Briefing:Policy Process 2018: Information for Officers From: Anna Birley For attention of: All Party Officers Published: 16th January 2018 Last updated: 30th May 2018 Printed: 25th April 2024 Other formats: Print Today we're pleased to launch the Party's 2018 policy consultation process. Party Officers are asked to carefully read and action the information below. Background Held annually, these consultations are an opportunity to have your say on the Party’s position on key issues. Submissions made via the process over the year form the starting point for debates at regional conferences throughout the year and at National Conference, which is held in October. At a glance The 2018 process will focus on two areas of discussion: Policy Consultation: Britain Leaving the European Union16th January 2018 Policy Consultation: An economy where wealth and power are shared16th January 2018 Consultations on these two topics are being opened today, which include a set of questions to guide members’ submissions. Why these topics? These topics have been chosen by the NEC because they represent strategically important areas of policy development for the party, and were key topics of discussion at the 2017 Centenary Conference. Things to do Party officers are strongly encouraged to arrange a policy discussion for you local party on either or both of the policy topics. Meetings should be scheduled with consideration to May’s local elections, if they are happening in your area, and held in January, February or late May. Tips for organising a policy discussion16th January 2018 Submit a listing of your local event for the Party website Make a policy submission on behalf of yourself or a local party To help facilitate your discussions at local meetings, we’ve also produced a ‘Discussion paper’ for each topic, which includes background information as well as a series of prompt questions which may be a helpful starting point. Economy Discussion Paper Europe Discussion Paper Deadline The deadline for submissions from individual members, branches and local parties is Saturday the 30th June. What then? After the deadline, all submissions will be considered by the Policy Subcommittee of the NEC and a report outlining their responses will be published prior to the Party’s annual conference in October. The submissions and Policy Subcommittee responses will then form the basis of policy debates at annual conference. Detailed Information The Co-operative Party is member-led, and so we derive our policy platform from the experiences, ideas and principles of our members, our subscribing societies, and the wider co-operative movement. These are wide and far-reaching topics, so it is important that the Party’s approach to developing our policies in this area engages and listens to our members and the wider movement. The Co-operative Party will invite the views of its members through an open consultation with individual members, Party units, co-operative societies, and the wider co-operative movement, asking for their responses to the questions below. This will be launched in early 2018, and support will be given to local parties to convene their members for policy discussions. These are an important issues across the whole of the UK, although the challenges, approaches and solutions may differ across the devolved nations. We will work closely with Parties in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to ensure their members can contribute their thoughts and ideas. The voice of co-operative societies is very important in the debate, and we will consult and engage them in greater detail on issues of particular relevance. The consultation will begin in January 2018 and close in June 2018, and responses will be collated for review by the policy sub-committee. A report bringing together the concerns and ideas raised by individual members, and responses from the sub-committee to each submission from Party units and societies, will be issued. The points raised will be brought together into a policy platform which will be discussed at Conference in 2018 and agreed by delegates. While this consultation is ongoing, the Party will continue to engage with topical economic issues and work closely with the Labour Party to explore how to meet their ambitious manifesto pledge from the General Election 2017 to double the size of the co-operative sector. This will complement the ongoing consultation and formal policy process. This is a live document, and we will continue to explore these themes and develop our ideas. It also complements our other policy platforms, such as the comprehensive policy consultation and publications on housing and education agreed at Conference in 2017, and the parallel policy consultation on Brexit. ContentsBackgroundAt a glancePolicy Consultation: Britain Leaving the European UnionPolicy Consultation: An economy where wealth and power are sharedWhy these topics?Things to doTips for organising a policy discussionDeadlineWhat then?Detailed Information Action Points Encourage members to make submissionsThere is no need to email individual members locally about the policy process itself- we will do this for you. Organise a local eventThis could be as part of an ordinary branch meeting, or one specially organised for this purpose. If you have local elections, meetings should avoid March and April. Submit your event listing here (More) For more information For more information about the Process, support organising an event or if you have a question about making a submission, contact: Anna Birley Resources Policy Consultation: Britain Leaving the European Union16th January 2018 Policy Consultation: An economy where wealth and power are shared16th January 2018 Tips for organising a policy discussion16th January 2018 2018 Policy Discussion Paper – An Economy Where Wealth and Power Are Shared 2018 Policy Discussion paper – Britain Leaving the European Union