Behaviour & Conduct Policy

Last Updated: 03/07/2022

The Avenue Lawn Tennis, Squash and Fitness Club (the Avenue; the club) aims to provide its members and guests with high quality facilities for the enjoyment of tennis, squash and a range of other fitness activities. In addition to the sporting facilities, members and guests are able to use the social facilities provided by the Avenue and to participate in regular social events.

By their very nature, the sporting activities at the Avenue are competitive and there is an expectation that members and guests will adhere to the standards of behaviour and conduct that are in keeping with competitive sports. Where appropriate, the sporting and fitness sections at the Avenue will put in place detailed rules and guidelines for participating in tennis, squash, the gym and other fitness activities. Members and guests are expected to comply with any such rules or guidelines.

Whether participating in a sporting activity or making use of the social facilities provided by the Avenue, members and guests are expected to display the behaviour and conduct befitting a private members’ club. The Avenue is an inclusive club and expects its members and guests to treat each other with dignity and respect, at all times. All members and guests must respect the rights of others to be treated equally, regardless of age, gender, ability, race, cultural background, religious beliefs or sexual identity.

The Avenue will not tolerate behaviour from members or guests which falls short of the club’s expected standards of behaviour and conduct. All members and guests have the right to challenge poor behaviour or conduct, so long as this is done in a courteous manner and is not likely to lead to a situation escalating. There is a zero-tolerance attitude towards the use of foul, abusive or threatening language and physical violence. Any member or guest who experiences poor behaviour or conduct should report the incident to the Management Committee, via the office.

The Management Committee recognises that members are passionate about the Avenue and that there will be times when members will want to discuss the club’s governance, management and day-to-day operation. The Management Committee actively encourages members to discuss their experiences of the club and to scrutinise the way the Avenue operates. In keeping with the Avenue’s overarching principles for behaviour and conduct, such discussions must respect those involved in governing the club and its staff.

Disciplinary Process

All allegations of poor behaviour or conduct must be sent to the Management Committee, via the office. In the most serious cases, the Management Committee reserves the right to involve the police at the earliest possible stage. Where there is a police investigation or prosecution, either as a result of the Management Committee informing the police or notification by a third party, the Management Committee may defer the disciplinary process until the legal process is complete. In such instances, the Management Committee reserves the right to suspend members from membership for an appropriate period.

The Management Committee will appoint a panel of three committee members (the Disciplinary Panel) to investigate any allegations of poor behaviour or conduct. The Disciplinary Panel will investigate the allegations, interviewing witnesses and reviewing other evidence such as CCTV recordings as appropriate. The person subject to the allegations will be invited to give evidence to the Disciplinary Panel.

The Disciplinary Panel will ensure that all of those involved in a disciplinary investigation will receive fair and consistent treatment. Adequate notice will be provided for Disciplinary Panel meetings and all those invited to present evidence may be accompanied by another member of the club. On completion of its investigation, the Disciplinary Panel will make recommendations to the Management Committee.

The Disciplinary Panel may conclude that there is no case to answer and recommend that no further action is required, or that the case is proven. In the event that the case is found proven, the Disciplinary Panel will recommend appropriate sanctions to the Management Committee up to, and including, expulsion from membership. Expulsion from membership will be recommended in cases of gross misconduct or repeated poor behaviour or conduct. General misconduct will result in a lesser sanction, such as suspension from some or all of the club’s facilities, for a prescribed period of time.

Examples of misconduct include, but are not limited to:

• Discourteous or offensive behaviour.
• Conduct of an unsafe nature.
• Disregard for equipment or property.
• Refusal to carry out reasonable instructions issued by club officials or staff.
• Failure to comply with or adhere to the rules or guidelines for participating in tennis, squash, the gym
  and other fitness activities.
• Any other actions of similar gravity to the above, at the discretion of the Disciplinary Panel.

Examples of gross misconduct include, but are not limited to:

• Misconduct offences above, if repeated.
• Deliberate or consistent breaches of club rules.
• Use of foul, abusive or threatening language.
• Use of physical violence.
• Theft or misappropriation.
• Reckless disregard for health and safety.
• Malicious interference with equipment or property.
• Any other action which, in the opinion of the Disciplinary Panel, may bring the club into disrepute.

In cases where the Disciplinary Panel determines that the allegations against a person are likely to be gross misconduct, the person will be suspended from the club pending the outcome of the panel’s investigation and its recommendations to the Management Committee.

The Management Committee will consider the Disciplinary Panel’s recommendations and agree appropriate sanctions. Where the conclusion is that a member should be expelled from membership, the expulsion shall be carried out in compliance with clause 5.3.5 and clause 9 of the club’s published Rules.

Appeals

Any appeal against a sanction up to, but excluding, expulsion should be made to the Management Committee within 28 days of being notified of the decision. No appeal will be valid or considered after that period has elapsed. Full written grounds must be given for the appeal, stating exactly what is being appealed against and the reasons for this. The Management Committee will consider the appeal and may confirm the original decision, apply a lesser sanction or revoke the original decision. The Management Committee’s decision is final and there shall be no further appeal.

Any appeal against expulsion should be made to the Management Committee within 28 days of being notified of the decision. Appeals against expulsion will be dealt with under clause 9.5 of the club’s published Rules.

Relevant Rules

5.3 Conditions of membership

5.3.5 The Management Committee may subject to Clause 9 terminate the membership of any person, or impose any other sanction it determines to be appropriate, in connection with the breach of any condition of membership set out in this rule.

9. Expulsion

9.1 Subject to the remaining provisions of this rule, the Management 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.

9.2 A Member shall not be expelled unless he is given 14 days’ written notice of the meeting of the Management Committee at which his expulsion shall be considered and written details of the complaint made against him.

9.3 The Member shall be given an opportunity to appear before the Management Committee to answer complaints made against him. The member must not be expelled unless at least five of the Management Committee then present vote in favour of his expulsion.

9.4 The Management 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.

9.5 The Member may appeal against the Management Committee’s decision by notifying the Management Committee who 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.