When's a mutual really a mutual?

THE co-operative movement's approach to education was hotly debated at this year's Co-op Party conference.

Co-operators have always had a commitment to education. The education of "members, officers and employees and of the general public in the principles and techniques of co-operation, both economic and democratic" was an original principle of the Rochdale pioneers who gave birth to the movement.

Schools Minister Ed Balls told the Co-op conference that the government will make £500,000 available to pilot up to 100 trusts along the co-operative governance model.

The first co-operative trust school, Reddish Vale Technology College, Stockport, opened in April. The second, Andrew Marvel College in Hull, is set to open soon.

One of the architects of the model, Co-op College chief executive Mervyn Wilson, hopes for a national chain of co-op trust schools and believes that "using co-operative values to raise achievement" will help meet the government's aim of increasing diversity in the education system.

Co-op Group chief executive Peter Marks is also enthusiastic about the potential for co-op structures to allow greater participation in school management "and a sense of ownership and engagement."

But Professor Johnston Birchall made an important contribution to the debate about mutuality in the public services in the August issue of the Co-op Studies Journal.

He argues that ideas about a "new mutualism" in the public services have three potential weaknesses.

First, that genuine mutuality, which implies solidarity and collective provision, is in competition with ideas favouring a more individualistic approach such as the personalisation of services.

Second, that it is seen as an attempt to restore some of the benefits of mutual forms of welfare lost when the welfare state was founded without explaining what those benefits are - after all, the performance of the old friendly societies was patchy to say the least.

Third, the reforms to public services hailed as mutual are not really all that mutual.

If mutuals are defined as membership-based organisations, then who in the public services are the members and how much power do they have?

Foundation hospitals, for example, have three categories of member, each with their own representatives - patients, the public and the employees. Their control over the nature and provision of services is strictly limited. These are substantial criticisms that require serious answers if mutual solutions are to play any part in the public services.

There was considerable disquiet at Co-op Party conference about aspects of the governments' education policies, including faith schools and the drive for trust schools and academies.

Co-op MP Ken Purchase has tabled a Commons motion attacking the expansion of city academies, expressing disappointment that "Ed Balls should have been taken in by this nonsense spouted about the improvements in academies when there is no real evidence to show they can do anything at all, unless they have huge tranches of money that should be available in the education system generally."

Co-operators will come together to discuss and learn more about what the co-op role in education should be at a day conference hosted by the Midlands Co-op Society at the Birmingham and Midland Institute on November 8.

There is plenty of work to be done before we try to mutualise the state sector.

There is little teaching of the values and operation of non-plc structures in our business schools and widespread ignorance of co-ops and mutuals, trusts and partnerships. This is a gap that the movement needs to fill if mutual models are to become more widespread.

This year's Co-op Party conference was a great success. Don't take my word for it - this was the view of Socialist Campaign Group News. Its worth quoting Tel's Tale here.

"The recent Co-op Party annual conference was a refreshing change from the mind-numbing world of new Labour.

"Delegates debated a wide range of resolutions, adopted a swath of progressive policies, including withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan, no war against Iran and an early solution to the illegal armed Israeli occupation of Palestine.

"Conference called for the strengthening of the UN and advocated that Britain starts a drive for global nuclear disarmament under its obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty, together with withdrawal from NATO.

"Delegates agreed that the Co-op Party should celebrate the 50th anniversary and achievements of the Cuban revolution and intensify the campaign against the US blockade. Local party councils were encouraged to affiliate to the Cuba Solidarity Campaign.

"The conference called on the party's parliamentary group to oppose the building of any more nuclear power stations.

"Among other good policies, delegates supported Northern Rock being turned into a mutual, instructed the party's NEC to conduct an inquiry into NHS foundation trusts to see whether they are sufficiently democratic and co-operative and called for the phasing out of faith schools.

"The Co-op Party has getting on for 10,000 members and every reader should join up."

Sound advice.