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Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 in Northern Ireland

2014 c. 14 · Enacted 14 May 2014 · Extends to United Kingdom

Not fully up to date. 4 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 29 August 2023.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
s. 62substitutedBankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Scotland) Act 2007 s. 49(1)
s. 63repealedBankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Scotland) Act 2007 s. 49(2)
s. 64(1)(a)substitutedBankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Scotland) Act 2007 s. 49(3)(a)
s. 64modifiedBankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Scotland) Act 2007 s. 49(3)(b)

An Act to consolidate certain enactments relating to co-operative societies, community benefit societies and other societies registered or treated as registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965, with amendments to give effect to recommendations of the Law Commission and the Scottish Law Commission.

[14th May 2014]

C1C2C3C4Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—C5C6

Annotations to the whole text

Modifications

C1

Act restricted by 1979 c. 34, s. 2(3) (as amended (1.8.2014) by Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 (c. 14), s. 154, Sch. 4 para. 3(3) (with Sch. 5))

C2

Act modified by 1979 c. 34, s. 31(3) (as amended (1.8.2014) by Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 (c. 14), s. 154, Sch. 4 para. 16(4)(a) (with Sch. 5))

C3

Act applied by Housing Act 1996 (c. 52), Sch. 1 para. 9(5) (as amended (1.8.2014) by Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 (c. 14), s. 154, Sch. 4 para. 65(4)(b)(i) (with Sch. 5))

C4

Act excluded by Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (c. 17), s. 167(5)(ca) (as inserted (1.8.2014) by Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 (c. 14), s. 154, Sch. 4 para. 131(3)(b) (with Sch. 5))

C5

Act applied (with modifications) by The Insurance Accounts Directive (Miscellaneous Insurance Undertakings) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/566), Sch. 1 (as inserted (with effect in accordance with reg. 2(4) of the amending S.I.) by The Statutory Auditors Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/1164), reg. 1(2)(3), Sch. 2 para. 15 (with reg. 2(6)(7)))

C6

Act excluded by 2010 asp 17, s. 106(7)(a) (as substituted (8.3.2019) by Housing (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2018 (asp 13), ss. 6(14)(b), 11(2); S.S.I. 2018/253, reg. 2(2))

Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. 1Meaning of “registered society”
  3. Registration
  4. 2Societies that may be registered
  5. 3Registration
  6. 4Registration etc: special cases
  7. Cancellation of registration
  8. 5Cancellation of registration: conditions for cancellation
  9. 6Cancellation of registration: procedure and effect
  10. 7Cancellation of registration: additional procedure in cases involving condition D
  11. Suspension of registration
  12. 8Suspension of registration
  13. Appeals
  14. 9Appeal against refusal to register or cancellation or suspension of registration
  15. Name and charitable status
  16. 10A society's name
  17. 11Registered name to be displayed and used
  18. 12Charitable status to appear on documents etc
  19. 13Change of name
  20. Rules: general
  21. 14Content of a society's rules
  22. 15Rules to bind members
  23. 16Amendment of rules
  24. 17Appeal against refusal to register amendment of rules
  25. 18Duty to provide copy of rules on demand
  26. Rules: supplementary provisions
  27. 19Provision of rules with intent to mislead or defraud
  28. 20Creation of offences by a society's rules
  29. 21Rules as to fund for purchase of government securities
  30. 22Rules of agricultural, horticultural or forestry society may provide for loans without security
  31. 23Supplementary provisions as to rules
  32. Maximum shareholding
  33. 24Maximum interest in a society's withdrawable shares
  34. 25Power to amend limit in section 24
  35. Power to hold land
  36. 26Power to hold land etc
  37. Power to invest etc
  38. 27Power to invest
  39. 28Proxy voting by societies
  40. Power to restrict use of assets
  41. 29Power to restrict use of assets of a community benefit society
  42. Register of members and officers
  43. 30Register of members and officers
  44. Provisions about certain kinds of member etc
  45. 31Members under 18
  46. 32Bodies corporate may be members
  47. 33Society a member of another society: references to members making and signing documents etc
  48. Dealings with members
  49. 34Advances to members
  50. 35Remedies for members' debts
  51. 36Payments in respect of persons lacking capacity
  52. Distribution of member's property in society on death
  53. 37Nomination by member of entitlement to property in society on member's death
  54. 38Section 37: variation and revocation of nominations
  55. 39Section 37: procedure on death
  56. 40Death of member: distribution of property not exceeding £5,000
  57. Officers and employees in charge of money etc
  58. 41Security to be given by certain officers
  59. 42Duty of certain officers and employees to account
  60. Capacity of society and power of committee to bind it
  61. 43Capacity of a society and relationship with its rules
  62. 44Special resolutions under section 43
  63. 45Power of committee to bind society
  64. 46No duty to enquire as to capacity of society or authority of committee
  65. 47Application of sections 43 and 45 to charitable societies
  66. 48Transactions with committee members etc in excess of powers
  67. 49Section 48: definitions
  68. Seals
  69. 50Common seal
  70. 51Power of society to have official seal for use abroad
  71. 52Authorisation of use of official seal
  72. Execution of documents
  73. 53Methods for execution of documents: England and Wales
  74. 54Method for execution of contracts under seal: England and Wales
  75. 55Execution of documents: Scotland
  76. 56Execution of documents: presumption of validity of officer's signature
  77. Other matters
  78. 57Contracts, deeds and obligations made before registration of society
  79. 58Bills of exchange and promissory notes
  80. 59Charges on assets of English and Welsh societies
  81. 60Section 59: power to extend time for making application or to rectify errors
  82. 61Notification of transactions relating to charges recorded under section 59
  83. 62Floating charges created by Scottish societies
  84. 63Filing of information relating to charges created by virtue of section 62
  85. Chapter 3: Receiver or manager of society's property
  86. 65English and Welsh societies: restriction on appointment of administrative receiver
  87. 66Duty to account etc of receiver or manager of a society's property
  88. Banking
  89. 67Registered society with withdrawable share capital not to carry on banking etc
  90. 68Power to amend figures in section 67(2)
  91. 69Society carrying on banking must display statement
  92. 70Section 69: form of statement
  93. Discharge of charges securing lending by a registered society
  94. 71Discharge of mortgages of property in England and Wales
  95. 72Discharge of securities: land in Scotland
  96. 73Discharge of securities: other property in Scotland
  97. 74Receipt on payment of moneys secured to a society
  98. Books of account
  99. 75Duty to keep books of account etc
  100. 76Form of books of account
  101. Year of account
  102. 77Year of account: societies registered on or after 8 January 2012
  103. 78Year of account: societies registered on or before 7 January 2012
  104. Accounts and balance sheets
  105. 79Duty to prepare revenue accounts
  106. 80Accounts and balance sheets to give a true and fair view
  107. 81Duty to display latest balance sheet at registered office
  108. 82Restrictions on publication of accounts and balance sheets
  109. Auditing of accounts etc
  110. 83Duty to appoint auditors
  111. 85Duty to obtain report in certain cases where section 83 is disapplied
  112. 86Power to require accounts etc for past years to be audited by qualified auditor
  113. 87Auditors: content of report and powers
  114. 88Persons appointed under section 82 or 85: powers etc
  115. Annual returns
  116. 89Annual returns
  117. 90Duty to provide copy of annual return on demand
  118. Auditors
  119. 91Meaning of “qualified auditor”
  120. 92Persons ineligible for appointment as auditors etc
  121. 93Re-appointment and removal of qualified auditors
  122. 94Resolutions relating to appointment or removal of auditors
  123. 95Resolutions relating to auditors: auditors' representations
  124. 96Section 95: provision of auditor's representations by making available on website
  125. 97Remuneration of qualified auditors
  126. Group accounts
  127. 98Group accounts
  128. 99Section 98: exceptions
  129. Interpretation of Part 7
  130. 100Meaning of company being a “subsidiary” of a society
  131. 101Meaning of society being a “subsidiary” of another society
  132. 102Interpretation of Part 7
  133. Power to inspect books etc
  134. 103Power of members etc to inspect own account and society's register
  135. 104Power of society to make rules authorising inspection of books
  136. 105Power of FCA to appoint accountant or actuary to inspect a society's books
  137. Inspectors and special meetings
  138. 107Section 106: examinations and special meetings
  139. General restriction on inspection
  140. 108General restriction on inspection of books
  141. Amalgamations and transfers of engagements between societies etc
  142. 109Amalgamation of societies
  143. 110Transfer of engagements between societies
  144. 111Special resolutions under section 109 or 110
  145. Conversion of society into company etc
  146. 112Conversion of society into a company, amalgamation with a company etc
  147. 113Special resolutions under section 112
  148. 114Conversion of society into a company: supplementary
  149. Conversion of company into society
  150. 115Conversion of company into a registered society
  151. 116Conversion of company into a society: member's shareholding in company exceeds maximum permitted amount
  152. 117Conversion of company into a society: no effect on liabilities
  153. Voluntary arrangements and administration
  154. Dissolution by an instrument of dissolution
  155. 120Special resolutions under section 119
  156. Dissolution on winding up
  157. 123Dissolution of society on winding up
  158. 124Liability of existing and former members in winding up
  159. Dissolution following administration
  160. 125Dissolution following administration
  161. Restriction on dissolution etc
  162. 126Dissolution etc to occur only after society's property dealt with
  163. Offences
  164. 127General offences
  165. 128Offences by societies to be also offences by officers etc
  166. 129Continuing offences
  167. 130Misappropriation of a society's property etc
  168. 131Falsification of a society's records etc
  169. Prosecution of offences
  170. 132Prosecution of offences: persons who may bring proceedings and time for bringing them
  171. 133Prosecution of societies: service of summons etc
  172. Part 11: Miscellaneous and general
  173. Application of company law etc
  174. 136Section 135: power to make consequential amendments
  175. 137Determination of disputes in accordance with a society's rules
  176. 138Determination of disputes under section 137: application to the court
  177. 139Determination of disputes otherwise than under a society's rules
  178. 140Determination of disputes: supplementary
  179. 141Recovery of costs and expenses
  180. 143Form of documents etc
  181. 144Form etc of electronic documents sent to FCA or PRA
  182. 145Fees for inspection and copying of documents
  183. 146Certain documents to be received in evidence
  184. Regulations and orders
  185. 147Regulations and orders
  186. 148Meaning of “electronic form”, “by electronic means” etc
  187. Part 12: Final provisions
  188. 153Extent
  189. 154Commencement
  190. 155Short title
  191. Part 1: Forms applicable in England, Wales and Channel Islands
  192. Form AChapter Form A
  193. Form BChapter Form B
  194. Part 2: Form applicable in Scotland
  195. Form CChapter Form C
  196. Part 1: Forms applicable in England and Wales
  197. Form AChapter Form A
  198. Form BChapter Form B
  199. Part 2: Forms applicable in Scotland
  200. Form CChapter Form C
  201. Form DChapter Form D
  202. Form EChapter Form E
  203. Form FChapter Form F
  204. Introduction
  205. 1Paragraph 1
  206. Section 5 (cancellation of registration): societies registered before 26 July 1938
  207. 2Paragraph 2
  208. Powers of a society registered on or before 1 January 1894
  209. 3Paragraph 3
  210. Section 15: amendments registered on or before 27 March 1928 increasing a member's financial contribution
  211. 4Paragraph 4
  212. Preservation of certain rules facilitating investment in government securities (section 21)
  213. 5Paragraph 5
  214. Maximum shareholding (section 24): effect of certain resolutions on society's rules
  215. 6Paragraph 6
  216. Maximum deposits: effect of resolution on rules of societies registered before 27 April 1952
  217. 7Paragraph 7
  218. Maximum deposits: effect on certain resolutions on society's rules
  219. 8Paragraph 8
  220. The 1968 Act: consequential amendments to rules
  221. 9Paragraph 9
  222. Section 37 (nomination by member of entitlement to property in society on member's death): nominations made before 5 August 1954
  223. 10Paragraph 10
  224. Section 50 (common seals)
  225. 11Paragraph 11
  226. Section 59 (charges on assets of English and Welsh societies): instruments executed before 14 September 1967
  227. 12Paragraph 12
  228. Section 104 (inspection of books: power to authorise inspection)
  229. 13Paragraph 13
  230. Section 108 (inspection of books: general restriction)
  231. 14Paragraph 14
  232. Part 9: winding up of societies registered before 26 July 1938
  233. 15Paragraph 15
  234. Part 1: Amendments of the Credit Unions Act 1979
  235. 1Paragraph 1
  236. 2Paragraph 2
  237. 3Paragraph 3
  238. 4Paragraph 4
  239. 5Paragraph 5
  240. 6Paragraph 6
  241. 7Paragraph 7
  242. 8Paragraph 8
  243. 9Paragraph 9
  244. 10Paragraph 10
  245. 11Paragraph 11
  246. 12Paragraph 12
  247. 13Paragraph 13
  248. 14Paragraph 14
  249. 15Paragraph 15
  250. 16Paragraph 16
  251. 17Paragraph 17
  252. 18Paragraph 18
  253. Part 2: Amendments of other Acts
  254. Forged Transfers Act 1891 (c. 43)
  255. 19Paragraph 19
  256. Libraries Offences Act 1898 (c. 53)
  257. 20Paragraph 20
  258. Stock Transfer Act 1963 (c. 18)
  259. 21Paragraph 21
  260. Transport Act 1968 (c. 73)
  261. 22Paragraph 22
  262. National Savings Bank Act 1971 (c. 29)
  263. 23Paragraph 23
  264. Local Government Act 1972 (c. 7)
  265. 24Paragraph 24
  266. Friendly Societies Act 1974 (c. 46)
  267. 25Paragraph 25
  268. 26Paragraph 26
  269. 27Paragraph 27
  270. 28Paragraph 28
  271. 29Paragraph 29
  272. 30Paragraph 30
  273. Industrial Common Ownership Act 1976 (c. 78)
  274. 31Paragraph 31
  275. Housing Act 1985 (c. 68)
  276. 32Paragraph 32
  277. 33Paragraph 33
  278. 34Paragraph 34
  279. 35Paragraph 35
  280. Housing Associations Act 1985 (c. 69)
  281. 36Paragraph 36
  282. Finance Act 1986 (c. 41)
  283. 37Paragraph 37
  284. Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 (c. 46)
  285. 38Paragraph 38
  286. Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 (c. 26)
  287. 39Paragraph 39
  288. Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 (c. 1)
  289. 40Paragraph 40
  290. Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (c. 42)
  291. 41Paragraph 41
  292. 42Paragraph 42
  293. 43Paragraph 43
  294. Opticians Act 1989 (c. 44)
  295. 44Paragraph 44
  296. Enterprise and New Towns (Scotland) Act 1990 (c. 35)
  297. 45Paragraph 45
  298. Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 (c. 12)
  299. 46Paragraph 46
  300. 47Paragraph 47
  301. 48Paragraph 48
  302. 49Paragraph 49
  303. 50Paragraph 50
  304. 51Paragraph 51
  305. 52Paragraph 52
  306. 53Paragraph 53
  307. Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (c. 52)
  308. 54Paragraph 54
  309. Housing Act 1996 (c. 52)
  310. 55Paragraph 55
  311. 56Paragraph 56
  312. 57Paragraph 57
  313. 58Paragraph 58
  314. 59Paragraph 59
  315. 60Paragraph 60
  316. 61Paragraph 61
  317. 62Paragraph 62
  318. 63Paragraph 63
  319. 64Paragraph 64
  320. 65Paragraph 65
  321. Scotland Act 1998 (c. 46)
  322. 66Paragraph 66
  323. Greater London Authority Act 1999 (c. 29)
  324. 67Paragraph 67
  325. Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (c. 8)
  326. 68Paragraph 68
  327. 69Paragraph 69
  328. 70Paragraph 70
  329. 71Paragraph 71
  330. 72Paragraph 72
  331. Terrorism Act 2000 (c. 11)
  332. 73Paragraph 73
  333. Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (c. 41)
  334. 74Paragraph 74
  335. 75Paragraph 75
  336. 76Paragraph 76
  337. 77Paragraph 77
  338. 78Paragraph 78
  339. Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 (asp 10)
  340. 79Paragraph 79
  341. Land Registration Act 2002 (c. 9)
  342. 80Paragraph 80
  343. Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (c. 29)
  344. 81Paragraph 81
  345. Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 (c. 1)
  346. 82Paragraph 82
  347. Licensing Act 2003 (c. 17)
  348. 83Paragraph 83
  349. 84Paragraph 84
  350. 85Paragraph 85
  351. Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 (c. 21)
  352. 86Paragraph 86
  353. Companies (Audit, Investigations and Community Enterprise) Act 2004 (c. 27)
  354. 87Paragraph 87
  355. 88Paragraph 88
  356. 89Paragraph 89
  357. 90Paragraph 90
  358. Housing Act 2004 (c. 34)
  359. 91Paragraph 91
  360. Income Tax (Trading and Other Income) Act 2005 (c. 5)
  361. 92Paragraph 92
  362. 93Paragraph 93
  363. 94Paragraph 94
  364. 95Paragraph 95
  365. Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 (asp 10)
  366. 96Paragraph 96
  367. 97Paragraph 97
  368. 98Paragraph 98
  369. Companies Act 2006 (c. 46)
  370. 99Paragraph 99
  371. 100Paragraph 100
  372. 101Paragraph 101
  373. 102Paragraph 102
  374. 103Paragraph 103
  375. Income Tax Act 2007 (c. 3)
  376. 104Paragraph 104
  377. 105Paragraph 105
  378. 106Paragraph 106 Repealed
  379. 107Paragraph 107 Repealed
  380. 108Paragraph 108
  381. 109Paragraph 109
  382. 110Paragraph 110
  383. 111Paragraph 111
  384. 112Paragraph 112
  385. Building Societies (Funding) and Mutual Societies (Transfers) Act 2007 (c. 26)
  386. 113Paragraph 113
  387. 114Paragraph 114
  388. 115Paragraph 115
  389. Serious Crime Act 2007 (c. 27)
  390. 116Paragraph 116
  391. Bankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 3)
  392. 117Paragraph 117
  393. 118Paragraph 118
  394. 119Paragraph 119
  395. 120Paragraph 120
  396. Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (c. 17)
  397. 121Paragraph 121
  398. 122Paragraph 122
  399. 123Paragraph 123
  400. 124Paragraph 124
  401. 125Paragraph 125
  402. 126Paragraph 126
  403. 127Paragraph 127
  404. 128Paragraph 128
  405. 129Paragraph 129
  406. 130Paragraph 130
  407. 131Paragraph 131
  408. 132Paragraph 132
  409. 133Paragraph 133
  410. 134Paragraph 134
  411. 135Paragraph 135
  412. 136Paragraph 136
  413. 137Paragraph 137
  414. Local Transport Act 2008 (c. 26)
  415. 138Paragraph 138
  416. Counter Terrorism Act 2008 (c. 28)
  417. 139Paragraph 139
  418. Corporation Tax Act 2009 (c. 4)
  419. 140Paragraph 140
  420. 141Paragraph 141
  421. 142Paragraph 142
  422. 143Paragraph 143
  423. 144Paragraph 144
  424. 145Paragraph 145
  425. 146Paragraph 146
  426. Finance Act 2009 (c. 10)
  427. 147Paragraph 147
  428. Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (c. 20)
  429. 148Paragraph 148
  430. 149Paragraph 149
  431. 150Paragraph 150
  432. 151Paragraph 151
  433. 152Paragraph 152
  434. 153Paragraph 153
  435. 154Paragraph 154
  436. Corporation Tax Act 2010 (c. 4)
  437. 155Paragraph 155
  438. 156Paragraph 156
  439. 157Paragraph 157
  440. 158Paragraph 158
  441. 159Paragraph 159
  442. 160Paragraph 160
  443. 161Paragraph 161
  444. 162Paragraph 162
  445. 163Paragraph 163
  446. 164Paragraph 164
  447. 165Paragraph 165
  448. 166Paragraph 166
  449. 167Paragraph 167
  450. 168Paragraph 168
  451. 169Paragraph 169
  452. 170Paragraph 170
  453. Taxation (International and Other Provisions) Act 2010 (c. 8)
  454. 171Paragraph 171
  455. Finance Act 2010 (c. 13)
  456. 172Paragraph 172
  457. Finance Act 2011 (c. 11)
  458. 173Paragraph 173
  459. Localism Act 2011 (c. 20)
  460. 174Paragraph 174
  461. 175Paragraph 175
  462. 176Paragraph 176
  463. 177Paragraph 177
  464. 178Paragraph 178
  465. 179Paragraph 179
  466. Public Bodies Act 2011 (c. 24)
  467. 180Paragraph 180
  468. Charities Act 2011 (c. 25)
  469. 181Paragraph 181
  470. 182Paragraph 182
  471. 183Paragraph 183
  472. Schedule 5: Transitionals and savings
  473. Continuity of the law
  474. 1Paragraph 1
  475. 2Paragraph 2
  476. 3Paragraph 3
  477. 4Paragraph 4
  478. 5Paragraph 5
  479. 6Paragraph 6
  480. Effect of old transitionals and savings
  481. 7Paragraph 7
  482. 8Paragraph 8
  483. Use of existing forms etc
  484. 9Paragraph 9
  485. Meaning of “enactment”
  486. 10Paragraph 10
  487. Establishment of a single county court
  488. 1Paragraph 1
  489. Amendments relating to the punishment of offences in England and Wales
  490. 2Paragraph 2
  491. Land Registration etc. (Scotland) Act 2012 (asp 5)
  492. 3Paragraph 3