The NEC will propose a minor change to the Rules of Co-operative Party Ltd. to ensure that the quorum for AGMs remains relative to the number of Societies and Parties affiliated.

Delete:

10.6 Before a general meeting can do business there must be a quorum present. Except where these Rules say otherwise a quorum is delegates from 20 local parties or affiliate members, and one member of the National Executive Committee.

Insert:

10.6 Before a general meeting can do business there must be a quorum present.  Except where these Rules say otherwise a quorum is delegates from 40% of local parties and affiliate members, and one member of the National Executive Committee.

This change requires the approval of 2/3 of Society and Party delegates voting by card (i.e. weighted) votes at the AGM, followed by the approval of the Financial Conduct Authority.

The rules on gender balance will be consistently applied across all party units, so these are now set out on page 22 rather than in the individual model rules.

The ‘objects’ in the model rules for party units have been updated to ‘remit’ and rephrased to make them clearer:

1. To support and promote Co-operative Values and Principles
2. To support, promote and develop the Co-operative movement through the following:
   1. Supporting the selection and election of Labour and Co-operative elected representatives in Westminster and all levels of government to implement co-operative policy
   2. Promoting the Party’s nationally agreed policies and campaigns
   3. Contributing to the Party’s policy and campaign development
   4. Working with the Party’s subscribing societies
   5. Working with other Co-operatives and Mutuals and representing the Co-operative Party to them as a positive vehicle for change

The rules for the Parliamentary Panel have been updated in line with changes to the Labour Party’s processes.  You can find the updated rule on page 23, paragraph 5.

The Co-operative Party has five networks: Youth; Women; BAME; LGBT+ and (dis)Abled members.  To date, only the rules for the Youth network had been included in the Party’s rules.  Model rules have now been added for the other networks.  See page 61.

Each of the networks will elect steering committees over the coming months – these will be elected by one member, one vote by and from members of the networks.  The chairs and convenors of the interim steering committees have been consulted on the process for these elections.

After the steering committees have been elected, they will be able to review and suggest changes to the rules for their network.

The list of ex-officio delegates to Annual Conference has been amended to include Labour and Co-operative Police and Crime Commissioners and the elected members of the Networks’ Steering Committees.  See page 25.

The procedure for disciplinary cases considered by the Co-operative Party Disciplinary Committee (CPDC) has been simplified – see pages 33-36.  This applies to cases that have been considered by the NEC and appealed, or are referred directly to the CPDC by the NEC.

Following the earlier expansion of the Disciplinary Committee to 22 elected members, the rules for the CPDC election have also been corrected to permit each organisation to nominate 2 people.

The rules for the Wales Council have been amended to include a Women’s Officer.  See page 57.