Skipton Building Society bosses and carpetbaggers are expecting massive support for a ground-breaking resolution being put at its annual meeting next month.

But the two sides want a huge vote in favour of the resolution for completely opposite reasons.

The resolution, which calls on the Skipton's board to "consider taking steps to change the independent mutual status of the Society", has been put by people behind Carpetbagger.com who see it as a pro-conversion ballot.

It is the first time the Skipton has allowed a members' resolution to go to its annual general meeting.

Carpetbagger.com is a website campaigning group fighting to turn the Skipton, Chelsea and Portman building societies into banks.

The carpetbaggers are also calling on the members to support a second resolution which says that should the Society become a bank, or be taken over by another financial institution, a charity should be paid ten per cent of the firm's value or purchase price at the time.

But the board stresses that the first resolution is only asking it to do something it already does on a regular basis.

John Goodfellow, the Society's chief executive, said today: "The board is recommending that members vote in favour of the first resolution and we would expect an overwhelming majority in favour.

"If the vote is in favour, we would carry out our review in the third quarter of this year. We would take into account what is happening to banks which were formerly building societies and the interests of our members and staff. After that we would tell people of the outcomes.

"I cannot say whether that would put a stop to carpetbaggers wanting to convert building societies into Plcs."

The building society is due to send out voting forms, annual meeting packs and a summary of its financial statement to eligible members in the next few days.

The AGM will be held on Wednesday April 26 at 6.30pm at the Hanover International Hotel in Skipton and the building society is expecting a good turnout.

A spokesman said that usually the building society saw 120 people at its annual meetings but was preparing for up to 200 this time.

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