Reporting Grants & Donations

The Co-operative Party is a registered Political Party and must comply with the provisions of the Political Parties Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA). These duties are overseen by the Electoral Commission, which regulates all aspects of the Party’s finances from the Party Council up to the National Party.

If you are a treasurer or secretary, you will have some additional reporting responsibilities, including:

Keeping your details up to date

The Electoral Commission recognises Party Councils as ‘accounting units’. The Treasurer shares the legal responsibility for the Party Council’s finances with the Party Council Secretary, who is also the deputy treasurer/second officer notified to the Electoral Commission.

If you elect a new Treasurer or Secretary, you should inform Head Office straight away so we can update the Electoral Commission.

Reporting donations and loans

All donations (including grants) and loans of more than £500 must be reported to Head Office within two weeks of the end of each quarter. If you receive an ‘in-kind’ donation, this must be reported too.

• Anything received 1 January and 31 March should be reported to Head Office by 14 April;
• Anything received 1 April and 30 June should be reported to Head Office by 14 July;
• Anything received 1 July and 30 September should be reported to Head Office by 14 October;
• Anything received 1 October and 31 December should be reported to Head Office by 14 January.

We need to know the amount of each donation; the name and the address of the donor; and the date it was received.

Examples of ‘in-kind’ donations could include being given administrative support by your Society or use of meeting rooms free or cheap. Contact Karen Wilkie if you are not sure what should be included.

What to report:

• If you receive a grant of more than £500 from Head Office on behalf of the Co-operative Group or East of England Co-operative, you do not need to report this, as we already have the details.
• If you receive a grant of more than £500 from Central England, Chelmsford Star, Midcounties or Scotmid Co-operatives, you must report this to Head Office within two weeks of the end of the Quarter it was received.
• If you receive a donation or loan of more than £500 from anyone other than your supporting society, you must report  this immediately so we can check it is from a permissable donor.

Annual Accounts

The Rule Book requires all party councils to submit their annual accounts to Head Office by 31 March each year.

If your annual income or expenditure exceeds £25,000, you must also submit your annual accounts directly to the Electoral Commission.

Additional information

If you have questions about your responsibilites, please get in touch and we will be able to help. You can also read the Electoral Commission Guidance for officers of accounting units.

You can also find more general information on your role as a treasurer on our Officer Hub.