63 delegates representing twenty-eight local Co-operative Parties, Societies and affiliates were present.  In addition to the registered delegates, 82 individual members and eleven members of the Board attended.

Following the presentation of the Board Report and Accounts and questions, the Board Report and Accounts 2021 was approved.

The General Secretary and Senior Management Team presented the Annual Review and forward look.

The re-appointment of Crowe UK as the Party’s Auditors was approved.

Rule Change 1 – NEC Composition

Delete:

11. National Executive Committee

Composition

 11.1 National Executive Committee Members shall comprise the following:

11.1.1.eleven National Executive Committee Members elected by and from individual members on the basis of one member one vote. The National Executive Committee will approve the election procedures to be used.  One Member shall be elected by and from Scotland; one by and from Wales; and one each by and from the nine Government Regions of England.  The National Executive Committee shall have the power to decide on the geographical allocation of Local Parties and society members;

11.1.2 one National Executive Committee Member being a person under the age of twenty-seven at the date of nomination, elected by and from individual youth members on the basis of one member one vote. The National Executive Committee will approve the election procedures to be used.

11.1.3 one National Executive Committee Member appointed by the Board of Co-operatives UK Limited;

11.1.4 two National Executive Committee Members appointed by the Board of the Co-operative Group Limited;

11.1.5 two National Executive Committee Members elected by and from affiliated Societies other than the Co-operative Group Ltd.

11.1.6 two National Executive Committee Members elected by and from the Westminster Parliamentary Group.

Insert:

 National Executive Committee

 Composition

 11.1 National Executive Committee Members shall comprise the following:

11.1.1 eleven National Executive Committee Members elected by and from individual members on the basis of one member one vote. One Member shall be elected by and from Scotland; one by and from Wales; one by and from Northern Ireland and eight by and from England;

11.1.2 one National Executive Committee Member being a person under the age of twenty-seven at the date of nomination, elected by and from individual youth members on the basis of one member one vote;

11.1.3 one National Executive Committee Member elected by and from individual members of the BAME network on the basis of one member one vote;

11.1.4 one National Executive Committee Member elected by and from individual members of the (dis)Ability Network on the basis of one member one vote;

11.1.5 one National Executive Committee Member elected by and from individual members of the LGBTQ+ Network on the basis of one member one vote;

11.1.6 two National Executive Committee Members appointed by the Board of the Co-operative Group Limited;

11.1.7 two National Executive Committee Members elected by and from affiliated retail Societies other than the Co-operative Group Ltd.;

11.1.8 one National Executive Committee elected by and from affiliated non-retail Societies and other affiliates;

11.1.9 two National Executive Committee Members elected by and from the Westminster Parliamentary Group;

11.1.10 two National Executive Committee Members elected by and from Labour and Co-operative elected representatives other than the Westminster Group.

11.2 The National Executive Committee will approve the election procedures to be used and shall have the power to decide on the geographical allocation of Local Parties.

Subsequent numbers to be amended accordingly.

The above rule change was carried with the required 2/3 majority:

Rule Change 2 – NEC Quorum

Delete:

11.11 At least nine Members of the National Executive Committee will form a quorum.

Insert:

11.11 At least twelve Members of the National Executive Committee will form a quorum.

Subject to Rule Change 1 being approved, a consequential amendment to amend the NEC quorum from 9 to 12 i.e. retaining it at 50%, rounded down, was also carried with the required 2/3 majority.

Rule Change 3

Delete:

General Meetings

10.1 The Party is to hold a general meeting (called the annual general meeting) each year.  Any meeting of the Society, including the annual general meeting, may be held in a venue or on-line or hybrid, as determined by the National Executive Committee. The annual general meeting is to be convened by the Board Secretary by order of the National Executive Committee.

Insert:

General Meetings

10.1 The Party is to hold a general meeting (called the annual general meeting) each year.  Any meeting of the Party, including the annual general meeting, may be held in a venue or on-line or hybrid, as determined by the National Executive Committee. The annual general meeting is to be convened by the Board Secretary by order of the National Executive Committee.

This is technical amendment to make the language in 10.1 consistent with 1.1. (The name of the society is Co-operative Party Limited and it is called “the Party” in the rest of these rules) was carried with the required 2/3 majority.

Rules for the Election of the Co-operative Party Disciplinary Committee (CPDC)

Delete:

2. For the purpose of nomination and election the CPDC shall be based on the same regions as for the election of the NEC.

Renumber remaining paragraphs accordingly.

A change to the rules of the Co-operative Party to ensure that the rules for the election of the Co-operative Party Disciplinary Committee would not be affected by any changes to the voting regions for the NEC was carried.