Annual Conference 2022

We are pleased that we will once again have the chance to come together in-person for our Annual Conference which will be held on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th October at the Queens Hotel in Leeds. This year the event will be held across two days (with online events taking place ahead and just after the weekend), allowing us to have the same packed agenda while reducing the costs of accommodation for party councils.

Dates and times

• Parliamentary reports from Westminster, Cardiff Bay and Holyrood: on Zoom, Mon 5, Tues 6, Wed 7 October at 6pm
• Annual Conference Day 1, 8th October, 11am-11pm: Showcasing Co-operative Politics – including keynote speeches, fringe events and conference marketplace.  Followed by evening networking and awards event.
• Annual Conference Day 2, 9th October, 9:30am-1pm:  Policy debates and votes on organisational motions, membership subscription & CAC election

Delegates and Delegate Fees:

All Party Councils and Subscribing Societies are required to send delegates, in the case of the Party Councils based on the size of your organisation – you have been advised in your grant letter of how many this will be. Delegates should represent the diverse nature of our Party, including a 50% gender balance.  Delegates to Conference do not have to be the same as those attending the AGM.

To date the majority of organisations have advised that they will be sending delegates.  However we must know their names by Friday 9th September at the latest.

If you have not registered your delegates, download our conference registration form here, fill it in and return by email to e.foody@party.coop. The deadline for the ‘early-bird’ discount has now passed and delegate fees are as follows:

• Weekend Standard – £195
• Weekend Youth – £145

Delegation meet ups

In order to discuss your delegation voting position, it is advised that Party Council and Subscribing Societies Secretaries arrange a Zoom meeting for their delegation in advance of Conference.  It is suggested to do this week commencing 3rd October (after 7pm).  if you need assistance with arranging this, please contact events@party.coop

Conference accredition

All delegates will receive their Conference pass at the hotel from the Party’s registration desk.  This will be open from 8.30am on Saturday 8th October.  All Conference paperwork will be available online shortly.

Creche:

We are making arrangement for creche facilities, if required.  Please advise if you require this facility by Friday 9 September

Accommodation:

A number of bedrooms have been reserved on a first-come, first-served basis at the Queen’s Hotel for the Saturday night – at the rate of £188 for bed and breakfast.  Please indicate on the delegate registration form the required number of rooms.

Accessibility:

The hotel is fully accessible.  If your delegates require specific accessibility requirements in terms of showering (rather than a bath), please advise.  In addition there are a number of rooms suitable for wheel chair users – if you require this please advise by Friday 9 September

Conference Arrangements Committee (CAC)

CAC governs the procedure of the business of Conference.  The CAC is composed of five persons: two elected by ballot at each Annual Conference (one to serve for 3 years and one to serve for 1 year) and a fifth member from the NEC. These are currently Peter Smith – chair. Lis Telcs, Jackie Jones, Theresa Vaughan and Abigail Marshall-Katung (NEC representative). Lis Telcs and Peter Smith’s terms of office end in 2022.

Please contact Issy Oozeerally, Events Co-ordinator at events@party.coop if you require a CAC candidate nomination form. Nominations should be received no later than 2 September. No more than one representative can be elected from any one region, so members in Wales or Yorkshire and Humber will not be eligible to stand this year.

Achievement awards

Our Recognition Awards are a small way that we can say thank you to those members who have played a big part in helping developing the Co-operative Party. The Awards are open to all members, recognising those who have made a lifetime of contribution to the movement, as well as those who may have joined more recently but have made a big impact already. You can nominate any member, officer, councillor or elected representative.  Please click here to nominate.

Policy submissions

The deadline for policy submissions is now past.  This is now with the NEC Policy-Sub Committee, with papers for consultation to be available in advance of Conference.

Organisational and emergency motions

The deadlines for receipt of organisational motions has now past.  These are currently with CAC and we will advise shortly if they are valid and need we will distribute to Party Councils for consultation. Please refer to the Rule Book for more information.

Networks Conference

This year to expand on the amazing work of our member-led Equality Networks, we are hosting our first Networks Conference online on Saturday 10 September. Further information will follow shortly.

Deadlines and dates for your diary

July

• W/C Monday 4th: Conference – preliminary Conference agenda published (i.e. organisational motions, membership subscriptions and rule changes)

September

• Friday 2nd: Conference – deadline for responses to Rule Changes; Organisational motion amendments; CAC candidate nominations and award nominations
• Friday 9th: Deadline for registration of Conference Delegates.
• Friday 9th: Advise whether creche required and any accessibility issue that must be taken into account for guest bedrooms
• Saturday 10th: Co-operative Party Networks Conference (online)

October

• Saturday 8th: Annual Conference Day 1 (Queens Hotel Leeds) – 11am to late
• Sunday 9th: Annual Conference Day 2 (Queens Hotel, Leeds) – 9.30am to 1pm

Issy Oozeerally 
Events Co-ordinator