December 2017

CO-OP GROUP
Nominations open for Co-op Group board members
The Co-op Group is seeking two member
nominated directors (MNDs) for its board.
There are four MNDs on the
board, with two new directors being
elected each year at the annual
general meeting. At the 2018
meeting, the board seats of Hazel
Blears and Margaret Casely-Hayford
are up for re-election. During 2017’s
meeting, Paul Chandler was re-elected,
while Gareth Thomas was newly
appointed by members.
Directors sit on the main board and
have the following responsibilities:
u Determining a strategy for the
Co-op, consistent with the purpose and
the values and principles and meeting the
needs of its members
u Overseeing the business and performance
of the Group under the strategy
u Motivating and retaining an executive
team to deliver the strategy
u Holding the Executive to account in
the performance of its duties, taking into
account the views of the council.
Overseeing a risk and internal audit
framework designed to provide adequate
assurance as to the protection of the
Group’s assets; the health, safety and
welfare of customers, members and staff;
compliance with all relevant laws and
regulations and the maintenance of the
reputation of the society.
The term of office is two years from the
date of an election, but this is currently
under review and may, subject to the
approval of the Members’ Council and
members, be increased to three years.
On expiry of each term of office,
reappointment will be subject to a
contested election. Each MND can serve
a maximum of three terms. MNDs are
expected to commit three to four days a
month towards the role and will receive
£60,000 a year.
Once candidates have been assessed
against the eligibility and membership
criteria, which states they must have
been a member before 5 January 2014
and accrued 1,000 trading points in the
year to January 2018, their application
will be considered by the MND
Joint Selection and Approvals
Committee, which comprises
representatives from the Group Board
and Members’ Council.
If a candidate is shortlisted, to meet
regulatory requirements, they will be
asked to provide further information to
enable background screening checks to
be undertaken before being approved
as a candidate in the election. Any
appointment is subject to approval by
the Solicitors’ Regulation Authority
(SRA). Shortlisted candidates will then
be invited to a mutual due diligence day,
for an interview.
Those selected will be announced in
advance of the 2018 Annual General
Meeting to approximately 2.2 million
members who are eligible to vote. The
results will be formally declared at the
AGM on 19 May 2018, and successful
MND candidates will begin their
two-year term of office at the end of
that meeting.
u The deadline for nominations is midday
on Thursday 21 December. To apply, visit:
www.co-operative.coop/mndelection.
ENERGY
Welsh solar farm named community renewable project of the year
The Community Renewable Energy Project
Award has been won by a Gower-based
organisation, Gower Regeneration Ltd.
The award, sponsored by the
Renewable Energy Association, is given
to: “The most commendable sustainable
electricity generation project undertaken
by a community group across Wales
and England.”
The project, Wales’s first communityowned
solar farm, has 3,658 solar panels
and is based on top of an old coal mine
and next to a school.
It produces enough clean energy to
power the equivalent of 300 homes,
and all profits – estimated at more than
£500,000 through the 30-year life of the
project – will be reinvested in other ecoprojects
and education about sustainable
development.
Ant Flanagan from Gower Regeneration
at the awards event with Dr Nina
Skorupska, CEO of the Renewable Energy
Association
A community share offer has seen more
than 400 people sign up as members,
raising more than £775,000, with a
projected 5% annual return to investors,
Ant Flanagan, one of the founder
directors of Gower Regeneration, said:
“It is a great privilege to win such
a prestigious awardand go into the
Community Energy Hall of Fame
alongside other fantastic projects.
“It is really incredible, the amount of
different people and organisations that
have helped make this project happen.
We have had such a high level of
commitment from so many of the
project partners.
“I can’t list them all but I really think
I ought to give a special mention to Gower
Power Co-op, Gower Heritage Centre,
Juno Energy, the Energy Savings Trust,
Finance Wales and Robert Owen
Community Finance, for being so
instrumental in the project’s completion
let alone a national award.
“And, of course, a massive thank you
to the hundreds of individuals who have
applied for community shares.”
8 | DECEMBER 2017