If so, do remember our resident tax expert, Sandra Aldworth.

Kate Whittle has reluctantly decided it is time to move on. She will be leaving SCS at the end of September. Kate has found it increasingly challenging to find the time to travel to work with SCS clients – widely located across the length and breadth of Somerset, from her home in Bristol.

As an addition to the revised Somerset Rules, recently launched by Somerset Co-operative Services, we are proud to announce the publication of the CIC Somerset Rules 2012. Like other Community Interest Companies, the Multistakeholder Co-operative (CIC) Rules offer all the advantages of a regular CIC, including an asset lock, as well as democratic voting - one member one vote, different classes of user and non-user members, social accounting and provision for a commonwealth council. Please download the Rules below or contact alex@somerset.coop for further information.

The Somerset Rules 2012 - newly revised and updated - are a unique set of I&PS
Model Rules for a multi-stakeholder co-operative, combining the accountability and
democracy of co-ops with the social reporting and investment opportunities
associated with social enterprise.
If you are registering a social enterprise, consider using these new rules. They have a number of
advantages that you may benefit from:
• different stakeholder groups can have a balanced voice in the business

Somerset Co-operative Services is delighted to be able to tell the world that the new, revised and improved Somerset Rules 2012 have been approved by the FSA and Co-operatives UK, and are now available for registration.

Below you can download the new Rules for inspection, along with a document highlighting the main changes.

The biggest change is that amendments should no longer be necessary - a range of options now permits a choice of arrangements to suit every circumstance.

Please contact us for details of registration process and costs.

When issuing IPS withdrawable shares, there is normally an exemption from regulation available. However, to be
confident of staying within the law, we always recommend:

than this the International Year of Co-operatives! More and more people are discovering the potential of the co-operative business model - and through the Co-operative Enterprise Hub, Somerset Co-operative Services can help you achieve your dreams and help you build a better world.

One of our long standing aims is to involve our clients in the management of the co-operative development services we offer, so that we can be sure that not only the services themselves but also the way they are delivered meets the needs of our clients. So Somerset Co-operative Services CIC was delighted in late autumn of 2011 to welcome 2 client members to the SCS Board. Alastair Mumford from Co-cars and MJ Ray from software.coop attended their first Board meeting in November 2011 and also joined us for a Xmas staff lunch in Taunton.

To celebrate the launch of the United Nations International Year of Co-operatives, Somerset Co-operative Services invites you to

The Corner House Hotel, Taunton

13th February 2012
8am – 9am

FREE BUSINESS BREAKFAST