Public, Private, Co-operative - Rebalancing 91´ô¸ç? What needs to be done?
A short presentation followed by discussion/debate about why co-ops often fly under the radar compared to public and private enterprises.
Sun, 6 Jul 2025 14:00 - 15:45 BST
Chair: Rebecca Harvey
Speaker: Colin Talbot - professor emeritus, Manchester University
Short presentations/reflections:
Cheryl Barrott, Chair, Co-ops UK
Glenn Bowen, Enterprise Programme Director, Cwmpas
Emma Hoddinott, Assistant General Secretary, The Co-operative Party
Cllr. Rachel Garrick, Monmouthshire County Council
Organised by Co-ops Wales
The Labour government came to power in 2024 with the stated aim of “doubling the co-operative economy,†which raises the questions; why? And what exactly does that mean? One possible answer comes in “Rebalancing 91´ô¸ç†which is usually viewed as the balance between Public and Private sectors, and which often excludes a third - usually ‘invisible’ – sector, which includes co-operatives, mutuals, associations, not-for-profits, charities, civic and community organisations, etc.
Drawing upon the work of Prof. Henry Mintzberg, Prof. Colin Talbot will speak about the importance of the ‘Plural sector’, but also about why a balance between the three legs of the social ‘stool’ is critical for the future. And that includes a vital role for co-operative forms of organisation - both in formal Co-ops and in ways of working in Public and private organisations. Finally, what conclusions, if any, might be drawn in terms of future Manifesto commitments, whilst being supportive of future legislative proposals arising from the Law Commission Review of Co-operative & Mutual legislation.
