Proposed rule changes at Channel Islands Co-op fell short of the required majority at a special members’ meeting yesterday.
The proposals were as follows:
Motion 1: Changes to the appointment criteria for the chair of the board of directors, which would have allowed any member of the board (elected director or professional external director) to be appointed as chair for a term of three years (maximum three terms).
Members voted 62% in favour, 38% not in favour. Motion not carried.
Motion 2: Changes to the maximum terms of service for the board of directors, to align the maximum term for elected directors and professional external directors to nine years (three terms of three years). The current rules are 12 years for elected directors and six years for professional external directors.
Members voted 64% in favour, 36% not in favour. Motion not carried.
Motion 3: Changes to eligibility criteria to serve as a director, to reduce the minimum spend criteria in the society’s previous trading year from £1,300 to £500.
Members voted 44% in favour, 56% not in favour. Motion not carried.
Motion 4: Changes to ways members can vote – to provide for proxy voting at meeting.
Members voted 61% in favour, 39% not in favour. Motion not carried.
Announcing the results on its website, the society said: “It’s apparent that a substantial number of our members backed the proposed rule adjustments, as demonstrated by a significant majority vote in favour of rules 1, 2, and 4, although it falls short of the two-thirds majority required to pass the vote.
“We extend our gratitude to our members for actively participating and exercising their democratic privilege.”
The 90 minute meeting gathered nearly 70 members, and saw no discussion of the controversial proposal to scrap this year’s divi payment. This matter will be discussed at the co-op’s AGM in May.
