The risk is that they will miss new ideas of value. If the decision-making process is not handled carefully, one side or the other will feel frustrated and ignored. The task calls for great patience and maturity on both sides. The reflection and discussion have to happen over and over again if those less heavily involved are not to feel left out. Change has to be a possibility if their participation is to be real.
Some members see little scope for their work on a council they view as having little power.
Others are taking a wait and see' attitude. Some are, however, delighted to be able to focus on member relations and community issues in the new councils and not be bogged down with the operational detail of a grocery business. A key opportunity is reinventing and renewing what had clearly become tired co-operatives where members had ceased to value their own business. The CCC can thrive by redefining the purpose of the co-operative and involving the membership in renewing their own retail business. The best starting point is with the word trust.