Home Counties Premier Cricket League

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Administration - Constitution
1.0 TITLE
The League shall be known as 'The Home Counties Premier Cricket League' (hereinafter called 'the league') and may also include, if required, a sponsor's name or identity.
2.0 OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the league shall be to:
2.1

Organise cricket for member clubs on a competitive basis. 
2.2 

Promote the highest possible standards of cricket and playing facilities. 
2.3 

Ensure that play is conducted within the spirit and laws of the game of cricket.  
3.0  LEAGUE STRUCTURE
3.1  The league will consist of a First Division of ten clubs and a Division Two  (East) and a Division Two (West), each of ten clubs.   
3.2  A club may not have more than one team in the league.  
3.3 A club, which is a member of the league, may not be a member of another Premier League, which is recognised by the ECB.
4.0 MEMBERSHIP 
4.1  The initial members of the league are the clubs invited to join the league for the 2000 season.
4.2  Subsequent membership will be governed by the rules covering relegation and promotion.
4.3   Any club wishing to withdraw from the league must give written notice to the Honorary Secretary by 1st July of the year preceding the season of withdrawal.
4.4  A club may be expelled from the league by member clubs at an annual or special general  meeting following a proposal, which shall require a majority of two thirds of member clubs present and voting.
4.5   All clubs must be full members of:- a] Their Home County Cricket Board and through affiliation the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) b] The Club Cricket Conference c] The Hertfordshire Cricket League, the Cherwell Cricket League or the Thames Valley Cricket League (the ‘Linked’ Leagues). 
4.6 Each Club must be Clubmark accredited.
5.0  MANAGEMENT AND OFFICERS 
5.1  Management of the League shall be vested in a Management Committee which shall consist of the Officers of the League, being Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and Fixtures Secretary, together with six other members, all of whom shall be elected at the AGM each year. A representative nominated by the HCPCL Umpires Panel shall be co-opted onto the Management Committee. The representative shall have full voting rights.
5.2  The Management Committee shall have the power to co-opt additional members and to fill any vacancy until the following AGM. No club shall have more than two of its members elected to the Management Committee. 
6.0   FUNCTIONS OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
6.1 The committee shall meet at least four times a year and a meeting may be called at any time by the Secretary or by any three management committee members acting together.  At least seven days’ notice must be given of any meeting.
6.2  A quorum of the committee shall be six. Each member of the committee shall be entitled to one vote.  Any proposals shall be decided on a simple majority. In the event of a tied vote the Chairman or his nominated deputy shall have the casting vote. 
6.3  The committee shall be responsible for:
a) the efficient running of the league
b) control of the league finances 
c) appointing sub-committees considered necessary from time to time, delegating to each sub-committee appropriate powers and appointing an officer or one of its members to chair the sub-committee. 
d) establishing minimum standards for playing conditions and facilities 
e) ensuring youth development meets required standards  
f) dealing with discipline and complaints  
g) compilation and regular distribution of league tables to member clubs, ECB, and press.  
h) award of winners and runners-up trophies and any other awards based on merit.  
7.0  GENERAL MEETINGS
7.1 The Annual General Meeting shall be held not later than 31st January each year when the following business shall be transacted: 
a) to receive the Secretary’s report.
b) to receive and adopt the league’s audited accounts.
c) to elect the officers and members of the Management Committee.
d) to appoint the Reviewing Accountants.
e) to set the subscription for the coming season.
f) to consider and decide upon proposals properly submitted in accordance with clause 7.6.
7.2 An Extraordinary General Meeting may be convened by the Management Committee at any time or may be convened by the Secretary on receipt of a written notice signed by not less than ten clubs.
7.3 Notification of an Annual General Meeting or Extraordinary General Meeting and all relevant documentation will be circulated four weeks prior to the date of the meeting.
7.4 Each club shall be entitled to one vote at a General Meeting and may send two delegates. Officers of the league not representing their clubs shall not be entitled to vote at a General Meeting.
7.5 Clubs failing to be represented at any General Meeting shall be fined £50.
7.6 Proposals and nominations from member clubs or from the Management Committee shall be submitted to the Secretary no later than 30th November before the AGM.
7.7 Proposals on all matters at a General Meeting shall be decided by a simple majority except for proposals to change the constitution, match rules or league format which shall require a two thirds majority of the clubs present and voting. In the case of proposals concerning First Division match rules and the distribution of ECB grant money only First Division clubs will be allowed to vote. Such proposals shall require a two-thirds majority of the First Division clubs present and voting to be approved.
7.8 A quorum for any general meeting shall be two thirds of the member clubs of the league.
8.0 FINANCE
8.1  Reviewed accounts for the financial year ending 30th September shall be prepared and sent to Member Clubs with the notice convening the Annual General Meeting.  
8.2  The annual subscription shall be paid by lst April of each year, and shall be fixed at the preceding Annual General Meeting.  
8.3  The League Bank Account shall be held by a local Bank as decided by the Management Committee. Cheques drawn on this account must bear the signature of the Treasurer and either the Chairman or Secretary.  
8.4 Each club will submit to the League Treasurer a copy of their latest annual accounts by 31st January in each year.  
9.0 LIAISON WITH COUNTY BOARDS AND ‘ LINKED’ LEAGUES 
The Management Committee or a sub-committee thereof will meet with representatives of the county boards of Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Oxfordshire and the ‘Linked’ Leagues at least once a year to review the League’s progress and future development.
10.0 ECB SAFE HANDS POLICY
The League has adopted the ECB Safe Hands Policy in total in order to pursue safe environments for young and disadvantage people within the League’s clubs.
11.0 WINDING UP
In the event of the League being wound up a final statement of accounts shall be prepared and audited.  If these accounts reveal a deficit every Full Member Club at the date of winding up and every club that ceased to be a member within the year preceding the date of winding up shall contribute equally to clear the said deficit. If a surplus is revealed it shall be equally divided among the Member Clubs at the date of the winding up.
12.0  GENERAL 
All matters not covered by the Constitution will be dealt with by the Management Committee whose decision shall be final. 



Last updated: 2 May 2011
 

 

 

 




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