Stotfold Con Club - The Community Hub
Stotfold Con Club - The Community Hub
Revised June 2025
The Stotfold Conservative Club, hereinafter referred to as the “Club”, shall be situated at Manor Lodge, 93 Regent Street, Stotfold, Hitchin, Herts, SG5 4DZ, or such other place as the majority of members shall determine.
Its objects shall be to carry on the business of a Club and, in so doing, to promote by all proper means the principles of Conservatism and the implementation of the Conservative Party’s policies.
The Club shall be affiliated to and inter-affiliated with the Association of Conservative Clubs Limited, subject to the Rules and Regulations thereof.
The election of members shall be vested solely in the Committee and shall be by ballot. Two votes against admission shall exclude a candidate.
Only Conservatives, being subscribing members or supporters of The Conservative Party, not being under 18 years of age, shall be eligible for membership.
Any two members of not less than six months’ standing may propose and second a candidate for membership and shall be able from personal knowledge to vouch for the candidate’s respectability and fitness to be a member; both shall sign the nomination form, as shall the candidate, who by so doing shall abide by the Rules of the Club now or hereafter in force in the event of being elected a member.
Any member who is of the opinion that any candidate so proposed would not be a desirable member shall inform the Secretary who shall communicate the objection to the Committee.
The Committee may require the attendance of any proposer, seconder and their candidate to answer questions. Should they not appear if summoned, or send a satisfactory explanation within four weeks, the application shall be rejected.
No candidate, other than a candidate elected under Rule 9(a), shall be admitted to the privileges of full membership until having been:
Membership of the Club and acceptance of these Rules shall be deemed to constitute consent to the holding of relevant personal data for the purpose of the Data Protection Act.
The Committee shall have power to elect from time to time as honorary members, without entrance fee or subscription, persons of distinction or those who have rendered valuable services to the Conservative cause or the Club, including the Conservative Agent for this Constituency.
The Committee shall have power to elect as Life Members those who have completed 10 years’ successive subscribing membership of the Club and attained the age of 70 years, and to terminate at any time the Life Membership of any member so elected if, in their opinion, it is desirable in the interests of the Club.
Life Members shall be entitled to the full rights and privileges of membership without payment of any subscriptions.
No rejected candidate shall again be proposed as a member until twelve months have expired from the date of such rejection.
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 shall again be proposed as a candidate, or make use of the Club premises, except by consent of the Committee.
Members whose memberships have lapsed shall be eligible to re-join by paying the joining fee along with the relevant subscription cost.
Any member wishing to resign must send written notice to the Secretary 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.
The ordinary subscription shall be such sum per annum as shall from time to time be determined by the Committee or by members at a General Meeting. Subscriptions shall be paid in advance on admission and subsequently on 1 April each year.
A suspended member shall remain liable for paying the annual subscription.
Every member shall produce a receipt of subscription or card of membership whenever called upon to do so by any person authorised by the Committee to make such demand on the Club premises.
Any member failing to pay the subscription within one month after it has become due shall be considered in arrears and shall cease to be a member. The Member’s Privilege Card shall be suspended and membership put to lapsed status.
Any member in arrears shall not be permitted to use the facilities of the Club or take part in its affairs.
If the delay in payment can be accounted for to the satisfaction of the management or Committee, the Committee may at its discretion exempt any member from the above.
Any member changing address shall, within fourteen days, give notice to the Secretary in writing of such change. Until such notice is given, all communications and notices sent to the last recorded address shall be deemed served upon such member.
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.
Membership shall terminate:
The Officers of the Club shall consist of four Trustees (elected according to Rule 23), a President, a Vice-President, a Chairman, a Treasurer and a Secretary, who shall remain in office until their successors are elected and shall be elected annually by ballot at the Annual General Meeting. They shall be eligible for re-election.
There shall be 12 Committee Members elected by ballot at the Annual General Meeting.
The senior 6 Committee Members in length of service from the date of the last election shall retire at each Annual General Meeting and shall be eligible for re-election.
If two or more Committee Members have served for the same period, those to retire shall be selected by the Chairman by lot.
The Committee shall consist of the Officers and Committee Members referred to in Rules 18 and 19. The Committee shall meet at least once a month. Five members shall form a quorum.
The Chairman, or in this person’s absence, a Chairman elected by the meeting, shall preside.
Each member shall have one vote; in the event of equality of votes, the presiding Officer shall have a second or casting vote.
All references to the “Committee” include the Officers and Committee Members.
Any member of the Committee being absent from three consecutive Committee meetings shall, unless sending a written explanation deemed satisfactory by the Committee, cease to be a member of the Committee and shall also cease to be a Committee Member.
Any member or members of the Committee not being the whole Committee shall cease to be members thereof on resignation, 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 suspended from the privileges of membership, shall cease to be a member of the Committee and shall also cease to be an Officer or Committee Member. Any vacancy shall be filled as provided in Rule 37.
(1) The Officers and Committee Members shall receive such honorarium, if any, as a General Meeting shall determine.
(2) Any Officer or Committee Member and the Steward or any other employee dealing with Club moneys shall give such security as the Committee may determine and shall discharge duties under the direction of the Committee.
If a person is appointed Secretary and receives a fixed salary, such person shall not be an ordinary member of the Club, but the Committee may direct that such an employee may be admitted to the Club premises and that intoxicating liquor may be supplied for consumption on the premises.
A written Contract of Service shall be sufficient evidence of appointment and replaces provisions relating to election, term, retirement and dismissal for the Secretary.
The President, or in this Officer’s absence the Vice-President or the Chairman, shall preside at all meetings (other than Committee meetings) of the Club.
a) All Club property, real or personal, shall be vested in the Trustees upon trust for the members for the time being and shall be applied and dealt with by the Trustees in accordance with the Rules and any resolutions passed thereunder.
b) The Trustees shall have power, subject to authorisation by the Committee, to mortgage or charge Club premises and other property for raising moneys required to carry on the Club.
c) Every Trustee shall be indemnified by the Club for liabilities arising from actions as Trustee or at the request of the Committee. The Trustees may charge Club assets to satisfy such liability. If assets are insufficient, a special subscription may be raised from members as determined by the Committee.
d) Trustees shall be elected at a General or Special General Meeting by a majority of members present and entitled to vote, and remain in office during the pleasure of the Club.
e) For giving effect to such election, the Chairman is nominated to appoint new Trustees under Section 36 of the Trustees Act 2000 by Deed. Any or all Trustees may be removed by a three-fourths majority of members present at a Special General Meeting called for that purpose.
f) The Secretary shall summon such meetings at the direction of the Committee or upon receiving a request signed by one-fifth of the members or 30 members, whichever is less, giving fourteen days’ notice by posting in the Club premises. Vacancies by removal, resignation, or death shall be filled at a Special General Meeting as provided in Rule 40.
The Treasurer shall direct that all moneys received by any Officer, the Secretary, the Steward, any employee or agent are paid into the Club’s Bank at least once a week.
The Treasurer shall see that all Club debts are paid as directed by the Committee (except petty cash) by cheques signed by any two authorised signatories and countersigned by the Treasurer. At each regular Committee meeting, the Treasurer shall produce the Paying-in Book and Bank statements for inspection.
The Treasurer shall keep such accounts and documents of the Club, not otherwise kept by the Secretary, as the Committee may direct, and shall comply with requirements regarding income tax and National Insurance for employees.
The Committee shall conduct the general business of the Club, regulate internal management, enforce Rules, and make bye-laws necessary for the conduct of the Club in conformity with these Rules.
After the AGM the Committee may appoint a Political Sub-Committee (not more than half its members being Committee Members) and appoint a representative to the Executive Committee of the local Constituency Conservative Association.
It may appoint other Sub-Committees to manage departments of the Club under its supervision.
The appointment and dismissal of the Secretary (if appointed under Rule 22), the Steward/Stewardess and all other employees shall be vested solely in the Management Committee.
No resolution passed by the Committee shall be rescinded unless notice has been given at a previous meeting of the intention to propose such rescission.
The Committee may reprimand, suspend from facilities for up to one year, or expel any member found guilty of infringing the Rules or Bye-Laws, or whose conduct in or out of the Club is, in the Committee’s opinion, prejudicial to the Conservative cause or to the interests of the Club.
The Steward & Stewardess or prevailing management, with their team, may order the immediate withdrawal of any member whose conduct on the premises conflicts with the Rules, reporting the matter to the Committee at its next regular meeting. The member has no right of re-entry until the Committee decides whether to summon the member.
The Committee or any of its members may be removed from office by a three-fourths majority of members present and voting at a Special General Meeting called for that purpose, and a minimum of 25% of the qualifying total membership.
The election of a new Committee or member(s) shall take place as prescribed upon resignation of the Committee.
Other complaints against a member shall be considered at the next regular Committee meeting. The Committee may require the member to be suspended from facilities until the meeting at which the member shall be summoned.
The Committee may, at its discretion, afford a right of appeal to a Member suspended or expelled, provided the appeal is made within 28 days of expulsion in writing to the Secretary.
The Committee, or any Officer authorised in writing, may order goods, services, and other things necessary for carrying out the Club’s objects; but may not incur expenditure except as consistent with the Club’s purposes.
Every candidate for office shall be proposed and seconded by two members entitled to vote, must have paid the current subscription, have been a member for the previous twelve months, and be not less than 18 years of age.
Each member shall have one vote for each vacancy, and no member shall give more than one vote to any candidate.
At least three weeks before the ballot commences, the Secretary shall post a notice inviting nominations for Committee Member or Officer. The notice shall remain posted for ten days.
The names of all candidates, with their proposers and seconders, shall be posted on the Club Notice Board seven clear days before the ballot commences and remain posted until the result is declared.
The Committee shall appoint three scrutineers to carry out the ballot; the result shall be declared at the ensuing AGM or Special General Meeting. No Officer, Committee Member, or candidate may be a scrutineer.
In case of a tie, the Chairman shall draw names to fill the vacancies; the names drawn shall be declared elected.
If elected for two offices, the member shall choose which office to fill. The resulting vacancy shall be filled by the unsuccessful candidate with the highest number of votes, or by election at the Meeting if none.
Casual vacancies (except those occasioned by removal under Rule 39) among Officers (other than Trustees) and Committee Members shall be filled by the Committee. The appointee shall retain office for the remainder of the term.
If the whole Committee resigns, the Secretary shall obtain nominations during the following ten days. A ballot shall take place and be declared at a Special General Meeting held within fourteen days of such resignation. The usual times and notices for nominations and SGMs do not apply in this case.
The Committee, or any member(s) thereof, may be removed from office by a majority of 5% of the members present and voting at a Special General Meeting called for that purpose. The election of a new Committee or member(s) shall then take place as prescribed upon resignation of the Committee.
The Club’s accounts may be prepared internally or externally.
If prepared internally:
If prepared externally: The Committee will form an Audit Review Committee to review the accounts compiled by third-party accountants for accuracy on behalf of the Club and its members. There is no restriction on who may constitute the Audit Review Committee; this will be agreed by the main Committee.
The AGM shall be within two months of the end of the financial year on a day fixed by the Committee.
At the AGM, a statement of affairs, balance sheet, income and expenditure account, and the auditor/accountant’s report shall be presented, together with the report of the ballot for Officers and Committee Members.
Ten members, excluding Officers and Committee Members, form a quorum. If within half an hour a quorum is not present, the meeting stands adjourned to a date/time determined by members present; if at the adjourned meeting a quorum is not present within half an hour, the members present shall be a quorum. No want of a quorum after opening the meeting shall invalidate business.
The Secretary shall summon SGMs:
SGMs under (2) and (3) shall be held within not less than 14 and not more than 21 days from receipt of the request.
Notice of any SGM and its object shall be posted on the Club Notice Board a clear fourteen days before the meeting (except SGMs under Rules 40 and 41). No other business shall be brought before an SGM.
At an SGM, one-fifth of the members, or 30 members, whichever is less, shall form a quorum. If convened upon members’ requisition and a quorum is not present within half an hour, the meeting is dissolved; otherwise, it stands adjourned to a date/time determined by members present. If a quorum is still not present within half an hour at the adjourned meeting, the members present shall be a quorum. No want of quorum after opening shall invalidate business.
Any AGM or SGM may be adjourned as a majority decides, but no business other than that which could have been transacted at the original meeting shall be brought forward.
No resolution passed at an AGM or SGM shall be rescinded unless notice of intention to propose such rescission is given to the Secretary at least twenty-one days before the date of the subsequent AGM or SGM.
At all General Meetings every member present shall have one vote on each resolution.
a) Every Member may introduce guests to the Club premises, but the same guest shall not be admitted more than four times in one calendar month unless the Committee grants special consent. Intoxicating liquor may be sold to guests of Members for consumption on the premises only. The Steward and Stewardess or prevailing management (and representatives) reserve the right to refuse admission of any guest if desirable in the interests of the Club.
b) Members of other Clubs or organisations invited for organised games, tournaments or recreational activities, and Members, Officials and supporters of visiting teams, and persons attending a Conservative Party meeting or function may, at the Committee’s discretion, be admitted as guests; intoxicating liquor may be sold to such persons for consumption on the premises only.
Intoxicating liquor may be sold for consumption in the members’ area to guests attending any function authorised by the Committee, provided at least one Member organises and supervises the function throughout. The same applies to other functions held on the premises under Licensing Act 2003 Temporary Event Notices.
Private functions in the function room shall be subject to the relevant licence; members do not have automatic entry.
The name of any person admitted to the Club premises, and where appropriate the name of the Member who introduced that person, shall be written in the Members’ Guest Log kept for that purpose on the premises.
No person 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, or who having been a candidate has been rejected, or who is indebted to the Club (see Rule 14/15), shall be admitted as a guest.
The Committee may suspend or vary Rule 52 at any time and for such period as they think fit.
No betting, unlawful gaming, drunkenness, bad language or disorderly conduct shall be permitted on the Club premises. Any infringement renders the member liable to be dealt with by the Committee under Rule 29.
The Steward and Stewardess or prevailing management shall take every means to stop such offences and report them forthwith to the Committee through the Secretary.
The Club premises shall be open to members during such hours as may be determined from time to time by the Committee.
The permitted hours for the supply of intoxicating liquor and for qualifying activities shall be as the Committee may determine, subject to the terms and conditions specified in the Club Premises Certificate under the Licensing Act 2003.
No payment shall be received from any person not being a Member, an Inter-Affiliated Member, or a person admitted in accordance with Rule 52. Any person making such payment shall forthwith be expelled from the premises.
No person under 18 years shall be supplied or sold intoxicating liquor for consumption on or off the premises, and no person under 18 shall be entitled to play the Club’s gaming machines.
Any Committee Member shall immediately report to the Secretary any breach or attempted breach of this regulation.
Intoxicating liquor for consumption off the premises shall be supplied to members only while on the premises and taken away during registered hours of supply. Any member contravening this Rule shall be dealt with under Rule 29.
The elected Committee (per Rules 18 and 19) shall control the purchase and supply of intoxicating liquor.
The proceeds of excisable refreshments shall be credited to Club funds; no individual employee or other person shall derive any advantage from their supply.
Any annual surplus shall be applied as the Committee considers best in the interests of the Club and in furtherance of its objects; no surplus shall be distributed among members. Any surplus on dissolution shall be dealt with as provided in Rule 61.
Any non-fundamental Rule may be rescinded or amended, or a new Rule made, by a resolution carried by three-fourths of votes at a Special General Meeting called with notice specifying the intention.
Rules 1, 3, 26, 59, 61 and this Rule are fundamental and shall not be rescinded or amended except with prior written consent of the Association of Conservative Clubs Limited and by a three-fourths majority at an SGM.
Member-proposed amendments must be submitted in writing to the Committee one month prior to the Meeting and be supported by twenty members who sign the proposed amendment.
The Committee may propose Rule amendments at any time under this Rule.
Written notice of any new Rule or amendment must be given by the Secretary to the Licensing Authority within 28 days of adoption.
The Club may be dissolved by consent of three-fourths of members present and voting at an SGM called for that purpose.
Upon dissolution, all assets after discharging debts and liabilities shall be transferred to the Association of Conservative Clubs Limited for furthering the objects specified in Rule 1.
Such refreshments, and at such tariff as the Committee may determine, shall be supplied to members. Non-excisable refreshments may be supplied by an employee authorised by the Committee at the employee’s expense and benefit.
All members must pay every expense they incur in the Club before they leave the premises.
All complaints or suggestions shall be made in writing to the Secretary.
Employee conduct shall not be a matter of personal reprimand by anyone other than the Steward and Stewardess or prevailing management, or in the case of the Steward and Stewardess, the Club Secretary. Complaints about employees or domestic arrangements shall be addressed in writing to the Steward and Stewardess or, for the Steward and Stewardess, to the Club Secretary, who shall submit them to the Committee.
No bill, notice, placard or newspaper shall be posted or distributed on or about the premises without permission of the Steward and Stewardess. No books, papers, or pamphlets shall be admitted without their sanction.
No Committee Member or Officer shall sign any petition or document on behalf of the Club relating to matters not immediately connected with management without the Committee’s express sanction. No Committee Members, Officers, or Club members shall comment on behalf of the Club, in any media, without express permission from the Committee.
Any person damaging Club furniture or other property shall make good the same to the satisfaction of the Committee.
No member shall remove any property of the Club.
Members and their guests shall maintain such suitable standard of dress on the premises as the Committee in its absolute discretion shall determine.
Children shall be admitted during hours fixed by or under Rule 57 and at such times and in such parts of the premises as the Committee determines, provided they are in the care and under the sole control of a bona fide parent or guardian.
Any Officer, paid employee or other agent authorised by the Committee may cash cheques up to a Committee-determined limit for a member during any one week. In the event of default, the facility shall be withdrawn unless repaid, and the member may be dealt with under Rule 29 and subject to recovery proceedings.
The Club accepts no responsibility for injury, loss or damage to persons or property however sustained on the Club premises.
No dogs shall be allowed on the premises except at the discretion of the Committee.
These Bye-Laws shall not be altered without members’ approval at a Special General Meeting, but the Committee may add new Bye-Laws at any time.
A copy of these Rules and Bye-Laws shall at all times be exhibited in a prominent position on the Club premises.
The rules regarding the use of the Snooker Tables, Pool Tables and Darts boards are at the discretion of the Committee.
Smoking and/or vaping are only permitted in the designated areas.
Tuesday Lunch: 12:00pm - 3:00pm
Tuesday Dinner: 4:00pm - 7:00pm
Thursday: 3:30pm - 7:00pm
Friday: 3:30pm - 7:00pm
Saturday: Ham & Cheese Rolls
Sunday: Fortnightly Carvery* When no Carvery we have nibbles on the Bar for Members and their guests
*Pre-booking required.
Monday: 3:30pm – 11:00pm
Tuesday: 12:00pm – 11:00pm
Wednesday: 4:00pm – 11:00pm
Thursday: 12:00pm – 11:00pm
Friday: 12:00pm – 1:00am
Saturday: 12:00pm – 12:00am
Sunday: 12:00pm – 8:00pm
