Website Cookie Policy

We use cookies to give you the best possible online experience. If you continue, we’ll assume you are happy for your web browser to receive all cookies from our website.
See our cookie policy for more information.

Practice Areas

More Information

thepartners@wrigleys.co.uk

Leeds: 0113 244 6100

Sheffield: 0114 267 5588

FOLLOW WRIGLEYS:

Send us an enquiry
Close

The Co-operative corporate governance code

30 September 2022

Good governance is crucial to the effective operation of societies – particularly those looking to grow.

Good governance is crucial to the effective operation of societies – particularly those looking to grow – regardless of size, legal form or business sector. Over the past few months we have been asked by a number of Co-ops about how they bring the key features of their society’s governance into one document in a way which is clear, user friendly and easy to understand – both internally, for the society’s officers and employees, but also externally, for the society’s stakeholders. The answer - The Co-operative corporate governance code.

Developed by Co-operatives UK, the Co-operative corporate governance code is a great tool to help implement good governance. It's applicable to all co-ops, regardless of size or sector. The code offers a set of principles that all Co-ops can reflect upon and use to encourage and enable good governance practice – operating on a so called “comply or explain” basis. Alongside the code, Co-operatives UK have a range of appendices, covering roles and responsibilities for various key roles within a Co-op including a co-op secretary, co-op directors and co-op chairs; terms of reference for a range of committees; codes of conduct for directors; model induction checklists; and whistle-blowing.

The code covers six distinct areas:

  • Member voice, participation and engagement
  • Co-operative leadership and purpose
  • Roles and responsibilities
  • Board composition, succession and evaluation
  • Risk, financial management and internal controls
  • Remuneration of the board and executive leadership

Each area sets out a series of principles against which commentary is included as to the steps (provisions) that a Co-op should take to achieve those principles. For example, under roles and responsibilities, the code includes the following principle…

Directors must promote the success of the co-operative and act in the best interests of the co-operative as a whole, for the benefit of its members and should discharge their duties in ways that are consistent with the ICA Values and Principles. Directors should act objectively and fairly and serve the interests of the members, including the protection of the assets of the co-operative and its members.

…and to achieve this, the code states that…

A conflict of interest policy should be in place and should be provided to all directors, executive leadership and senior employees. All conflicts of interest should be dealt with appropriately and recorded in a register that is available for inspection by members.

You can download a copy of the Co-operative corporate governance code here: https://www.uk.coop/resources/co-operative-corporate-governance-code.

If you would like to discuss any aspect of this article further, please contact Peter Parker or any member of our Charities and Social Economy team on 0113 244 6100.

You can also keep up to date by following Wrigleys Charities and Social Economy team on X

The information in this article is necessarily of a general nature.  The law stated is correct at the date (stated above) this article was first posted to our website. Specific advice should be sought for specific situations. If you have any queries or need any legal advice please feel free to contact Wrigleys Solicitors.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Peter Parker View Biography

Peter Parker

Partner
Leeds

02 Dec 2024

How can community-led organisations get involved in the ownership of land for nature recovery?

We recently hosted an online event to look at this question. Here’s a summary of the event and some of the key takeaways….

28 Nov 2024

Work experience and employing children - what employers and schools need to know

A look at the overlapping laws, regulations and obligations around employing young people and children.

27 Nov 2024

What are the requirements for a smaller-scale redundancy consultation?

Court of Appeal clarifies smaller-scale redundancy consultation requirements.