Annual Report and Accounts 2015
John Lewis Partnership plc
99
Making Decisions
Key Partnership Council decisions taken Pension Benefit Review
Council’s most important decision this year was in January 2015: the unanimous acceptance of the Pension Benefit Review proposal at the end of a two-year long process of consultation, influence and opinion gathering. At the same meeting, Councillors also made an important decision (by 40 votes to 22) not to ring fence temporary pensions. The discussion of this issue was prompted by the receipt of two Gazette letters late on in the consultation process. Councillors had received a detailed briefing on the issue from the Review team. Some were personally affected or had had the chance to speak to those that were at Divisional Council meetings the week before Partnership Council. The vote which followed the 90 minute debate on the issue was an important moment for our democratic process as it confirmed Councillors’ authority to make such a decision as representatives acting in the best interests of the Partnership, without further consultation of their constituents. They also debated and decided (by 51 votes to 11) not to exercise the option of delaying the decision in order to gather more Partner opinion.
Election of President of Partnership Council for 2015 to 2018
Another key decision by the Council in January was the election of Trevor Phillips as its President for the 2015 to 2018 term. The Co-ownership Group is the Specialist Group which manages the business of the Council on its behalf. It had agreed with the Partners’ Counsellor that candidates for the post should be sought from both inside and outside the Partnership and was fully involved, as on previous occasions, with the interviewing process and made the final recommendation.
Directors and Trustee elections
The Council’s final meeting of its three year term in March 2015 was the occasion on which it elected five Directors of the Partnership Board and three Trustees of the Constitution for the new council term of 2015 to 2018.
There were 17 and seven candidates respectively and a 98% turnout in the ballot, with the following results:
a Elected Directors of the Partnership Board: Kim Lowe (re-elected), Steve Gardiner (re-elected), Chris Coburn, Baiju Naik, Lucy Parks.
a Trustees of the Constitution: Cathy Houchin (re-elected), Karen Crisford and Johnny Aisher.
Whilst these posts are all elected simultaneously, earlier in the year the Chairman had agreed the Council’s recommendation to move to rolling elections for the four trustees elected to the Pensions Board and to extend their term of office from three to four years.
Employee Ownership Champion nominations
There was an even fuller field in response to the call for Partners to nominate colleagues for the Philip Baxendale Awards “Employee Ownership Champion” category, designed to recognise the individual or team who have done the most to support and promote an ownership culture within their organisation, particularly those operating at the frontline/ shop floor or junior/middle management levels.
The Co-ownership Group selected four from a strong field of over 40 and, whilst none were victorious this time, those Partners present at the Employee Ownership Association’s annual conference were able to see the Mary Knowles Homecare Partnership be the first recipient of the Partnership-sponsored ‘Rising Star’ award. Mary Knowles Homecare provides expert care and support to people in their homes in Oxfordshire and the surrounding region, helping enable a more comfortable, independent and fulfilling life.
It was also a welcome opportunity to learn from other similar organisations and to share notes on how democratic engagement is central to ensuring that we have a better way of doing business.
Trustees of the Constitution: Cathy Houchin (re-elected) Johnny Aisher Karen Crisford
Ballot results Elected Directors of the Partnership Board: Steve Gardiner (re-elected) Kim Lowe (re-elected) Chris Coburn Baiju Naik Lucy Parks
New Council President
In March 2015, Partnership Councillors unanimously agreed a change to the Constitution that means a non-Partner can now be elected as Council President. The move allows President Elect and broadcaster Trevor Philips to be formally appointed as successor to the current President, David Jones, from the start of the new Council term.
Jane Burgess Partners’ Counsellor
16 April 2015
Introduction
Partnership difference
Principles
Strategy
Performance
Governance
Financial statements
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