Bradford Athletics Network (hereinafter the network ) Memorandum of Understanding Effective 1 September 2009 Purpose of the network 1. The purpose of the network is to promote and enhance, via the member clubs and organisations, the sport of athletics in all of its facets (track and field, fell and off-road running, road running, cross country running, modified junior athletics formats, race walking and other endurance and mass participation events) for people of all ages and abilities in and around Bradford District. 2. The network is a provider of services to, and facilitator of growth for, its members and a means of collaboration between its members. To these ends it may represent the network s members in dealings with public and private bodies and national governing bodies. Membership of the network 3. Clubs, associations or other bodies registered with England Athletics are eligible to become members of the network. Priority shall be given to clubs within Bradford District. Subject to certain public funds being restricted in their spending to certain boundaries, clubs from the broader natural geographical catchment (Settle to Kirkstall, Ilkley to Wyke) may also join the network. 4. The membership at the time of foundation of the network on 1 September 2009 comprises the following four Full Members: i. Bingley Harriers & AC; ii. Ilkley Harriers; iii. Keighley & Craven AC; and iv. the Airedale Athletics partnership (which itself comprises, at the foundation of the network on 31 August 2009, Baildon Runners, Bradford Airedale AC, Eccleshill Road Runners, St Bede s AC and Skyrac AC). 5. Associations and other athletics bodies may become Associate Members of the network. Bradford Schools Athletic Association is such a member. Structures for the delivery of activities undertaken by the network 6. Each activity undertaken by the network will be the responsibility of a designated club as the lead party. However, to facilitate collaboration and exchange of information between clubs and other members, activities may be clustered and managed by a Working convened by a designated full member.
7. The full member designated to convene the Working is fully responsible for the delivery of the activities managed by the, is granted full freedom in the means of achieving the agreed objectives and serving the targeted beneficiaries, and is encouraged to involve the widest range of representatives from all network members and other specialists. 8. For the year starting in September 2009 the network s activities and their lead party, and the clusters of activities and their Working are as follows: ed projects or activities Lead Party (grouped projects) Lead Party (for individual projects) 1A Mass participation events & management K&C 1B Accessible permanent courses and routes Keighley & Craven AC K&C 1C Management (social enterprise) K&C and 2A 2B 2C Year-round training for new athletes, incl. volunteer training Developing community of 1000+ formerly unattached athletes Outreach training groups 3A Club 1625 3B Generic skills training for U17s multisport comps & school links Airedale Athletics Ilkley Harriers Not yet specified 3C After-school clubs and XC leagues (Skyrac) 4A High-performance coaching teams Bingley BH and K&C 4B High-performance athlete sessions Harriers & 4C Enhanced experience at club-level AC 5A Media communication 5B Benchmarking, Conferences, etc Airedale Athletics and K&C 5C Database of participants IH Working Infrastructure DARCOM (Devt & Recruitment Cttee) Youth Programmes Performance COMCOM (Communications Cttee) 9. The full member designated to convene a Working will identify one person to represent the Working on the network s Co-ordination. Co-ordination 10. So as to facilitate exchange between the Working s, to monitor progress across the network, and to report to external agencies, the network shall establish a Co-ordination. Its purposes include: i. Preparing annual reports and submissions to England Athletics, liaising with England Athletics, and any other reporting to external agencies. ii. Providing day-to-day advice and support about the projects and initiatives, whilst not overriding decisions made by the Working s. iii. Overseeing and controlling financial transactions and ensuring that ethical and fair procedures are followed. iv. Liaising with external partners.
v. Developing a sustainable business plan and a long-term strategy for the sport within the geographical area of the network. vi. Resolving conflicts within or between Working s and/or members. vii. Calling the minimum number of meetings consistent with these purposes, but no fewer than two in a year. 11. The chair (or equivalent) of each of the full and associate members of the network shall nominate one person (in addition to any representatives from the Working s) to serve on a Co-ordinating for a period of two years, starting from 1 September 2009, following that member s own internal procedures. If a nominee resigns, the respective chair shall nominate a replacement to serve out the original person s period of tenure. 12. Voting shall be by simple majority, provided that two-thirds of the s membership are present. 13. At the first meeting in each calendar year the Co-ordinating shall: i. Elect one of its number to serve as a secretary-treasurer to minute meetings, assist and advise the in performing its affairs, correspond with England Athletics, sign-off all transactions from the network s own financial account, and prepare annual reports. ii. Elect one of its number to chair meetings of the. 14. Once a year, corresponding to the agreed reporting date, the Co-ordinating shall convene a meeting in which: i. a yearly evaluation of the success of activities in meeting their objectives, and of the performance of the Working s in delivering their activities shall take place. ii. all network accounts are audited, and proper financial management and planning are assured. iii. a plan of action and the designation of responsibilities and objectives for the next year is presented and agreed. iv. applications for admission to the network of new full and associate members are decided. v. the present Memorandum of Understanding may be revised. Trust Status 15. The Co-ordinating shall identify an institution to offer not-for-profit trust status to the network. 16. The trust shall provide accounting services so that all income for the network and payments to members of the network may be clearly and efficiently processed, and countersigned by the Secretary-Treasurer appointed by the Co-ordinating. 17. The trust shall be the body which employs any staff engaged by the network and shall be responsible for the process of appointment, administration (including the payment of wages), and management of such staff.
18. From 1 September 2009, for a two-year period, the institution offering trust status shall be Bradford College. Subsequently, the network intends to change the legal status of the trust to that of a social enterprise. Dissolution, resignation and expulsion 19. The network may be dissolved through the unanimous agreement of the members of the Coordinating. 20. Individual clubs or club-clusters may resign from the network, having provided three months written notice to the Co-ordinating and, in the case of a conflict or dispute, having previously undergone a three-month period of reconciliation through the mediation of the Co-ordinating or its appointees. 21. An individual club or club-cluster shall be expelled from the network if as a body it has committed theft or a similarly serious misdemeanour within the network, committed a serious criminal offence or serious sporting misconduct (such as the condoning of drug-taking) so that it brings the network into disrepute. 22. Upon withdrawal or expulsion from the network, any liabilities to the network must be made good, as far as the member s assets allow.
Dated: 1 September 2009 Signed by duly competent persons of the founding members, as follows: NAME and NAME on behalf of Airedale Athletics and its partner clubs NAME and NAME on behalf of Bingley Harriers & AC NAME and NAME on behalf of Ilkley Harriers NAME and NAME on behalf of Keighley & Craven AC NAME and NAME on behalf of Bradford Schools Athletic Association