Governance
Our structure and rules
West Oxford Community Renewables Limited was registered as an Industrial and Provident Society for the Benefit of the Community on 16 June 2009 by the Financial Services Authority (FSA).
Our status and governance
Under the Co-operatives & Community Benefit Societies Act 2014, it became a Registered Society, and is run for the benefit of the community. It is registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). WOCoRe has a set of rules for governance approved by the FCA, which also scrutinises annual returns and accounts. You can see our rules here.
As a Registered Society, which is run for the benefit of the community, WOCoRe has individual and corporate shareholders who are known as members. It operates on a ‘one member, one vote’ principle, irrespective of the size of a member’s shareholding. Members may receive annual share interest up to a maximum set down by the FCA, as the principle of a community benefit society is that the community‘s benefit takes precedence over that of the shareholders.
Members elect a board of directors at an Annual General Meeting on a three-year rotation to manage the affairs of the society. All the management of WOCoRe’s operations and administration is undertaken on a voluntary basis. WOCoRe employs a bookkeeper, SPX Oxford Ltd. Our accountants are KBDR and our solicitors are Blake Morgan.
Osney Lock Hydro was originally set up as an independent Registered Society. In 2021 a transfer of engagements took place, so WOCoRe and Osney Lock Hydro are now a single entity, operating under the West Oxford Community Renewables name.
Annual accounts
Our year end is 31 March. You can view and download recent accounts here.
2022–23 WOCoRe Ltd (including OLH Ltd) accounts
Members’ share-offer documents
The share-offer documents for the Osney Lock Hydro and WoCoRe can be viewed and downloaded here.
Osney Lock Hydro April 2013 share-offer document.
WOCoRe November 2015 and March 2015 share-offer documents.
Get involved
WOCoRe is run and managed by volunteers. If you’d like to get involved, whether on a regular or ad hoc basis, or if you’d like to host a solar PV array, we’d love to hear from you.