Sutton Churches Tennis Club Rules
1. NAME AND PURPOSES
1. The name of the Club shall be "Sutton Churches Tennis Club".
2. The purposes of the Club are to promote the amateur sport of lawn tennis in the Sutton area and
community participation in the same.
2. MANAGEMENT
1. From the first Annual General Meeting of the Club, the Committee shall comprise:
a. One Captain
b. One Vice Captain
c.
One Honorary Secretary
d. One Honorary Treasurer
e. One Membership Secretary
f.
One Ground Secretary
g. Up to seven ordinary members (one of whom shall represent Trinity Church and another
shall represent Sutton Baptist Church).
2. The Committee will be elected by the playing members of the Club at one Annual General Meeting
and each member shall retire at the next but remain eligible for re-election.
3. The Minister of Sutton Baptist Church and the Methodist Minister of Sutton Trinity Church shall be
joint Presidents of the Club with the right to attend Annual and Special General Meetings, which one
of them shall chair.
4. Six Committee members will constitute a quorum.
5. Where for any reason the Committee has less than thirteen members, the Committee shall have the
power to nominate sufficient persons to serve as full Committee members to bring the Committee up
to full strength.
6. The Committee shall have power to co-opt any number of additional members but such co-opted
member shall have no voting powers.
7. The Committee shall have power to create or alter bye-laws, the amendment operating until the next
Annual General Meeting.
8. The Committee shall have power to appoint sub-committees and to nominate any club member to
serve thereon.
9. Committee meetings will be held from time to time as determined by the Committee. In ordinary
circumstances, the Secretary shall give each Committee member at least seven days notice of a
Committee meeting.
10. Each member of the Committee must satisfy HMRC's fit and proper person test to be involved in the
general control, management and administration of the Club and must declare that he is a fit and
proper person prior to being elected.
11. The Club agrees that each member of the Committee will be required, as a condition of election or
appointment, to agree to be bound by and subject to these rules, the rules and regulations of the
relevant County Lawn Tennis Association and the LTA Rules and the LTA Disciplinary Code, such
agreement to contain an express acknowledgement that the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act
1999 applies and that the LTA and the Club can enforce any breach at its option and in its sole
discretion. (This means that the members of the club’s/registered place to play’s Management
Committee need to agree to comply with the LTA’s Rules and Disciplinary Code.)
2 (a). PROPERTY AND FUNDS
1. The property and funds of the Club cannot be used for the direct or indirect private benefit of
members other than as reasonably allowed by the Rules and all surplus income or profits are
reinvested in the Club
2. The Club may employ members (though not for playing) and remunerate them for providing goods
and services, on fair terms set by the Committee without the person concerned being present.
3. MEMBERSHIP
1. There shall be four classes of membership: Life, Playing (with various sub-classes), Junior and
Honorary. The numbers in any class may be limited by the Committee.
2. Membership of the Club shall be open to anyone interested in the sport of tennis on application
regardless of sex, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion or other beliefs.
New members shall be made aware of the rules, the code of behaviour and dress required of them.
3. Playing members wishing to resign should notify the Secretary in writing before 1st May.
Membership shall not be transferable in any event and shall cease immediately on death or
dissolution or on the failure of the Member to comply or to continue to comply with any condition of
membership set out in these Rules.
4. Each member agrees as a condition of membership:
a.
to be bound by and subject to these rules (as in force from time to time) 1;
b.
to be bound by and subject to the Rules and the Disciplinary Code 2.
5. Rule 3.4 confers a benefit on the LTA and, subject to the remaining provisions of this rule, is
intended to be enforceable by the LTA by virtue of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.
For the avoidance of doubt, the members do not intend that any term of these rules, apart from rule
3.4, should be enforceable, by virtue of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999, by any
person who is not a party to this agreement.
6. The Committee may terminate the membership of any person, or impose any other sanction they
determine to be appropriate, in connection with the breach of any condition of membership set out in
this rule.
7. The Committee reserves the right to terminate membership for unacceptable behaviour.
8. Expulsion. Subject to the remaining provisions of this rule, the Committee shall have power to refuse
membership or expel a Member only for good and sufficient cause, such as conduct or character
likely to bring the Club or the Game into disrepute.
a.
b.
c.
d.
A Member shall not be expelled unless he is given 14 days' written notice of the meeting of
the Committee at which his expulsion shall be considered and written details of the complaint made
against him.
The Member shall be given an opportunity to appear before the Committee to answer
complaints made against him. The member must not be expelled unless at least two-thirds of the
Committee then present vote in favour of his expulsion.
The Committee may exclude the Member from the Club's premises until the meeting
considering his expulsion has been held. For the avoidance of doubt, the member shall be entitled
to attend that meeting for the purpose of making his representations.
The Member may appeal against the Committee's decision by notifying the Committee who
1 This means that each member of the club agrees to be bound by the rules of the club.
2 This means that each member of the club agrees to be bound by the LTA’s Rules and Disciplinary Code.
shall put the matter to the Club's members in general meeting and decided by a majority vote of
members present and voting at such meeting.
9. Effect of Resignation or Expulsion
Any person ceasing to be a Member forfeits all right to and claim upon the Club, its property and its
funds and he has no right to the return of any part of his subscription.
[The Management Committee may refund an appropriate part of a resigning Member's subscription
if it considers it appropriate taking account of all the circumstances.] This rule does not affect the
member’s rights under a loan or similar formal agreement between the member and the Club
4. SUBSCRIPTIONS
1. Subscriptions shall be determined annually by majority vote at the Annual General Meeting. Life
membership shall be offered at the discretion of the Committee. Subscriptions for families and OAPs
may be reduced. Playing members who are both of at least sixteen years and in full-time education
may be offered membership at a reduced rate. Honorary membership shall be available on payment
of a nominal minimum sum. Junior membership shall be offered at less than the student rate.
2. The period covered by all subscriptions (except Life) is from 1st May to 30th April in the following
year and shall cover the provision of tennis balls by the Club for the whole of that period.
3. The Committee shall have the power to offer membership at less than that determined by the Annual
General Meeting where membership is sought for less than a year.
4. The Club will keep subscriptions at levels that will not pose a significant obstacle to people
participating.
5. All surplus income or profits are reinvested in the club. No surpluses or assets will be distributed to
members or third parties
5. CLUB GROUNDS
1. The Club grounds shall not be used for any purpose other than playing Lawn Tennis and its allied
activities without the prior consent of the Trustees of the respective Club Grounds.
2. The Committee shall have the power to:
a. determine hours of play;
b. prohibit the use of all or part of the grounds when, in the opinion of a representative of the
Committee, they are unfit for play;
c.
reserve courts for tournaments, matches or match practices having placed a notice of such
reservations in the pavilion. Team Captains may also reserve courts.
6. VISITORS
Members may, subject to any relevant Bye-laws, introduce visitors to the Club.
The club agrees that all unlicensed and unregistered coaches and, so far as reasonably practicable, players
and other persons using the facilities of the club will be required, as a condition of such use, to agree to be
bound by and subject to these rules, the Rules and the Disciplinary Code, such agreement to contain an
express acknowledgement that the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 applies and that [the LTA]
and the club can enforce any breach at its option and in its sole discretion 3.
7. VICE PRESIDENTS
Vice Presidents may be elected by the Annual General Meeting in recognition of outstanding services
rendered to the Club, and as Officers of the Club shall be entitled to serve as members of the Committee,
provided that this shall not apply to more than two Vice Presidents at any one time.
3 This means that each club/registered place to play is expected to get their unlicensed and unregistered coaches; and, as far as is
reasonably practicable, players who use their facilities to sign up to the LTA’s Rules and Disciplinary Code.
8. ACCOUNTS
1. The financial year of the Club shall close on the 30th September.
2. The Honorary Treasurer’s Accounts shall be audited by an Honorary Auditor appointed at the
preceding Annual General Meeting.
9. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS
1. The Annual General Meeting shall be held in the November following the end of the Club’s financial
year.
2. Seven days notice of the meeting shall be given in writing to members.
3. The Honorary Treasurer shall present to the meeting his/her audited Accounts.
4. An Officer, chosen by the Committee for that purpose, shall report to the meeting on the year’s
working of the Club.
5. The name of any member to be proposed to the Annual General Meeting as an office holder or
Committee member for the ensuing year shall be submitted in writing to the Honorary Secretary by
the 15th October and the Honorary Secretary shall include notice of such nomination in the notice
convening the meeting. Without such notice, no name shall be proposed, except with the consent of
the Chairman of the meeting, and the re-election of the retiring members shall be deemed to be
unopposed.
6. Any proposed alteration of the Rules must be submitted in writing to the Honorary Secretary by the
15th October and particulars of such proposal shall be given in the notice convening the meeting.
10. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS
1. A Special General Meeting may be called by the Committee whenever they consider it necessary
and shall be called within four weeks of the receipt by the Honorary Secretary of a requisiton signed
by at least 20 playing members.
2. Seven days notice of the meeting shall be given in writing to all members.
3. The notice convening the meeting shall state the purpose for which the meeting is called and the
meeting shall be strictly limited to that purpose.
11. CHANGE OF RULES
1. No alteration to the rules of the Club shall be made except at a General Meeting by a resolution
carried by the votes of not less that two-thirds of the Life and Playing members present. Upon such a
vote the number of members present, the number supporting and the number opposing the
proposition and those abstaining shall be recorded.
2. Even if carried, such an alteration shall not be effective until the Club has received the written
consent of both:
a. the Trustees of Trinity Church, and
b. the Diaconate of Sutton Baptist Church or any other such person or body nominated by a
properly constituted Church Meeting of Sutton Baptist Church.
12. DISSOLUTION
In the event of the Club being wound up:
1. All liabilities must first be discharged.
2. Remaining assets shall be given or transferred to registered charities i.e. the bodies referred to in
11.2 in equal share, with the request that either the assets or the proceeds arising from their sale
shall be held by these bodies for 3 years from the date of winding up and that should a new Club be
promoted in that period in association with either Trinity Church, Sutton or Sutton Baptist Church,
half the assets or proceeds shall become the property of the new Club, or, if promoted by both
churches, all the assets or proceeds shall become the property of the new club. Irrespective of the
size of these bodies, they shall have an equal say in the disposal of assets and any act of disposal
shall require the consent of both parties. If necessary, matters may be submitted to arbitration by a
panel appointed by the Minister of each of the Churches associated with the Club, or his nominee.
BYE LAWS
1. Grounds
a. No member shall be allowed to play on the courts when the Committee or its nominee or a
majority of Committee members present consider the grounds unfit for play.
b. Dogs must be leashed while on Club grounds.
c.
Ball games are not allowed on the Trinity side lawn.
2. Dress
a. Players shall be suitably attired in appropriate clothing for tennis (i.e. no jeans/slacks) and
shall wear soft-soled tennis shoes without heels (no trainers). New members should be
made aware of this.
3. Designated Club Sessions
a. On Designated Club Sessions, a court shall not be played on by the same member for more
than one set to the exclusion of other members desirous of playing. At other times the
corresponding limit shall be the "best of three” sets.
b. A set shall comprise not more than eleven games unless otherwise directed by the
Committee.
c.
Except on designated Singles sessions no singles shall be played if other members wish to
form a double set and no other members are available.
4. Members may introduce visitors on up to 3 occasions per visitor per annum and on payment of the
fee currently decreed by the Committee. The introducing member shall be responsible for making a
proper entry in the Club Visitors Book and for passing the fee to the Hon. Treasurer.
5. Complaints or suggestions should be made in writing to the Hon. Secretary.
6. No member shall participate in a tournament without prior payment of tournament fees and annual
subscription.
7. The game of Lawn Tennis shall be played under the rules of the Lawn Tennis Association.
8. On Designated Club Sessions the player making up the set shall select from the first seven names
on the pegboard. Any players declining to play when available shall have their pegs moved to the
rear end of the line.
9. Balls shall be provided by the Club for use on Club occasions and for such other Club events as the
Committee may determine.
10. Floodlights
a. A fee shall be charged for use of the floodlights
b. A booking system shall be used for floodlit courts outside of Designated Club Times.
11. Juniors
a. Persons under the age of sixteen shall be eligible only for Junior membership but Junior
members may be invited to play at adult club sessions if deemed suitable by a member of
the Committee.
b. Juniors involved in organized junior sessions must provide a consent form signed by a
parent or guardian.
NOTE
The amalgamation of Sutton Baptist Church Lawn Tennis Club and Sutton Trinity Lawn Tennis Club does
not affect in any way the title to the freehold leased to those Clubs. The position of the respective Trustees is
a follows:
1. That portion of the grounds and premises formerly occupied by Sutton Trinity Lawn Tennis Club is
vested In the Trinity Church, Sutton on behalf of Sutton Trinity Methodist Church.
2. That portion of the grounds and premises formerly occupied by Sutton Baptist Church is vested in
the trustees of Sutton Baptist Church, the London Baptist Property Board Ltd.
Compiled 1977
Revised 1983, March 1990, November 2002, February 2007, April 2007, Sept 2011