64 John Lewis Partnership plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016 How power is shared (continued)


The Partnership Council


The Partnership Council is the most senior level of democracy in the Partnership and is run by Partners on behalf of Partners.


Rule 3 of the Constitution sets out that the Partnership Council, as the representative body of the members of the Partnership, entrusts management of the business to the Partnership Board, which delegates its management authority to the Chairman.


The Partnership Council represents Partners as a whole and reflects their opinion. In sharing responsibility for the Partnership’s health with the Partnership Board and the Chairman, it holds the Chairman to account. It discusses, influences and makes recommendations on the development of policy. It shares in making decisions about governance of the Partnership.


The Partnership Council may ask the Partnership Board or the Chairman anything it wishes, and they must answer unless doing so would, in their opinion, damage the Partnership’s interests (Rule 7).


Through its Specialist Groups, the Partnership Council is able to focus on key areas of the Partnership’s strategy and influence policy. The work of the Council and that of its Specialist Groups is coordinated by the Steering Committee.


Waitrose Council


The Council has three vital decision-making powers:


a To elect the Trustees of the Constitution and five Directors to the Board


a To change the Constitution, with the Chairman’s agreement


a To dismiss the Chairman


Partners are able to influence what happens in their part of the Partnership, or the Partnership as a whole, through their local PartnerVoice and the other democratic bodies within the Partnership. PartnerVoice representatives collect Partner views and represent them through regular meetings with their senior leaders. These representatives ensure that, where possible, Partner views are reflected in local decisions and business plans.


Issues raised at a local level can be pursued as appropriate at a regional or Divisional level, and ultimately at the Partnership Council.


Our democracy


Partnership Council


John Lewis Council


Divisional Forums PartnerVoice Waitrose John Lewis


Partnership Services


Group


Please see The Partnership Council report on page 78 for more information about the democratic structure and work of the Partnership Council during the year under review.


Partnership Services Council


Group Forum


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132  |  Page 133  |  Page 134  |  Page 135  |  Page 136  |  Page 137  |  Page 138  |  Page 139  |  Page 140  |  Page 141  |  Page 142  |  Page 143  |  Page 144  |  Page 145  |  Page 146  |  Page 147  |  Page 148  |  Page 149  |  Page 150  |  Page 151  |  Page 152  |  Page 153  |  Page 154  |  Page 155  |  Page 156  |  Page 157  |  Page 158  |  Page 159  |  Page 160  |  Page 161  |  Page 162  |  Page 163  |  Page 164  |  Page 165  |  Page 166  |  Page 167  |  Page 168