Annual General Meeting shall be posted on the Club Notice Board for at least twenty-one clear days before the date appointed for the Meeting.
Notice of any motion for inclusion in the Agenda of the Annual General Meeting must be submitted in writing to the Secretary within ten days of the posting of the notice summoning the Meeting.
The Agenda for the Annual General Meeting shall be posted on the Club Notice Board for at least seven clear days before the date appointed for the Meeting.  No business other than that specified in the Agenda shall be transacted at the Meeting.
A copy of the balance sheet and income and expenditure account for the year, with the report of the auditor, shall be posted on the Club Notice Board at least seven days before the Annual General Meeting.

                                                          41

At the Annual General Meeting a statement of affairs, the balance sheet, income and expenditure account and report of the auditor shall be presented, together with a report of the ballot for the Officers and Committeemen.
At the Annual General Meeting ten members excluding the Officers and Committeemen shall form a quorum.  If within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting a quorum is not present the meeting shall stand adjourned to such day and at such time as the members present may determine and if at the adjourned meeting a quorum is not present within half an hour of the time appointed for the meeting the members present shall be a quorum.

                                                          46

At all General Meetings every member present shall have one vote on each resolution.

                                                     GUESTS

                                                          47

Every member shall be permitted to introduce friends as guests; but the same guest may not be admitted more than four times within a period of one calendar year, unless special consent be obtained from the Committee.  The Committee reserves the right to refuse the admission of any guest if in their opinion it is desirable in the interests of the Club.  Intoxicating liquor may be sold to the guests of Members for consumption on the premises only.
Members of other clubs or organisations who have been invited to take part in organised games, tournaments or other recreational activities held on the Club premises and members, officials and supporters of visiting teams invited to participate in the same, and persons attending at the Club premises to attend a meeting or function held in the name of The Conservative Party may, at the discretion of the Committee, be admitted to the Club premises as guests of members and intoxicating liquor may be sold to such persons for consumption on the Club premises only.
Intoxicating liquor may be sold for consumption on the Club premises to guests attending any function on the Club premises which has been authorised by the Committee, provided that any such function shall be organised and supervised by at least one Member who is present throughout the duration of such function, and the same shall apply to such other functions which may from time to time be held on the Club premises within the scope permitted by the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003 in respect of Temporary Event Notices.

                                                          48

The names of the guest and of the member whom introduced shall be written in the Visitors Book kept for that purpose.

                                                           
49

No person who has been expelled, from this or any other Conservative Club affiliated to or inter-affiliated with the Association of Conservative Clubs Limited, or who, at the request of the Committee, has resigned his membership, or who, having been a candidate for election, has been rejected, or who is indebted to the Club (See Rule 13) shall be admitted as a guest.

50

The Committee may suspend Rule 47 at any time and for such periods as they may think fit.

                                  MISCONDUCT OF MEMBERS

                                                          51

No betting, unlawful gaming, drunkenness, bad language or disorderly conduct shall be permitted on the Club premises.
Any infringement of this Rule will render the member offending liable to be dealt with by the Committee under Rule 28.

It shall be the duty of any member of the Committee or member of the Club to take every available means for putting a stop to the offences in question, and to report them forthwith to the Committee through the Secretary.

                 HOURS OF OPENING AND CLOSING PREMISES

                                                          52

The Club premises shall be open to the members during such hours as may be determined from time to time by the Committee.

                                           HOURS OF SUPPLY

                                                          53

 The permitted hours for the supply of intoxicating liquor and for qualifying activities to take place shall be at such times as the Committee may determine , subject to the terms and conditions specified in the Club premises certificate granted to the Club under the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003.

                                       EXCISABLE ARTICLES

                                                          54

No payment whatever shall be received from any person not being a Member of the Club, an Inter-affiliated member or a person admitted in accordance with Rule 47.
If any such person shall make such payment, he shall forthwith be expelled from the Club premises.
Any Officer shall make an immediate report to the Secretary of any breach or attempted breach of this regulation.
Intoxicating liquor required for consumption off the premises shall be supplied to members only whilst on the Club premises during the registered hours of supply.  Any member who contravenes or attempts to contravene this rule shall be dealt with under Rule 28.
No person under 18 years of age shall be supplied or sold intoxicating liquor for consumption on or off the premises and no person under the age of 18 years of age shall be entitled to play the Club’s gaming machines.
The purchase and supply of intoxicating liquor shall be controlled by the elective Committeee as elected in accordance with Rules 17 and 18.

                                                          55

The proceeds of the supply of excisable refreshments shall be carried to the credit of the Club funds and no individual employee or other person shall derive any advantage from the supply thereof.

                                   APPLICATION OF SURPLUS

                                                          56

Any annual surplus of the Club shall be applied in such manner as the Committee consider best in the interests of the Club, and in furtherance of the objects for which the Club is formed, provided that no surplus be distributed among the members.
Any surplus on dissolution of the Club shall be dealt with as provided in Rule 58.

                                      AMENDMENT OF RULES

                                                          57

Any rule of the club not hereinafter declared to be fundamental may be rescinded or amended or any new Rule made by a resolution carried by three-fourths of the votes given thereon at any Special General Meeting of which notice has been given specifying the intention to propose such a rescission, amendment of new Rule.
Rules 1, 23, 59 and this Rule are hereby declared to be fundamental and shall not be rescinded or amended, except with the prior consent in writing of the Association of Conservative Clubs Limited and by a resolution carried by three-fourths of the votes given thereon at a Special General Meeting as provided in this Rule.
Propositions for amendments of Rules must be submitted in writing to the Committee one month prior to the date of such Meeting, and shall be posted on the Club Notice Board at least fourteen days before the Meeting.  No proposition shall be taken into consideration unless supported by twenty members who shall attach their signatures to such notice.
Written notice of any new Rule or amendment of Rules must be given by the Secretary to the Licensing Authority within 28 days of the adoption thereof.

                                               DISSOLUTION

                                                          58

The Club may be dissolved by the consent of three-fourths of the members present and voting at a Special General Meeting called for that purpose.
Upon dissolution of the Club all its assets, after the discharge of its debts and liabilities, shall be transferred to the current paid members.

DEFINITIONS

In these Rules, including this Rule, unless the subject matter or context are inconsistent therewith:
(a)         words importing the singular or plural shall include the plural or singular respectively,
(b)         unless the contrary intention appears, words denoting the masculine gender shall be deemed to include the feminine,

(c)         “Intoxicating Liquor” for the purpose of these Rules shall mean “alcohol” within the meaning of section 191 of the Licensing Act 2003.

                                                  BYE-LAWS

Refreshments
1.          Such refreshments, and at such tariff as the Committee may determine, shall be supplied to the members notwithstanding non-excisable refreshments may be supplied by an employee duly authorised by the Committee to do so at his expense from which he shall derive any benefit. Members may not consume their own refreshments within the Club.

Members’ Payment
2.          All members must pay every expense they incur in the Club before they leave the premises.

Complaints
3.          All complaints or suggestions shall be made in writing to the Secretary.

Employees
4.          Any members employed by the Club shall have their membership suspended for the duration of their employment and shall be reinstated upon cessation of their employment, subject to payment of the relevant membership fee for that year.  Employees of the Club who are off duty may enjoy the facilities of the Club.
The conduct of an employee shall in no instance be made a matter of personal reprimand by anyone other than the Secretary of the Club.
All complaints against employees, or in regard to domestic arrangements of the Club shall by anyone other than the Secretary be addressed to him in writing and he shall submit the same for determination by the Committee.

5.          No member shall give any money or gratuity to the employees of the  Club, upon any pretence whatever.

Bills, notices, etc
6.          No bill, notice, placard, or newspaper, shall be posted or distributed on or about the Club premises without the permission of the Committee or some person authorised by them.

Books, Papers, etc
7.          All books, papers, or pamphlets written or printed, shall be stamped with the Club stamp before being placed in the Club rooms, and no books, papers, or pamphlets shall be admitted into the Club without the sanction of the Committee or the Secretary.

Petitions
8.          No Committeemen 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.

Damage to Property
9.          Any person damaging the furniture or other property of the Club shall make good the same to the satisfaction of the Committee.