1. Membership, Eligibility and Qualification for membership

1.1 Membership shall be open to any person, sole trader, partnership, unincorporated entity or corporate entity as is described in Article 4 of the Chamber’s Articles of Association.

1.2 The number of the members of the Chamber is to be unlimited but with the power of selection, suspension and dismissal reserved to the Chamber as set out in these Rules and Chamber’s Articles of Association as may be varied from time to time in accordance with their terms.

1.3 The Chamber may have or admit different types and levels of members as shall be decided from time to time by the executive management committee of the Chamber including honorary, associate and temporary members.

1.4 In respect of memberships, proposal and admissions to membership, the following provisions shall apply:

1.4.1 Member admission to the Chamber shall be by the executive management committee of the Chamber in accordance with the criteria set out in these Rules and the Chamber’s Articles of Association as amended from time to time.

1.4.2 The executive management committee of the Chamber may send out such invitations in writing to potential new members in such form as the executive management committee of the Chamber may prescribe from time to time.

1.4.3 The executive management committee of the Chamber shall have absolute discretion in deciding upon any application or in reply to an invitation for membership and its decision shall be final, and it shall not be bound to give any reason for its decision.

1.4.4 Ordinary members must be admitted by election by executive management committee of the Chamber in monthly meeting. A membership candidate for election who receives the votes of the majority of the executive management committee of the Chamber in executive committee meeting must be duly elected to membership of the Chamber.

1.4.5 The executive management committee of the Chamber may delegate its powers under this section to the Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber for the purpose of finding, vetting and admitting new members of the Chamber.

1.4.6 Following his payment and discharge of the relevant applicable membership fees, due or subscription, the new candidate becomes a member of the Chamber and is entitled to all the benefits and privileges of membership, and agrees to be bound by these Rules and the Chamber’s Articles of Association as amended from time to time.

1.4.7 No candidate shall become a member or be entitled to any of the benefits and privileges of membership until he has settled in full the required or applicable membership fees, dues or subscription.

1.4.8 Within five (5) days of a candidate being appointed the new member must settle the subscriptions and membership fees of the Chamber and provide the executive management committee of the Chamber or appropriate authorised officer of the Chamber responsible for such matters as notified to him with all relevant required payment authorisations or direct debits (as the case may be).

2.Annual Subscriptions, Fees and Payment

2.1 Members shall be liable to pay a membership fee upon joining the Chamber and thereafter an annual membership for each year or part of a year during which they are members of the Chamber.

2.2 The executive management committee of the Chamber shall, having regard to the financial requirements or estimated financial requirements of the Chamber, provide a recommendation at each annual general meeting of the applicable membership fee and subscription that shall apply during the then current financial year.

2.3 The executive management committee may recognise and/or establish different categories of member to reflect categories of business for the purposes of differentiating subscription levels and membership benefits. Such categories and differentiations may, in particular, take account of differences in the legal status and the size of business of members.

2.4 Notwithstanding anything contained in these Rules and the Chamber’s Articles of Association as amended from time to time the executive management committee of the Chamber shall have the discretion to waive or reduce the annual subscription and/or the admission fees payable to the Chamber for such period or periods as they think fit in respect of new members of the Chamber if the executive management committee of the Chamber considers it in the best interests of the Chamber to do so.

2.5 All annual subscriptions are payable on the anniversary of membership in each year without demand except in respect the first subscription of a new member as provided by these Rules and the  Chamber’s Articles of Association as amended from time to time.

2.6 All membership fees and subscriptions must paid by cheque made payable to the Chamber or by banker's standing order or telegraphic transfer or cash to the specified account of the Chamber.

2.7 If any member fails to pay his annual subscription or other fees due under or pursuant to these Rules on or before the due date, a notice must be sent to him notifying him of his failure to pay. If the member does not pay the amount within fourteen (14) days from the posting of that notice, the  membership will duly terminate.

2.8 If at any time the member gives the executive management committee a satisfactory explanation, the member may, in the discretion of the executive management committee and on payment of arrears, be readmitted to membership on specified terms.

2.9 Charges for events, exhibitions, training and other activities available to members may be levied from time to time and are payable in advance in addition to any annual membership fee or subscription.

3.Membership Suspension, Termination or Cessation

3.1 Membership of the Chamber may at any time cease by resignation disqualification or expulsion. On ceasing to be a member of the Chamber a member forfeits all right (if any) to and claim upon the Chamber, and its property and funds.

3.2 Resignation shall be by notice in writing given to the executive management committee and shall be effective immediately following acknowledgement.

3.3 Disqualification shall be automatic if a member ceases to be qualified to be a member or ceases to be eligible for membership pursuant to these Rules or the Chamber’s Articles of Association as amended from time to time.

3.4 Expulsion shall be by a decision of the Chamber acting through the unanimous decision of a sub committee consisting of 3 officers and 3 executive committee members of the executive management committee (“the sub committee”) after recommendation made to it by the Chief Executive Officer.

3.5 Any member who shall, in the opinion of the sub committee be acting or have acted inconsistently with the objects of the Chamber or be otherwise unsuitable for membership on the ground that his/her/its continued membership is harmful to, or is likely to become harmful to, the interests of Chamber and its Members may be excluded from the Chamber by unanimous resolution of that sub committee.

3.6 Such a resolution may not be passed unless the member has been given at least 14 Clear Days’ Written Notice that the resolution is to be proposed, specifying the circumstances alleged to justify expulsion, and has been afforded a reasonable opportunity of being heard by, or of making written representations to the sun committee.  A member expelled by such a resolution shall nevertheless remain liable to pay to the Chamber any sums due from him/her/it to the Chamber. A member will have the opportunity of attending with another member of his/her/its choosing.

3.7 Non-payment of the membership fees shall be considered by the Chamber as a reason for expulsion in such case whereby the fees remain outstanding for a period of 3 months or more following the date of written request for payment by the Chamber.

3.8 The executive management committee may by unanimous decision suspend from membership of the Chamber until the hearing of the sub committee, any member who, in the opinion of the executive management committee is in breach of these Rules or the Chamber’s Articles of Association and has failed to remedy that breach to their reasonable satisfaction within fourteen (14) days of being advised in writing so to do or who has acted in a manner which is harmful to, or is likely to become harmful to the Chamber or the members.

3.9 If the relevant member is also a member of the executive management committee that member shall not be entitled to vote on the decision in relation to its proposed suspension pursuant to Rule 3.8 above or attend at any executive management committee meetings until the matter is determined by the sub committee..

3.10 The executive management committee shall in its discretion as soon as reasonably practicable inform all the members of any decision taken to suspend a member or expel from membership and in its discretion the matter shall be considered at the next annual general meeting of the Chamber.

3.11 Any member who resigned his membership by giving notice in writing in accordance with Rule 3.2 of these Rules shall be deemed to have resigned with effect as from the working day next following its receipt unless otherwise expressed, subject to any obligations in respect of costs, expenses or subscriptions.

3.12 If any member is convicted on indictment of any criminal offence, or is adjudged a bankrupt, or has a trustee appointed for the benefit of his creditors, or makes a composition or arrangement with his creditors under the provisions of any statute, or is no longer capable of looking after his affairs, the member immediately ceases to be a member of the Chamber but the executive management committee may, in its discretion, conditionally or unconditionally reinstate him.

3.13 If at any time the executive management committee considers that the best interests of the Chamber require it, they must request or invite a member to withdraw from the Chamber, by a notice or letter specifying the time before which the withdrawal should be made. If the member concerned does not withdraw the executive management committee must submit the question of his expulsion to the Sub Committee to be held at least 14 days after the date of the letter. The Chief Executive Officer must inform the member in question in accordance with Rule 3.6 above. At the meeting, the member must be allowed to offer an explanation of his conduct verbally or in writing and if after that all of the members present vote for his expulsion he will immediately cease to be a member of the Chamber.

3.14 Any member expelled from the Chamber may appeal the decision to expel him in writing to the President of the Chamber within 7 days of the expulsion hearing who will convene a meeting at which the expelled member may attend with another member of his choosing for the appeal to be heard. The appeal will be heard by an appeals sub committee of the Chamber consisting of 3 officers and 3 executive committee members of the executive management committee (“the appeals sub committee”) who did not form a part of the sub committee which decided to expel. The expelled member will be given at least 14 Clear Days’ Written Notice of the time and place of the appeals hearing. At the appeals meeting, the member must be allowed to offer an explanation of his conduct verbally or in writing. The appeals sub committee unanimous decision shall be final.

3.15 Any issue relating to the conduct, or circumstances, of an organisational representative, or any other representative of a Member, may justify a resolution to expel the relevant represented Member.

3.16 The findings of any sub committee, appeals sub committee or a decision to suspend shall be communicated to the member at the last address provided by him to the Chamber within 14 days.