Items filtered by date: March 2020

Renew now to avoid penalty

Time is running out for the renewal of Inverness Angling Club membership at the standard rate. Adults must renew their permits for the 2020 season by March 31 to avoid incurring an additional charge of £20 from April 1.

There is a good reason for this. Most of the club’s major bills arrive in the early part of the year. As membership fees are the main source of income, early renewal is vital to the club’s economic health.

Notice of Special General Meeting

The committee of Inverness Angling Club made a series of proposals to the 2019 annual general meeting. One of these was to do away with the separate fee category of Ladies, but this proposal was declined by a majority vote.

Since the start of 2020 two e-mails have been received, via the club website, challenging the differing fees for male and female members on the basis that the individuals concerned feel it is unfair that females pay less than males. There has also been an e-mail requesting details of the club fees for individuals who identify as neither male or female gender. 

On reviewing equality legislation, it appears that the club has failed to adhere to the Equality Act 2010 in relation to setting its fees. The following is an extract from government guidance: 

Equality Act 2010 What do I need to know?

A club cannot refuse membership, or grant membership on less favourable terms (such as by applying different conditions or fees) because the person has a protected characteristic – disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation’. 

Call for SGM

As a result of the challenges directed at the club the committee agreed at its February 2020 meeting to bring this matter to a Special General Meeting in accordance with point 7.1 of the Constitution. The SGM will be held at 7pm on Thursday, March 19, in Raigmore Hospital Recreation Hall, prior to the monthly meeting of the committee. Members will have to agree what the single Senior membership fee should be, now that a Ladies category can no longer exist. The committee recommends that the existing annual fee of £150 be set.

Failure by the club to take on board the challenges and address the need to comply with legislation could leave the club open to legal challenge as well as ridicule. 

Page 2 of 2

Location

Inverness Angling Club

Ness Walk
Inverness
Highlands

Email Contact

contact@invernessanglingclub.co.uk

Drop us an email and we'll respond to all inquiries as soon as possible.