Party Organisers and Development Plans

At the beginning of 2020 the Party introduced new Regional Organiser posts to provide additional Party support. Initially this was intended to conclude in 2022. As we approached the end of the organiser project the feedback from local parties was overwhelming that this additional capacity and support should be retained if at all possible. Over the course of the two years Organisers have provided valuable support and helped with the move of activity online, relaunched dormant branches and developed and encouraged the activity of existing Party units.

We are therefore delighted that we have been able to keep these posts on a permanent footing. It provides crucial certainty for staff and local parties when it comes to making forward plans. We are asking Party Councils to put together their Development Plans for 2022-2024, and our team will be able to support Party Councils in this important activity. An example can be found here and a template can be found here.

In order to support the Regional Organising posts we have made some small changes to the per member payment and levies. We have ensured that these changes will be revenue neutral for Party Councils.

Alongside this, the Party is moving to a new annual conference cycle. Whereby one year the Party have an in person annual conference and the following year it will be online. To ensure that there is always an opportunity for members to get together in person at a conference each year, in the year where Annual Conference is online there will be in-person regional conferences. The Party holds a strong track record of holding engaging and successful online events. In recent years the Party has added significantly to its conferences and events.We now produce 25 Co-op Live Events per year for members, online training, regional conferences, equalities conference and Local Government Conference. We have listened to a range of feedback and know that our online annual conference year will better allow for more members to engage with the conference and will allow different accessibility benefits to be enjoyed by members.

The consequence of the above change to the Annual Conference pattern also has a significant effect the health of Party Council finances. We know the high cost of conference has been an issue for Party Councils with a motion on the topic being discussed last year. From detailed investigation on conference costs for the national and Local Parties we know that the changes outlined above with regard to regional organising support will mean Party Councils finances will remain at existing levels when considered over the two year cycle.

This will mean that your funding statement will look slightly different this year, with the details explained on the explanatory notes which accompany it.

Planning the year ahead

One of the ways to ensure an active engaged local Party is through planning activity for the rest of the year. With that in mind, please find below some key dates for the diary and activity to plan in.

Development plans

We have ambitious plans to further build the Party and to be a loud voice for co-operative policies at all levels of government. Members are at the heart of this plan, and our local structures are one of the most important ways we engage members in our work.

To help us achieve this, all party councils are now asked to agree an updated development plan for the period 2022-2024. We ask that these are completed by 28 February.

AGMs

AGMs for local Parties are usually held in January/February. As well as electing officers and delegates they are a great opportunity to plan for the year ahead and come up with a programme for activity. It is important that you advise Party staff of any changes of officers – this is crucial for ensuring that we comply with our legal obligations with the electoral commission and around GDPR.

NEC and CPDC elections

NEC and CPDC elections were both launched in December with applications closing at the start of February. More details on the NEC election can be found here and for the CPDC election here. The important thing for branches and Party Councils is they can meet to make nominations with the deadline 12 March.

Regional Conferences

Regional Conferences are taking place in person this year with regions getting together before local elections, and Scotland and Wales getting together in the early summer. Programmes and speakers are being worked on and details will be shared with you as soon as practicable.

Policy process

Our policy platform sets the agenda for our Party and its representatives and puts forward our to do list for Parliament. The consultation will open for Party Councils, networks and individual members in February and the consultation will close in June. Further details will be provided.

Local elections

There are a huge number of local elections taking place in 2023 and we want to ensure there are co-operators around as many tables as possible. Consider recruitment of candidates, supporting candidates an how to get co-operative policies in manifestos.

Co-operative Party AGM

The AGM of Co-operative Party Ltd will be held on Saturday 24 June with Party Councils asked to send delegates to participate in the democracy of the organisation.

Equalities Conference

In 2022 we held our first ever Equalities Conference. The event was a tremendous success and a testament to the work of our Equalities networks to deliver an engaging and intersectional event. Further details of our Equalities Conference will be shared in due course.

Online Annual Conference

Our 2023 Annual Conference will take place online in the autumn. There will be a host of speakers discussions and opportunities to get involved.

Electoral Commission

A reminder to Party Councils and Treasurers in particular to ensure that any donations of over £500 (this includes Grant from Societies) are required by law to be reported to the electoral commission. Please provide this information on a quarterly basis (reminders are emailed and in the briefings on the Party website) as if you don’t the Party will be fined – and it will be the responsibility of the Party Council to cover that cost