Briefing:Important updates for Officers From: efoody For attention of: All Party Officers, Society Secretaries Published: 18th July 2023 Last updated: 18th July 2023 Printed: 23rd November 2024 Other formats: Print Please send details of grants and donations your party or branch has received this quarter - deadline Monday 24th July Quarter 2 Donation Reporting All Political Parties, including the Co-operative Party, must report any donations received to the Electoral Commission at the end of each quarter. This includes grants from the Society, unless your grant has come via Head Office (for example, Co-operative Group Parties), and also donations ‘in kind’, e.g. free or cheap use of meeting rooms. If your Party Council or Branch has received any donations over £500 during this quarter (1 April-30 June), please make sure that you notify Emma Foody by Monday 24th July. We need to know the date the donation was received, recipient (i.e. which Party or branch), donor and amount. Remember – if you receive a donation of £500 or more other than from your Society you must always let us know straight away – don’t wait for the end of the quarter. This is because we need to check that the donor is permissible. Failure to report donations in the appropriate quarter is an Electoral Offence. It is therefore extremely important to make sure you advise us of any donations of over £500 so they can be properly reported, or the Party could be sanctioned by the Electoral Commission. Please contact Emma Foody if you are not sure what you need to do. General Election Spending The Elections Act of 2022 means there are new and different rules in place for how the Co-operative Party is able to support candidates in the General Election. It is very important that these are adhered to and the Party is meeting with the Electoral Commission over the summer to ensure that we understand the rules correctly. A briefing with Party Council Officers will be convened before Co-operative Party Conference takes place to ensure these have been communicated and understood. Please contact Emma Hoddinott if you have any questions before then. Co-op Party Disciplinary Committee Following elections at the beginning of the year there are a number of vacancies which remain for the Co-op Party Disciplinary Committee. A number of membership requirements exist but if you or one of your members is interested please contact Emma Foody by 31 July. Action Points Quarterly donations returnsSend us details of grants and donations received by Monday 24th July Let us know if your Party Council Treasurer or Secretary changesAll Party Council Treasurers and Secretaries are registered with the Electoral Commission. If these change, remember to let us know straight away so that we can notify them. Party Officer General Election BriefingWatch for details of a briefing with Party Officers on new General Election spending rules and in the meantime direct any queries to Emma Hoddinott. CPDCIf you are interested in serving on the Co-op Party Disciplinary Committee get in touch. For more information Emma Foody Emma Foody