Every members’ club, no matter how large or how small, requires formal rules which govern the rights and responsibilities of its members and define how the club will function. For us at Sheen LTSC many of those rules are enshrined in our Club Constitution. The Constitution forms a mutual legal contract between each and every member of our Club and as such is our most important governing document.

There were three main reasons:

1. At the Special General Meeting held on 3rd June 2015 the Club membership voted overwhelmingly to require that the Managing Committee (“MC”) perform a thorough review of our Constitution and governance.
2. Our former Constitution had not been updated for many years and did not reflect modern legislation governing members’ clubs and particularly Community Amateur Sports Clubs (“CASCs”) such as SLTSC.
3. Many of the important powers in our former Constitution rested in the board of directors of our Company and not in the membership. Your Managing Committee and the newly appointed directors of our Company together strongly believe that the club membership should be as fully empowered as possible.

1.  Previously only the Company board of directors had the power to make changes to certain very important Club Rules. Those explicit powers have now been removed from the board. Our members voting together in general meeting can now make any changes to the Constitution and Club Rules that they see fit provided only that those do not conflict with our legal standing as a CASC.
2. The relationship between our Company and the Club has been clarified. Club Committees are properly authorised as being the day‐to‐day decision makers, with the Company now effectively performing a stewardship role managing contracts and other legal functions.
3. We have better defined the powers of your Managing Committee and constrained the MC’s powers of action in exceptional or emergency circumstances.
4. Our grievance and disciplinary processes have been modernised; made fully compliant with LTA model standards; and have been brought within the Club’s authority instead of the Company’s.
5. We formerly categorised Youth members as being those who were below the age of 21 years, whereas legislation now requires this applies only up to the age of 18. This does not affect our discounted subscriptions structure for younger members in any way.

At all stages the Managing Committee and our Company board of directors worked very closely together on this. The new Constitution has been based upon Lawn Tennis Association model rules suitable for adoption by CASCs. These had to be tailored to suit our circumstances because Sheen has an unusual interlinked structure which comprises a members club; a not‐for‐profit company; and a trust‐owned controlling shareholding.
If you are interested in understanding this further please see the governance presentation from the Club AGM 2015 which can be found here
Once the MC and directors agreed the appropriate changes a full legal review was undertaken by a senior partner at Dixon Ward Solicitors. Final documents were then submitted for obligatory review by HMRC Charities Division. A great deal of volunteer time and effort has been invested in this revision, but now following receipt of HMRC’s written approval the Constitution is now in place.

In day‐to‐day terms the changes should not have any impact at all on members. The Constitution is concerned with club governance and its real importance is in providing the framework within which the membership as a whole sets the direction and longer term strategy of the Club, and defines how the membership delegates responsibility for the Club’s day‐to‐day management.

Other than spending a little time reading the Constitution, no. The new Constitution does govern your legal rights and responsibilities as a member so your MC strongly advises that you invest the time necessary to understand it.

The Constitution is now in force and can only be changed in normal circumstances if the Club Membership votes to do so in a General Meeting. The Club Members now control the destiny of our Club and its Rules, as they should. A formal opportunity to consider any further changes and improvements will be included in the agenda for the next Annual General Meeting of the Club later this year. In the meantime, if you have any comments or suggestions please make these known to the MC by email at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
 or by discussing them in person with the Club Chair or Vice‐chair.

When first joining SLTSC each of us formally committed to abide by the Rules, Bylaws and Regulations of the Club. We are each personally bound by the terms of the mutual contract with other members which is enshrined in our Constitution. Anyone not accepting this has the alternative of not renewing their membership or leaving the Club, but no member can ignore the applicability of the rules. Again, if you have any specific questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact the Club Chair or Vice‐chair in the first instance.