Co-op News October 2019: Sustainable Development

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POLITICS Co-op agenda is ‘common sense’ for all parties, says Co-operatives UK With a general election looking imminent, Co-operatives UK has launched a campaign encouraging parliamentary candidates to support the sector. Themed “It’s common sense”, the policy agenda calls on the next government to unleash the potential of the co-op economy. It urges action to aim for one million employee and worker owners by 2030, help communities take control of their local economies, support high-impact co-op development, improve the operating environment for co-ops and mutuals and support sector investment. To achieve this, Co-operatives UK suggests measures such as providing funding for local awareness and support programmes, and extending the £3,600 income tax free allowance on bonuses for employees of trust-owned companies to bonuses paid to members of worker co-ops. Other steps include earmarking 25% of the new UK Shared Prosperity Fund for community-led economic development or using the next tranche of dormant assets to establish ‘community wealth funds’. Another proposal is to offer corporation tax exemption of a percentage of any surplus that a co-op chooses to pay into an accredited co-operative development institution. LEPs and combined authorities should also include support for co-op development in their Local Industrial Strategies and ensure they have the funding to make an impact, adds Co-operatives UK. In terms of legislation, the policy agenda proposes giving co-ops the option of applying statutory protection to their common, non-distributable capital. At the same time, it believes legislative responsibility for co-ops should be moved from the Treasury to the Department for Business. To support investment in co-ops and mutuals, the trade body advises establishing criteria and a checking process that allows some co-operative societies to benefit from Social Investment Tax Relief; creating a new tax relief that exempts from corporation tax a percentage of any surplus that a co-op pays into its non-distributable reserves; and supporting the British Business Bank to create a new equity-based impact investment fund that responds to the distinct nature of co-ops and other mutuals. Co-operatives UK is asking members to share its policy agenda through their networks and email it to their local MP and prospective parliamentary candidates. BREXIT Co-op Party MPs attack government on Brexit Co-op Party MPs have been vocal in their opposition to the government’s handling of the Brexit process and decision to prorogue Parliament. The prorogation was ruled unlawful by the Supreme Court on 24 September, and when MPs met the following day Barry Sheerman, Labour/Co-op MP for Huddersfield, reacted furiously to comments by attorney general Geoffrey Cox, who said Parliament had “no moral right” to sit. Mr Sheerman responded: “Every word he has uttered today shows no shame ... The fact is that this government cynically manipulated the prorogation to shut down this house, so that it could not work as a democratic assembly. “For a man like him, a party like his, and a leader like this prime minister to talk about morals and morality is a disgrace.” Meanwhile, Party chair Anna Turley, MP for Redcar, told the BBC she still wants to see a referendum on a Brexit deal before a general election. “In an area like mine, Brexit will increase unemployment – specifically a no-deal Brexit but even a soft Brexit,” she said. “Any agreement is going to the economy of my region. So Brexit to me is all about jobs and livelihoods and child poverty.” From elsewhere in the co-op movement, Steve Murrells, chief executive of the Co-op Group, has said the vote to leave the EU might have been avoided if the UK had a more inclusive, co-operative economy. Speaking to the Yorkshire post, he pointed to a disconnect between voters and politicians in Westminster. “What was affecting people locally in the north wasn’t being recognised by Whitehall and government,” he said. “Those problems that were starting three years ago have now got considerably worse. One of the solutions is having more social enterprises and more co-ops to run business in a different way. “At a time when there is real division, the country needs more co-ops and it needs more collaboration.” p Barry Sheerman MP Mr Murrells has also discussed the Group’s preparations in the event of a nodeal Brexit, confirming that the retailer would be stockpiling essentials like toilet rolls, water and long-life grocery products. “We’re confident that our supply chains, certainly in the grocery and longlife products, will be sufficient to get through this period of time if we crash out with no deal,” he said, but warned “there will likely be some gaps” on the shelves by November. 10 | OCTOBER 2019
RETAIL Retail societies grateful for bumper food bank donations p A food bank appeal at Central England Food bank campaigns at Midcounties and Central England co-ops look set to receive donations of more than 250,000 items. In response to Central England’s Summer Food Bank Appeal, 165,000 items were donated during a three-month period – enough food to feed 42,500 children. It was used to create packed lunches for projects that tackle holiday hunger during the summertime, as well as meal parcels for families. Central England Co-op chief executive, Debbie Robinson, said: “I and everyone involved with our Summer Food Bank Appeal have been overwhelmed with the stunning generosity of our customers and members. “They have ensured that thousands of children at risk of going hungry have been fed during the school holidays – ensuring they remain fit and healthy and could enjoy their holidays to the full.” Meanwhile, Midcounties is on track to surpass last year’s figure of 100,000 donations to its food bank partners. The co-op works with food banks in the Trussell Trust’s network, as well as linking up with schools and community-based start-ups. In addition, colleagues have supported the project by volunteering at the Warwick and Leamington Food Bank. Mike Pickering, CSR manager at Midcounties, said: “Our colleagues, members and shoppers are really engaged with our efforts knowing that they are helping to make a difference to the lives of people in their area. We’ll continue to work closely with our partners so that we can continue offering help to those who need it most.” Leisure services provider picks up social business gong Aura Leisure, which manages leisure and cultural services in Flintshire, was named Welsh Social Enterprise of the Year at the Social Business Wales Awards. The event, hosted by the Wales Co-operative Centre ahead of the Social Business Wales conference in Llandudno, north Wales. u Read more about the conference and award winners, p34-35 Organic co-op Omsco wins big at Global Cheese Awards Omsco, the Organic Milk Suppliers Co-op, has received six awards for its USDAcertified Organic Kingdom Cheddar range at the 2019 Global Cheese Awards. The UK’s largest farmer-owned and farmer-run organic dairy co-op, which supplies over 70% of the UK’s organic Cheddar, was awarded three gold results in the categories of UK organic cheese, finest mature Cheddar and cheese for export. Shortlist announced for Community Energy Award Community Energy England (CEE) and Community Energy Wales (CEW) have announced the shortlisted entries for the 2019 Community Energy Award. Registration for the conference and awards is free, and CEE and CEW encourage all those interested in community energy to attend. More information is available tinyurl.com/y6dsrs8n Heart of England Co-op appoints new director to board Scott Arlidge was voted on to the board of the Heart of England Co-op. Mr Arlidge has been a member of the Society for nine years and has an extensive background in retail. He works with the society’s Coventry Member Committee, and with the Co-op Group as a Coventry Member Pioneer, promoting community engagement. Scotmid aims to raise £300k for stroke survivors Scotmid Co-operative has announced Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland as its 2019/20 charity of the year – and that it aims to raise £300,000 to support stroke survivors. The retailer is also partnering with Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke (NICHS) and England’s Different Strokes. OCTOBER 2019 | 11
Page 1 and 2: OCTOBER 2019 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMEN
Page 3 and 4: Sustainable development to build a
Page 5 and 6: NEWS ENERGY Octopus and Co-op Energ
Page 7 and 8: Food chief calls for action to tack
Page 9: ENVIRONMENT Co-op Group signs UN’
Page 14 and 15: GLOBAL UPDATES GLOBAL Co-ops and cr
Page 16 and 17: GLOBAL Agropur joins G7 business co
Page 18 and 19: IRELAND Lakeland Dairies co-op anno
Page 20 and 21: IRELAND Row continues over milk pri
Page 22 and 23: MEET... Meet … Michael Gidney, CE
Page 24 and 25: YOUR VIEWS FAIRTRADE FESTIVITIES? I
Page 26 and 27: Co-operative College centenary conf
Page 28 and 29: CO-OP PARTY GETS READY FOR ITS AGM
Page 30 and 31: DELIVERING DEVELOPMENT What has the
Page 32 and 33: SERVING UP CO-OP IDEAS ON A BRIGHTO
Page 34 and 35: SOCIAL BUSINESS: Safeguarding the f
Page 36 and 37: THE COLLAPSE OF THOMAS COOK Retail
Page 38 and 39: CO-OPS & THE SDGs “The 2030 Agend
Page 40 and 41: ICA-EU PARTNERSHIP The co-operative
Page 42 and 43: SDG 10 How are the ICA Asia-Pacific
Page 44 and 45: SDG 08 At Kigali, you will take par
Page 46 and 47: TECH & THE SDGs The UN Sustainable
Page 48 and 49: REVIEWS What does the future hold f
Page 50: DIARY CLOCKWISE FROM FAR LEFT: Roch

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