MORE Notice to Convene an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM)

Dear members - I've just recieved this email to pass on to you before next weeks EGM

please take a look and read

Kind regards

Charles Baldacchino

Cheam Squash Club Chairman

TO ALL MEMBERS OF CHEAM SPORTS CLUB
Wednesday 24 June 2026
THIS EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING TAKES PLACE AT 7:30PM
ON MONDAY 29 JUNE 2026 IN THE CONNOLLY ROOM AT YOUR SPORTS CLUB.
PLEASE ENSURE YOU BRING YOUR MEMBERSHIP CARD.
EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING (EGM)
OF CHEAM SPORTS CLUB
Dear Members
We wanted to do our best to clarify the process of convening this EGM and
the procedures at the EGM, recognising that for all of us this appears to be
a first in the Sports Club’s 106-year history.
The members who asked for the EGM under Rule 16.1 of the Sports Club,
“Formal Notice is given to expel Safeer Butt (Chairman of the Cricket
Section) from Cheam Sports Club on the grounds that his persistent
disruptive, threatening and intimidating behaviour renders him entirely unfit
to retain membership of the Club”
You should have already received a copy of the EGM Notice from your
Section Secretary. A further copy is attached in case of need.
The following is intended to provide all members with a better
understanding of the process. Likewise, it is appreciated other members
want to know the background as to why this situation has arisen.
Our role as your elected Executive OOicers is to facilitate the EGM on
behalf of the membership. The EGM will be chaired by Alan or in his
absence, Gary. Jane will supervise the ballot.
Kind regards
Alan, Gary and Jane
Hon Chair, Hon Vice-Chair & Hon Secretary
Cheam Sports Club
This document contains the following:
1) Explanation of the calling of the EGM
2) Explanation of the process at the EGM
3) Background to EGM being called by members of your Sports Club
TO ALL MEMBERS OF CHEAM SPORTS CLUB
Wednesday 24 June 2026
THIS EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING TAKES PLACE AT 7:30PM
ON MONDAY 29 JUNE 2026 IN THE CONNOLLY ROOM AT YOUR SPORTS CLUB.
PLEASE ENSURE YOU BRING YOUR MEMBERSHIP CARD.
1) EXPLANATION OF THE CALLING OF THE EGM
The EGM is being called on the written request signed by over 40 Full
Members *(40 being the minimum requirement) who are over 18 and
entitled to vote at General Meetings of the Club.
All signatories were verified as Full Members. After the threshold had been
met, subsequent members were advised they did not need to sign albeit
some insisted on so doing.
As a result, an EGM must then be convened by the Executive OOicers which
was done on 6th June 2026 by Club Secretary Jane in writing to all Section
Secretaries and displaying the Notice of the EGM in the Clubhouse. All
Section Secretaries were instructed to forward a copy of the Notice to all
members of their Section.
*Full Members of the Club, irrespective of the name given to them by their
Section, must be a member of a section who is aged 18 or over and is also
a Full Playing Member of a Section, is also a Full Member of the Cheam
Sports Club”
2) EXPLANATION OF THE PROCESS AT THE EGM
“A quorum shall be 25 Full Members present in person” (Rule 16.3)
Full Members will be identified by providing their membership card. That
may be then cross referenced against the membership list provided by their
section.
A simple majority is required to carry the proposal.
A request that a ballot is carried our rather than a show of hands has been
accepted by the Executive OOicers. (Rule 16.4)
As this is new territory for all of us, we hope you will agree the following as
fair and reasonable.
TO ALL MEMBERS OF CHEAM SPORTS CLUB
Wednesday 24 June 2026
THIS EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING TAKES PLACE AT 7:30PM
ON MONDAY 29 JUNE 2026 IN THE CONNOLLY ROOM AT YOUR SPORTS CLUB.
PLEASE ENSURE YOU BRING YOUR MEMBERSHIP CARD.
Each member present will be given a ballot paper. The ballot papers will be
anonymous. All that will be required is a cross or tick in the chosen box.
“Yes” to support the expulsion motion and “No” to reject it.
Once the ballot has been completed, two attendees who are not members
of the Executive Committee or Executive OOicers will count the votes with a
third attendee to oversee. In the absence of volunteers, the Club Secretary
will tally the votes and they will be verified by the Club Chair or Vice-Chair.
In either case, the ballot papers will be put on display for all present to see.
The Club Secretary will then be advised of the result and announce it. This
will end the EGM.
The result of such a ballot must also be put on display in a prominent
position within 3 days and the Club Secretary will advise the Secretaries of
the Sections in writing. Rule 16.4.1.
3) BACKGROUND TO EGM BEING CALLED BY MEMBERS
We know many members are keen to gain a better understanding of the
background to this EGM being called by fellow members to expel another
member.
We will do our best to summarize what appear to be the two primary issues
but please we must emphasise we do this simply as observers and
listeners. However, where we feel adding factual background would be of
benefit to all members, we have done so.
Please note that the motion is specific;
“Persistent disruptive, threatening and intimidating behaviour”
FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF CRICKET & POSSIBLE FABRICATION
Our Rules require a rent to be charged to each Section calculated to meet
the expenses of the Club and to enable the Club to provide, support and
renew the sporting facilities of the Club and the Club premises.
TO ALL MEMBERS OF CHEAM SPORTS CLUB
Wednesday 24 June 2026
THIS EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING TAKES PLACE AT 7:30PM
ON MONDAY 29 JUNE 2026 IN THE CONNOLLY ROOM AT YOUR SPORTS CLUB.
PLEASE ENSURE YOU BRING YOUR MEMBERSHIP CARD.
As you will know, cricket ended last year £8,500.00 in arrears and was
subsidised by about £10,000.00. The shortfall is met by rent from other
sections and the success of the Clubhouse.
It would appear that some of those signing to support the motion feel this
must come to an end and that the responsibility for it rests with Safeer and
his ongoing challenges to rent for 2026 over many months, disrupting the
functioning of the Executive Committee and the operation of the whole
Sports Club as well as delaying major projects such as extending the
Clubhouse and providing brand new changing facilities.
In terms of the arrears from 2025, £8,000.00 was paid to your Sports Club
on 19th June 2026. Consternation is evident that Safeer claimed £8,500.00
(40% of his section rent according to his figures) should be a “credit”
against cricket rent in relation to about 40 hours of authorised junior
football training across the whole summer. This is seen by some signatories
as fabrication of rental finances. To confirm to those who raised the issue,
the field is a shared facility and belongs to your Sports Club.
Some of those supporting the motion are aware that the Executive OOicers
have sourced a deal to provide, maintain and renew the cricket facilities
which is a five-figure sum lower than any local cricket section or club.
They note that months later this is still being challenged by Safeer, thus
delaying the proposed rent reductions for other sections, particularly
squash and tennis. They also complain that there remains a reluctance
from cricket to do what all other sections have done for years, i.e.
contribute towards water, cleaning, heating, maintenance, rates and so on,
in accordance with the Rules.
NB The resolution of this financial situation will ultimately be down to the
Executive Committee (Two representatives from each Section) and your
views on such should be directed to your Section Committee.
Concern has been raised about the membership figures being provided by
Safeer and his committee. Last year Safeer advised about 85 Full Members
of the cricket section for 2025. In his legal action against the Club his legal
representatives claimed the temporary suspension of the cricket section
TO ALL MEMBERS OF CHEAM SPORTS CLUB
Wednesday 24 June 2026
THIS EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING TAKES PLACE AT 7:30PM
ON MONDAY 29 JUNE 2026 IN THE CONNOLLY ROOM AT YOUR SPORTS CLUB.
PLEASE ENSURE YOU BRING YOUR MEMBERSHIP CARD.
resulted in the loss of 80 to 90 members (which could have included colts)
and his threatening to potentially close down the entire Sports Club,
something he stated last month that he has the power to do.
A list of about 180 Full Members for 2026 was provided in May, a gain of
over 90 Full Members and a doubling of Full Members. This is being
questioned as a possible ruse on membership types or perhaps more.
It has been highlighted by members that the legal claim was for an
estimated loss of £16,000.00 in membership fees. The overall figures
provided, if correct, show an increase of c.£14,000.00.
The legal claim also included loss of rental income of c.£7,000.00.
Members have made clear their understanding that any sublet should
either be carried out by the Sports Club or only with the approval of the
Sports Club. (Bye-Law 10 of the Club Rules) Members note that Safeer has
and continues to rent out our field with no approval or agreement.
BEHAVIOUR
Various situations have been cited by some of the members putting
forward the expulsion motion, some prompted by information from
members within the cricket section sharing, others through personal
conversations with cricket members past and present, some through
awareness of what has been put in writing to their section representatives
on the Executive Committee.
The Executive OOicers appreciate members, in particular members of the
cricket section, have shared much with us but after deliberation our view is
that, at present, it would be wiser not to expand on these or put them in
writing to all members. We know that might be frustrating for those who
want to hear specifics. Our rationale is simply that if released outside they
could cause considerable reputational and subsequent financial risk to our
Sports Club and de facto, all sections and cricket in particular.
ONE FINAL POINT
We commit to making sure every member who wants to know what is going
on at your Sports Club gets to know via their Section Committee.

24/06/2026

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