Friendly Societies Act 1974

90 Appointment of inspectors and calling of special meetings. U.K.

(1) Subject to subsection (2) below, upon the application of one-fifth of the whole number of members of a registered society or, in the case of a society of not less than 1,000 members, of the appropriate number of those members, the Chief Registrar or, in the case of societies registered and doing business exclusively in Scotland, the assistant registrar for Scotland, may—

(a) appoint an inspector or inspectors to examine into and report on the affairs of the society; or

(b) call a special meeting of the society.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) above the appropriate number—

(a) is 100 in the case of a society of not less than 1,000 and not more than 10,000 members, and

(b) is 500 in the case of a society of more than 10,000 members;

but this section shall not apply to any society with branches (regardless of the number of members) except with the consent of the central body of that society.

(3) An application under this section shall be supported by such evidence for the purpose of showing that the applicants have good reason for requiring the inspection or meeting and are not actuated by malicious motives, and such notice of the application shall be given to the society, as the Chief Registrar may direct.

(4) The Chief or assistant registrar may, if he thinks fit, require the applicants to give security for the costs of the proposed inspection or meeting before appointing any inspector or calling the meeting.

(5) All expenses of and incidental or preliminary to any such inspection or meeting shall be defrayed by the members applying for it, or out of the funds of the society, or by members or officers, or former members or officers, of the society in such proportions as the Chief or assistant registrar may direct.

(6) An inspector appointed under this section may require the production of all or any of the books and documents of the society, and may examine on oath its officers, members, agents and servants in relation to its business, and may for that purpose administer oaths.

(7) The Chief or assistant registrar may direct at what time and place a special meeting under this section is to be held, and what matters are to be discussed and determined at the meeting; and the meeting shall have all the powers of a meeting called according to the rules of the society, and shall have power to appoint its own chairman notwithstanding any rule of the society to the contrary.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 By Friendly Societies Act 1992 (c. 40), s. 95, Sch. 16 para.36 (with ss. 7(5) and 93(4)); S.I. 1993/1186, art. 2, Sch. 3, it is provided that s. 90 shall cease to have effect (28.4.1993) in relation to registered friendly societies.