Chairman salutes Burlton’s role

CO-OPERATIVES UK chairman Ben Reid has saluted the crucial contribution of his predecessor, Bob Burlton, in driving forward the changes recommended by the 2001 Co-operative Commission. Mr Burlton...

CO-OPERATIVES UK chairman Ben Reid has saluted the crucial contribution of his predecessor, Bob Burlton, in driving forward the changes recommended by the 2001 Co-operative Commission.

Mr Burlton resigned his Co-ops UK post in December after being named Chair Designate of the Co-operative Group and Mr Reid says that the Oxford, Swindon & Gloucester Society Chief Executive&#039s commitment and drive has had a positive effect on the entire Movement.

Writing in Co-operatives&#039 UK annual report to be circulated at Congress 2004 at Old Trafford football stadium, Mr Reid, Chief Executive of West Midlands Society, says that the period of Mr Burlton&#039s tenure as chair of Co-operatives UK from 1998 to 2003 were arguably the most dynamic in the last 50 years.

Says Mr Reid: "Bob&#039s period as chair saw the total restructuring of the organisation; its opening up to a new and diverse membership; the consequent complex process of designing a new constitution; the merger of two of the oldest federals in the Movement (the Co-op Union and the worker co-op federation ICOM) and the birth of a new organisation from that merger with a new identity and strategy.

"In line with the clear message he gave in his speech as Congress President in 1998, Bob engaged Co-operatives UK anew in the development of performance analysis and was appointed a member of the Co-operative Commission in 2000 – the recommendations of which continue to drive key changes in the Movement.

"It is an honour to follow him as chair of Co-operatives UK."

The annual report reveals that by the end of last year, 390 co-operative enterprises, development bodies, federations and associate members were on Co-ops UK&#039s membership database – an increase of 30 from the start of 2003.

However although total membership grew by over eight per cent, 36 co-operative enterprises did not renew their membership and regaining the support of lapsed members – as well as retaining existing members – is seen as a priority for this year.

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