| AdminHistory | The Tower Hamlets Cooperative Development Agency's (CDA) operation was formally established in February 2000, to provide business advice for groups whose ideas had the potential to transform into viable and sustainable businesses (1). One objective was to promote shared ownership and control among members. Its flexible business model was designed to accommodate a range of commercial situations.
The Tower Hamlets CDA was converted from a Friendly Society to a company limited by guarantee (2). Like all CDAs, its conduct was governed by the Companies Act of 1985. One of its stated aims was 'to promote and support the development of cooperative businesses and mutual enterprises, particularly in Tower Hamlets and East London' (3). Applications for membership were at the discretion of the Board, which was not obliged to give reasons for refusal (4).
Directors' reports regularly reviewed the progress of, and its support for, locally-based businesses. One example was Fruit4Work, which delivered healthy fresh fruit to people's workplaces (5). This accorded with a commitment to the wider benefits of food cooperatives (6).
Nationally, the structure of CDAs was established via a Labour government in 1978. Initially, the Government would financially support the agencies for three years, after which they would be self-financing. By 1989, a Conservative government was less in tune with this objective, despite a steady increase in the number of CDAs. It tabled the (draft) Cooperative Development Agency (Winding Up and Dissolution) Order 1989, which Parliament narrowly passed (7).
Note the relatively recent advocacy of a National Cooperative Development Agency, as a way for newly formed and existing cooperatives to access expert advice. The Government's task was to endow CDAs with 'powerful autonomous developmental capabilities' (8). The venture, it was argued, would flourish via a partnership between the cooperative sector and government (9).
The last accounts of the Tower Hamlets CDA were made up to 31st March 2018. The organisation finally dissolved on 25th February 2020 (10).
Sources of information:
1. 'Tower Hamlets CDA' in Directory of Cooperatives (uk.coop)
2. 1st December 1999: Correspondence from Lovell White Durrant (sols) to the Tower Hamlets CDA
3. Memorandum of Association of the Tower Hamlets CDA (1999), p. 21
4. Article 5, Articles of Association of the Tower Hamlets CDA, p. 28
56. Directors' Report and (Amended) Accounts: Year Ending 31 December 2011, p. 4
(References 2-6 : relating to The Companies Act (1985) and via Companies House in anyinformation.service.gov.uk
7. Cooperative Development Agency: HoC Debate 10th January 1990
8/9. 'A National Cooperative Development Agency : Our Position' (September 2020) in uk.coop
10. Tower Hamlets CDA : Final Gazette 25th February 2020 via Companies House in any-information.service.gov.uk |