Proposed changes to the board structure and electoral areas of Lakeland Dairies are to be brought before a special general meeting (SGM) of the cooperative in September.

This follows the board’s unanimous approval of recommendations made by a corporate governance sub-committee established to review the rules of the society after the merger between Lakeland Dairies and LacPatrick Dairies was completed in 2019.

Lakeland Dairies has written to all shareholding members with notice of the SGM which will be held on Wednesday, September 2.

As provided for in the co-op’s rules, the board established a governance sub-committee – chaired independently by Teddy Cashman with six members of the current board – to carry out a review of shareholder representation and governance arrangements in the new society.

Following an extensive consultation process throughout the co-operative and deliberation over several months, the sub-committee reported to the board with recommendations on new governance structures which the board approved on Thursday, February 13, and is unanimously recommending to members at the SGM in September.

Various provisions around the length of term a director can serve should he/she win one of these first elections are set out in detail in a circular being sent to members.

Following from this set of first elections it is proposed to change the maximum number of years that a member may serve as a director of the society from 12 years (three four-year terms) to 10 years (two five-year terms).

Commenting, Alo Duffy, chairman of Lakeland Dairies, said:

“The board is unanimously recommending these resolutions,” Duffy added.