Constitution - 2003

1. Name

The name of the Competition will be the 'Liverpool and District Cricket Competition' (hereinafter referred to as 'the Competition') qualified by the name of a sponsor, if applicable.

2. Objects

(a) To arrange cricket matches between member clubs.

(b) To encourage the playing of the game in a proper cricket spirit.

(c) To foster and develop the playing of cricket at all levels - from juniors through colts to senior players - to enable all to achieve their maximum potential and enjoyment leading to the greatest success for the representative teams and the individuals selected.

3. Membership

(a) Full membership is to be limited to 26 clubs which will compete on all scheduled dates of the official fixture list and will enter a team in both 1st and 2nd XI competitions. Each full member club will enter at least one team in a 3rd XI competition.

(b) Associate membership will be granted to clubs elected solely to compete in a 3rd XI competition.

(c) Resignation from membership for the following season must be received in writing by the Honorary Secretary not later than 31st March. In the event of such a vacancy occurring, a Special General Meeting will be called at the earliest convenient date. No member club will negotiate with any other league for membership thereof without first obtaining the written permission of the Management Committee.

(d) New applicants for membership must apply in writing to the Honorary Secretary in accordance with the criteria laid down by the local Cricket Board and/or the League Cricket Conference and will be elected to membership only by member clubs voting at a general meeting.

(e) Each member club will pay an annual subscription, plus a fee to cover the cost of at least one full or two half page advertisements in the Annual Handbook. These amounts will be agreed at the preceding Annual General Meeting of the Competition.

(f) All member clubs are required to provide adequate facilities and grass playing surfaces to the satisfaction of the Management Committee and in accordance with the 'Grounds Criteria' as described elsewhere in this handbook. In addition, clubs should ensure that they have access to good quality practice facilities.

(g) If, after reasonable notice from the Management Committee, a member club fails to abide by this Constitution, consideration will be given to its expulsion from the Competition. A member club can only be expelled following a decision by paper ballot at a General Meeting.

(h) Each member club will nominate an Appeals Representative to serve on any Appeals Committee formed by the Management Committee as described in the Disciplinary Procedures of the Competition.

(i) Each member club will be expected to support the Annual Awards Dinner and five places (two for associate member clubs) will be reserved. Any member club not wishing to take up its full allocation of places must advise the appropriate member of the Management Committee responsible for the dinner but in any event will be liable for the full payment for three places (two for associate member clubs) and half payment for any places not used.

4. Officers

(a) (i) The Officers are the President, Chairman, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer, Cricket Chairman, Grounds Chairman and Publicity Chairman who will be elected at an Annual General Meeting.

(a) (ii) The President will normally be eligible for re-election after a three year period.

(a) (iii) The Chairman will normally be eligible for re-election after a two year period.

(a) (iv) All other Officers will be elected for a period of one year.

(a) (v) A person will not hold more than one office concurrently.

(b) All references to the 'Honorary Secretary' in the Constitution, Rules and Regulations of the Competition will apply to the Honorary Secretary of the Competition.

(c) The Management Committee may propose at the Annual General Meeting, the name(s) of people who have rendered meritorious service to the Competition for appointment as Life Vice Presidents or Vice Presidents. Vice Presidents may be elected to membership of the Management Committee but otherwise have no automatic rights to membership thereof.

(a) The overall management of the Competition will be the responsibility of a Management Committee comprising all the elected Officers.

(b) The quorum of the Management Committee will be four.

(c) In addition, the following committees will have responsibility for the management of specific areas and will report thereon to the Management Committee:

(i) a Grounds Committee. The chairman will have the powers of co-option and will seek nominations from the member clubs. It will deal with all ground matters and produce an annual report in conjunction with the findings of the umpires' cards;

(ii) a Publicity and Sponsorship Liaison Committee. The Chairman will have the powers of co-option and will seek nominations from the member clubs. It will deal with developing links with all interested media partners, the web site, the appointment of a webmaster, managing the sponsorship contract and the player of the month awards. In addition, the committee will be responsible for engraving, presentation, insurance and security of all trophies, awards etc., for matches under the auspices of the Competition. The Chairman of this committee is responsible for advising all Clubs of their responsibilities with regard to safety and insurance of such items;

(iii) a Cricket Committee. The Cricket Chairman will have the powers of co-option and will seek nominations from the member clubs. This committee will include as ex-officio members, the 'Fixtures and Results Secretary, Webmaster and Registration Officer', 'Assistant Fixture Secretaries' and a representative of the MCUA. It will appoint a Representative Teams Co-ordinator and deal with all cricketing matters, including youth cricket, deduction of points, registration of players and fines for breaching the Constitution, Rules and Regulations. It may also set up subcommittees to deal with such matters as the selection of the representative teams and 3rd XI cricket;

(iv) a Disciplinary Committee. The Chairman will deal with such matters in accordance with the guidelines issued by the L&DCC and as agreed by the member clubs. ECB guidelines will also be taken into account.

(d) The subcommittees' detailed terms of reference and procedures will be agreed by the Management Committee.

(a) The Competition's financial year will end on 30th September.

(b) The Annual Accounts will be audited by an Honorary Auditor appointed at the Annual General Meeting.

(c) Cheques drawn on the Competition's bank account will be signed by the Honorary Treasurer and countersigned by the Chairman, Honorary Secretary or other Officer of the L&DCC.

(a) The meeting will be held in the month of January each year and nominations of officers must be submitted to the Honorary Secretary by 31st October of the preceding year.

(b) All nominations for membership of the Management Committee will be made in writing, before 31st October of the previous year, on the official form provided for this purpose and will be proposed by the Management Committee or the Cricket Chairman and/or Secretary of one full member club and seconded by the Cricket Chairman and/or Secretary of a different full member club. Proposals by the Management Committee do not need to be formally seconded. The proposal will indicate the nominee's willingness to serve.

(c) The Honorary Secretary will provide all member clubs with at least 28 days notice in writing and forward a copy of:

(c) (i) The Financial Statement

(c) (ii) Nominations for the Management Committee

(c) (iii) A detailed Agenda

(c) (iv) The proposed amendments (if applicable) to the Constitution, Rules and Regulations and the names of membership applicants together with their proposers and seconders.

(d) The quorum of an AGM is the nearest whole figure to 2/3rds of the full member clubs at the time of the meeting.

(e) (i) Attendance at the meeting will not be restricted. The Press will be welcome, if invited by the Management Committee.

(e) (ii) Each full member club will only be allowed one vote. Proxy votes will not be allowed. Voting will be by show of hands except where a proposal for a paper ballot has been approved or where elections to the Management Committee are concerned.

(e) (iii) All constitutional matters decided by voting will require a 2/3rds majority of full member clubs except for the election of members of the Management Committee where a simple majority is required.

(e) (iv) All other matters will be decided by a 2/3rds majority of those full member clubs present and voting (excluding abstentions).

(e) (v) The Chairman will have the casting vote.

(e) (vi) Associate member clubs will not be allowed a vote unless the meeting has previously agreed, except in the case of a proposal relating to the 3rd XI competition when each member club with a team in the 3rd XI competition will be allowed one vote.

(f) The ordinary business of the AGM will consist of:

(f) (i) Presentation of the Annual Report;

(f) (ii) Consideration of the Financial Statement;

(f) (iii) Election of Officers and Committee Members for the ensuing year;

(f) (iv) Determination of the subscription for the ensuing year;

(f) (v) Any other business of which due notice has been given;

(f) (vi) Appointment of Honorary Auditor;

(f) (vii) Appointment of Honorary Solicitor.

(g) Should no nominations for any particular office or membership of the Management Committee have been received by the Honorary Secretary prior to 31st October of the preceding year, nominations may be proposed and seconded at the AGM and voted upon in accordance with (e) above.

(h) All general propositions and changes to the Constitution, Rules and Regulations will be proposed and seconded on the official form as indicated in (b) above and forwarded to the Honorary Secretary by 31st October of the preceding year.

(i) Amendments to propositions may be proposed, seconded and voted upon at the AGM. If accepted, the amended proposition will be put to the vote and, if further accepted, incorporated in the Competition's Constitution, Rules and Regulations.

(a) A Special General Meeting (SGM) will be convened by the Honorary Secretary as and when required by the Management Committee or at the request of eight full member clubs from whom requests for such a meeting in writing are required by the Honorary Secretary.

(b) At least 21 days notice of such a meeting will be provided to members and the notice will state the specific purpose of the meeting including any proposed changes to the Constitution, Rules and Regulations.

(c) The quorum, attendance and voting rights for an SGM will be the same as for an AGM.

(d) A 'pre-season' SGM will be held on the Tuesday before the start of the season.

(e) An 'end of season' SGM will be held on the first Tuesday in October as required.

(a) The fixtures for the ensuing season will be forwarded to each member club by the Honorary Fixtures and Results Secretary. No alteration will be made either to dates or venues on the Official Fixture List without the prior approval of the Management Committee on the form provided and submitted to the appropriate Fixture Secretary.

(b) Upon request, clubs will be entitled to play their traditional local rivals on Spring and August Bank Holiday Mondays both at 1st and 2nd XI, so long as they are in the same division.

10. Constitution, Rules and Regulations

The Constitution, Rules and Regulations can only be amended, added to or deleted at an Annual or Special General Meeting.

(a) All complaints will be forwarded, in writing, to the Honorary Secretary.

(b) Any member club, member of the Management Committee or member of the MCUA making a complaint against any other member club, or player or member thereof, will forward a copy of the complaint to the member club or clubs concerned.

(c) A copy of the complaint will be forwarded immediately upon receipt by the Honorary Secretary to the Secretary of the member club or clubs concerned requesting written comments which will be returned within 14 days. Complaints will be investigated and dealt with in accordance with the Disciplinary Procedures.

(d) Complaints relating to the management of the Competition or any other matter of a general nature will, in the first instance, be dealt with by the Management Committee.

(a) Any club failing to attend the AGM or a Special General Meeting in any calendar year will be fined £25.00 on the first occasion, and £50.00 on any subsequent occasion.

(b) Fines will be incurred by clubs which fail to comply with the various Playing Regulations as currently laid down.

(c) Any fines or other outstanding monies not paid to the Honorary Treasurer by the end of the financial year will be doubled.

(AGM - Tuesday 4th February 2003)