Constitution

Fan Advisory Board of Everton Football Club

ADOPTED ON: 7 November 2022

We, the members of this organisation, establish this Constitution for the government of our board.

1. Name and Definitions

1.1 The name of this organisation shall be the “Fan Advisory Board”; herein referred to as the “FAB”.

1.2 Throughout this Constitution, “Everton Football Club Company Limited” shall be referred to as “EFC”.

2. Purpose

2.1 The purpose of the FAB shall be to focus on in-depth consultation with the EFC hierarchy, focussing on long-term strategic issues; consultation will focus on:

(a) EFC’s strategic vision and objectives;

(b) Any plans relating to EFC heritage;

(c) EFC’s plans for broader supporter engagement;

(d) Escalation, as agreed, of issues from organisations that have separate structured dialogue with EFC;

(e) Stadium relocation and the Goodison legacy project;

(f) Finance and revenue generation; and

(g) Governance, regulation and compliance.

3. Membership

3.1 The FAB will comprise of ten members, each over the age of 18, who represent the diversity of the fanbase; none of whom may receive any payment, benefit or preferential treatment from EFC.

3.2 Six members will be representatives of organisations with reserved positions. Each member organisation holding a reserved position on the FAB will be responsible for identifying their chosen representative by means of a transparent and democratic process, which will be managed by the organisation itself. Each organisation will select a representative and a vice representative to ensure continuity of presence at meetings. These representatives are to be elected/re-elected on an annual basis. The six organisations represented will be:

(a) Everton Disabled Supporters’ Association (EDSA);

(b) Everton Fans’ Forum (EFF);

(c) EFC United Kingdom Regional Supporters’ Club Committee (SCC);

(d) Everton Heritage Society (EHS);

(e) Everton International Supporters’ Club Network (ISCN); and

(f) Everton Women Supporters’ Club (EWSC).

3.3 Four members shall be elected from Evertonians who are able to demonstrate that they meet specific eligibility criteria. Applications will be followed by a shortlisting process carried out by a panel; after which an independently (from FAB and EFC) verified election will be held to identify the elected members. The criteria and associated duration of appointment to the FAB are:

(a) EFC Shareholder to serve three years;

(b) No further eligibility requirement to serve three years;

(c) Representative of a minority group with a protected characteristic, as defined in the Equality Act of 2010, to serve one year; and

(d) No further eligibility requirement to serve one year.

3.4 The FAB may also co-opt temporary advisors/consultants as deemed necessary to provide expert advice on any topic that may arise. Any FAB member may propose a temporary advisor/consultant, but the nominee must be seconded by another FAB member; a majority vote during a FAB meeting will be required to approve the appointment.

3.5 FAB members will be required to comply with a Code of Conduct to ensure behaviour is respectful at all times. The FAB may suspend any member, by a majority vote and the process for doing so is determined within the Complaints Policy, which includes an appeal process, in which the member may have an independent representative present. Notification of suspension must be given in writing, but may also be sent electronically. A member may subsequently be expelled should their appeal not be upheld by a disciplinary committee.

3.6 The FAB may appoint another member to fill a vacancy provided the maximum number is not exceeded.

4. Officers

4.1 The Officers of the FAB shall be the Chair, the Vice-Chair and the Secretary; who will administer the FAB, with the consensus of the members.

4.2 All FAB members are eligible to seek election as an officer. Officers will be elected annually, at the first FAB meeting following changes in membership; and the management of this process will be adjudicated by a member of the FAB who is not seeking election as an officer. Officers may be elected to the same position for subsequent terms.

4.3 The duties of the Chair are to:

(a) Chair meetings of the FAB

(b) Be the primary contact for discussions with EFC.

(c) Represent the FAB at meetings that they have been invited to.

(d) Act as spokesperson for the FAB.

(e) Fulfil the roles specified within the FAB complaints policy.

4.4 The duties of the Vice-Chair are to:

(a) Deputise for the Chair in the above duties.

(b) Attend scheduled Police Supporter Liaison Group meetings on behalf of the FAB.

(c) Fulfil the roles specified within the FAB complaints policy.

4.5 The duties of the Secretary are to:

(a) Prepare the agenda for FAB meetings in consultation with the Chair.

(b) Record and distribute minutes of FAB meetings.

(c) Maintain contact details for FAB members.

(e) Deal with FAB correspondence.

(f) Collect and circulate any relevant information within the FAB and EFC.

(g) Fulfil the roles specified within the FAB complaints policy.

5. Committees

5.1 Any FAB member may propose the formation of a sub-committee, which once seconded and approved at a FAB meeting, shall operate until its agreed aims have been met. Each sub-committee will have a lead representative and all FAB members will be able to contribute if they wish. Any proposed actions must be ratified by FAB members.

5.2 The FAB shall convene a standing sub-committee to manage communications. It shall:

(a) Produce a communications strategy and present it for approval by FAB members.

(b) Manage the FAB website.

(c) Manage the FAB social media accounts

6. Meetings

6.1 The FAB will meet on the second Tuesday of each month and members are required to attend a minimum of 75% of meetings annually unless there are extenuating circumstances; the quorum shall be six FAB members.

6.3 The Chair shall lead all FAB meetings, with the Vice-Chair deputising at such times as the Chair is unable to attend a meeting.

6.4 The standing agenda for FAB meetings will be:

(a) Chair’s introduction.

(b) Approval of previous minutes.

(c) Declarations of any other business.

(d) Matters arising from minutes of the last meeting.

(e) Chair’s update.

(f) Reserved organisation update from EDSA, EFF, SCC, EHS, ISCN and EWSC.

(g) Elected member update.

(h) Sub-committee update.

(i) Any other business.

(j) Date of next meeting.

6.5 All FAB members have the right to vote at all meetings on a ‘one member, one vote’ basis. In the event of a split vote, the Chair will have the casting vote. Co-opted advisors/consultants will have no voting rights.

6.6 Minutes will be produced from all FAB meetings and they will be made available following their ratification at the next meeting.

6.7 The FAB will also meet with EFC on a quarterly basis. Additional meetings may be requested, on an extra-ordinary basis; the process for initiating these meetings is:

(a) FAB member proposes an issue that they feel justifies an extra-ordinary meeting with EFC; this must be seconded by another FAB member.

(b) FAB members carry out a vote to determine if consensus is for an extra-ordinary meeting to be called.

(c) If the FAB vote in favour of an extra-ordinary meeting, the FAB Chair will approach EFC to initiate the meeting

7. Amendment

7.1 Any changes to this Constitution must be proposed at a FAB meeting. Agreement will be determined, if at least two-thirds of those members present vote in favour of adopting the changes.

Constitution adopted at the Meeting of the FAB on 7 November 2022.

Signed by:

Chair : Jazz Bal

Vice-Chair: Hana Roks

Secretary: Julie Clarke