CCIN Members’ Update – February 2022

• 3rd Feb 2022

Welcome to the February edition of Update

Dear Member

Plans for our Annual Conference are well underway.  The conference will be held online over two half days on Tuesday, 15th and Wednesday 16th February, with technical support provided by the Co-operative College.  There are 35 speakers confirmed from across local government and the CCIN family, and we’re looking forward to hearing from two members of the Shadow Cabinet – Steve Reed OBE MP and Alex Norris MP.  The AGM takes place at 2 pm on Wednesday, 16th, and papers for that will be sent to all members this week.

During the two half days, we will be launching three of our Policy Lab reports on ‘Understanding the Digital Divide’ led by Cheshire West & Chester, ‘Co-operative Responses to Reaching Net Zero’ led by Kirklees Council, and the ‘Co-operative Difference in Care’.   These latest reports demonstrate the innovation and co-operation taking place across the Network where members work together to find co-operative policy solutions to the challenges facing local government. 

In this edition, we feature Tony Greenham’s blog on the Rebirth of Mutual Banking ahead of our Conference session on New Economic Thinking. On the 15th February, we will hear from the CEO of the European Association of Co-operative Banks in Brussels, Ms Nina Schindler and two speakers on the exciting developments happening in Wales – Ms Dawn Gunter COO from the Monmouthshire Building Society and Mark Hooper from Bank Cambria.  Experts from across the UK will update delegates on progress with these important projects which could revolutionise our banking system.

Finally, we’d like to welcome two new Affiliate Members: The Wales Cooperative Centre and POhWER. WCC is the co-operative development body for Wales and POhWER is a national advocacy charity based in Stevenage.  Congratulations to Cllr Rae Evans, from Telford & Wrekin Council who has joined our V&P Board.

I look forward to seeing you online at the Annual Conference on 15th and 16th  February.
 
I hope that you enjoy this Member Update.
  
Stay safe.

Sharon