PBC’s Behaviour Policy
(Complaints of Misconduct)
Purpose:
Portslade Bowls Club (PBC) wishes to maintain a high standard of sportsmanship; to be respectful of opponents and officials. The club needs to protect its all-weather playing surface so the club requires its members to wear appropriate footwear. Spectators are reminded to be quiet & supportive and be aware of the bowler’s eyeline. The rules regarding smoking, vaping & alcohol must be adhered to.
Members Obligations:
Every Member when becoming a member of the club implicitly undertakes to comply with the Rules & Regulations of the Club. The Bowls Club is affiliated to Bowls England (BE) and as such is committed to complying with its statutory & legal obligations. These regulations are covered in PBC’s Policy Documents available on the club’s web-site. They relate to the management of the Club, Health & Safety issues including Safeguarding. Keeping the premises secure and well maintained is a responsibility for members.
Portslade Bowls Club will submit to Bowls England Regulations and will follow all policies and guidelines approved by Bowls England. The Club will adhere to all procedures set out in Bowls England Regulation 9 (R9). The Club will also co-operate with UK Anti-Doping when it needs to implement its anti-doping policy.
Bowls Club Management:
Portslade Bowls Club is a function of Portslade Bowls Club Ltd. The bowls club is managed in its daily activities by its General-Purpose Committee (GPC) in accordance with these Rules and decisions of an Annual General Meeting; or any other Special Meeting called specifically to make a rule change. The GPC is responsible for the observance of these rules. The GPC is a committee set up by the Company’s Directors as permitted by the company’s Articles of Association. PBC Ltd. is obliged to function within its ‘Articles of Association’, a copy of which is held in the club house.The GPC may form any sub-committees it deems necessary.
Membership:
Applications for Membership of the club are invited from any person who wishes to bowl, but the Club does reserve the right to refuse membership. Classes of membership shall be: Club Member; Junior Member / Young Adult (up to 18 years); Associate Club Member or Bowls Club Life Membership. These classes of membership are available to those who have paid the prescribed annual fees by the specified date. Members must provide the club with their contact details.
Any member wishing to voluntarily resign from the Club must do so by providing the club’s Secretary with a written notice of the resignation. Any Club member who does not renew their membership by the due date or who leaves the Club and later wishes to re-join, will be required to complete a new application form.
Conduct of Members, Guests & Visitors:
The Club expects every member and their guests to conduct themselves properly when bowling and whilst within the club’s precincts.
Club Members are obliged to comply with the Club Rules. The Directors of Portslade Bowls Club Limited (PBC Ltd.) are also required to comply with the Company's Bye Laws which supplement the Company’s ‘Articles of Association’ requirements.
Neither Smoking or Vaping is permitted on the club’s premises; this includes the outdoor areas. (Smokers are asked to step outside the entry gate).
No alcoholic drinks are to be consumed on the green whilst actively participating in a game. Only water may be consumed when members are on the bowling carpet.
Conduct that brings the Club into disrepute will be subject to a discipline review.
Members are kindly reminded to use respectful and appropriate language at all times.
From December 1st 2025, all behaviour / misconduct matters will follow BE’s updated Discipline Regulation R9. All complaints from any member or guest / visitor will need to write to the club’s nominated Complaints Assessor who will determine the appropriate course of action. Should a member be suspended or have their membership terminated, then that person may not be admitted on to club property at any time in the future. All complaints will be reported to Bowls England for BE’s statistical purposes; mostly anonymised data unless the resultant sanction is suspension or expulsion.
Any member who carelessly or wilfully commits any damage to the property of the Club will be called upon to repair or replace such property.
Members must exercise due care over their own property whilst on site as the Club will not accept liability for any loss or damage, however caused.
Members are expected to wear flat-soled shoes when on the bowling carpet.
Safeguarding & Equalities:
All members must adhere to the Club’s Safeguarding Policies (or any subsequent policy). The Club is committed to promoting a safe environment in which young people and vulnerable adults may enjoy taking part in games of bowls. The club will underpin this commitment by following and promoting the appropriate procedures issued by Bowls England.
The Club will adhere to the Equality Policy of Bowls England.
Transgender Policy:
The Club is committed to fostering an inclusive and respectful environment for all members, including those who identify as transgender. Individuals who hold a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) are required to declare this status by ticking the appropriate box on their membership form. Bowls England has to be informed.
The Licensed Bar:
All monies raised shall be used to further the interests of the Club. The Bar Sub-Committee, with the approval of the General-Purpose Committee’s Chairman, have the power to amend the hours when intoxicating liquor is sold but the opening periods must remain within the opening limits permitted by the Premises Alcohol License. No person under the age of 18 years may purchase or consume alcohol on the club’s premises.
No alcohol may be consumed on the club’s premises that has not been supplied by the club.
When the bar is open, other local club members visiting in connection with a sporting event, social event or any other approved function may purchase alcoholic or soft drinks for consumption on the premises.
Members’ guests may purchase alcoholic drinks but the member who has introduced the guests shall be responsible for the guest’s conduct and their adherence to Club Rules. The member may not leave the premises before their guests.
The GPC’s Alcohol sub-committee must adhere to the requirements of the Licensing Act (or any replacement) with regard to the purchase & supply of excisable goods.
Smoking or Vaping:
To ensure a pleasant environment for all members, the club prohibits smoking or vaping in the clubhouse, nor outside on the walkways or on the bowling carpet.
Visiting Bowlers:
Members of any bowls club affiliated to Bowls England are welcomed as guests. They are authorised to use the club’s facilities but bowling may be subject to a bowling fee unless they are bowling in a competitive match.
Whenever a club member invites a non-member to the club then on arrival the guest’s name and contact details are to be entered into the Visitors Book. The member should not leave the premises before their guests.
Site Security:
It is important that the building is properly locked when vacated and this responsibility rests with every member. The last person to vacate the building must ensure that it is properly secured, that the lights are out, internal doors shut and be certain that they are the last to leave! How-ever, if on arrival you find the building is unlocked, make sure the building is empty, then secure it properly when leaving and report the incident to a club officer. If a stranger enters the building whilst you are there, challenge them, do not assume that they have a right to be there. Members must not divulge the entry-gate lock’s combination code number to anyone.
Parking:
Club members (or visitors) may park in the public carpark but do so at their own risk.
Eight spaces in the car park are designated for sole use by the Club’s members (or visitors), otherwise parking is available in the public bays. Members’ vehicles parking in the Bowls’ bays must display Council issued parking permits. Members must also display a permit in the public bays if they require a time extension. The permits are available in the club house in exchange for the member depositing their personal Club Parking card. (Similar permit requirements apply to club visitors.)
Mobile Phones:
Mobile phones are not to be used near bowlers when a competitive match is being bowled. Bowlers participating in a club friendly event are requested to turn off their mobile phones whilst on the bowling carpet. Spectators positioned at either the east or west ends of the green are asked to distance themselves from the bowling area when using their mobile phones. To avoid distracting the bowlers during play all phone usage, calls and messaging, should be conducted well away from the vicinity of the active bowling. During refreshment breaks, members are asked to move away from the table when using their phones.
Financial Matters:
No member of the bowls club may commit the Company to any expenditure or debt without the express approval of the GPC Chairperson or else the Club Treasurer.
Portslade Bowls Club Ltd, and Portslade Bowls Club are non-profit making organizations. Any income received is first to be used to pay off any incurred debts, then to make improvements to club equipment/facilities with any residual being used to promote the bowls club’s objectives. The GPC may approve exceptional gift donations and payment of mileage expenditure incurred by members competing in national competitions.
Alteration & Interpretation of Rules:
These Rules may only be altered by a meeting of the General-Purpose Committee or by members at an AGM.The Club Secretary is obliged to give the club members fourteen days’ notice of all GPC proposed alterations and subsequently receive any comments for the GPC members to consider. An AGM Agenda must include any proposed Rule change proposed & seconded by club members.
The Club Secretary may receive any proposition to amend a rule from a club member that has been seconded by another member, for consideration by the GPC.
Such requests must be received in sufficient time for the Club Secretary a have minimum of twenty-one days to place the proposal on the agenda for the next scheduled GPC meeting and notify other club members of the suggested rule change in time to receive their comments.
The GPC’s members are not to accept any rule amendment which;
1) may jeopardize the Company’s status as a HMRC Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC),
2) seek to change BE’s mandatory rules for its affiliated bowling clubs,
3) seek to change the Company’s Articles of Association.
The Bowls Club Secretary shall forward any received AoA proposals from members to the Company Secretary for the Directors’ attention.
The GPC shall be responsible for the interpretation of these Rules and will decide upon any questions not covered in these Rules. The Company’s Articles of Association shall always take precedence over these Rules.
Limitation of Club Liability:
The club’s facilities are available to all club members, their guests and visiting bowlers but entirely at their own risk and by doing so accept that PBC Ltd. will not have any liability for any damage to or loss of, their personal property. Nor for any personal injury sustained by the member arising out of the use of the club’s facilities. PBC Ltd. will not be responsible for any damage or injury caused by a faulty item; nor for any negligence by one of the Club’s Officers or by a club volunteer.
Making a Complaint:
A club member, or a guest visitor who needs to complain about another persons’ behaviour must do so in writing addressed to the Club’s Complaint Assessor. It should be accompanied by any witness statements which will support the complainant’s grievance. The Officer will initially discuss informally with the plaintiff of what action they will be taking in line with BE’s Discipline procedure regulation R9. A complainant must raise their complaint within 30 calendar days of the alleged misconduct occurring. The aggrieved person should be aware that the Club has to anonymously report all complaints to Bowls England for their statistical purposes. Any complaint which results in a suspension of membership or expulsion from the bowls club will be reported in detail to Bowls England and to Sussex County Bowls. Refer to BE’s R9 Discipline procedure.
John Green, Company Secretary … November’25