The Co-operative Party

A part of the team

Every year the Co-operative Party Council elects ‘officers’ to carry out the organisational and campaigning priorities of the party. There are three or more often four key posts that must be filled - chair, secretary, treasurer (or a secretary/treasurer) and a vice-chair.

These office holders form a core team that helps the party work effectively, and are the basis of the Party Council Executive should it have one. These officers should work together to create an annual development plan for the Party Council that  ensures the party is a dynamic and campaigning force in the Labour and co-operative movements and wider community. The officers also play a key role in liaising with the local branches and their officers.

There may also a number of functional officer posts that can assist the party’s development - membership officer, assistant secretary, internet champion, convenor of Co-operative councillors (or local government champion) and youth champion, for instance.

Specific duties

• The treasurer is responsible for overseeing the finances of the Party Council. More information on these responsibilities is available in the Party Support Handbook.
• Ensuring the Party Council complies with the provisions of the PPERA (Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act)
• Ensuring the Party Council development plan is underpinned by an appropriate budget, prepared in consultation with other constituency officers
• Assessing planned expenditure, for example, on supporting Labour candidates, affiliations, expenses, honorariums, conferences, branch grants, etc.
• Planning revenue from membership subscriptions and donations from branches
• Ensuring that branches are clear about running their finances (all branches should have a treasurer)
• Providing regular financial reports for Party Council meetings
• Preparing audited accounts for the annual general meeting, copied to the national Party
• Assisting with fundraising.