Corporate Governance
Written by Gary on February 1, 2007 – 12:08 pm -Yesterday the Co-operative’s Management Committee and Office Staff attended a Corporate Governance training session conducted by Kate Reynolds.
The training session was well received by all that participated. The training session commenced at 10.00am and finished at 2.00pm.
The training session covered:
- Legal Structures
- The SA Community & Co-operative Housing Act 1991
- Association Incorporation Act
- Business Names
- The Constitution
- Role of the Committee
- Administration
- Planning
- Policies
- Organisational Structure
- Delegated Authorities
- Induction
- Office Bearers and their Roles
- Meeting Procedures
- Decision Making
- Agendas, Motions, Points of Order, Minutes & Reports
- Standing Orders
Tags: Governance
Posted in News | 4 Comments »
By David Griffiths on Feb 1, 2007 | Reply
Just a question: To what extent did the training session deal with how corporate governance differs and is the same for co-operatives and that, indeed. co-operative governance is distinct from corporate governance?
By Gary on Feb 1, 2007 | Reply
I found from the training session that for our co-operative there is no distinction. Our management committee has a role as “governors” whilst the staff have a role as “administrators”. I will elaborate in the post a little more as to the content of the session.
By David Griffiths on Feb 1, 2007 | Reply
I understand that difference but what about the relationship of a board to member owners as opposed to board in a company and its relationship to investor owners in a company? The Co-operative College in the UK has been running governance courses for years on the basis that co-operative governance is different from corporate governance and that the failure to realise this leads to a decline of the co-operative identity. For large co-ops it eventually leads to their demutualisation.
By Gary on Feb 1, 2007 | Reply
Our housing co-op’s management committee is made up exclusively of tenant members. The session emphasised the need for them to remove their “tenant” hat and put on their “governor” hat when attending management meetings.
The management committee has a responsibility to act for the members who are the stakeholders. These members do not have any financial investment in the co-operative, whereas shareholders in a company do have a vested financial interest.
I see you point of difference.