CCIN: Vacancy for One Full Member on the V&P Board

Personal Statement for VP Membership

Cllr Alistair Willoughby

Personal Statement for VP Membership

As new members of the Co-operative Councils’ Innovation Network it is an exciting time to be involved with the Values and Principles Board as a Co-Chair of the City of Westminster network.  

Councillor in the City of Westminster for Pimlico South ward, Chair of the Climate, Environment and Highways policy and scrutiny committee and Vice Chair of Planning. Experienced in scrutiny and worked as part of the task force to review scrutiny practices in the Council with the scrutiny review to make decision making more effective.  

Experienced board member, chaired a grant making group as part of the Big Local initiative and Trustee of a local Toy Library, over 15 years’ experience as a School Governor and Governor of my local Nursery School.  I have written policies, procedures and constitution and chaired meetings ranging from scrutiny meetings, planning committees and HR hearings.   

As a committed co-operator and Vice Chair of London region Co-op party I am looking forward to working as part of the network to develop co-production systems and increase democratic engagement and new models of meeting community priority needs.  

Personal Statement for VP Membership

Cllr Jacky Alty

I left school as a disaffected teenager. I married at 18 and went on to have children before realising that I had ‘thinking’ potential. I attended night school, college and subsequently, universities for a variety of qualifications.

As a nurse, midwife, health visitor and Specialist Practitioner in CAMHS I engaged in professional roles, demonstrating the values identified in the CCIN publication. Throughout my professional work I helped to initiate and contribute to a community led project called The Leyland for over 15 years.

Working in the community, I provided opportunities for residents to develop personal skills, gain experience and education, ultimately exploring their own potential. I was Chair for 3 years.

I re-joined the Labour Party in 2015 and subsequently the Co-operative Party. I stood for election in 2019 and was successful. It was my first real taste of local government (I had been quite ignorant previously), and I was offered the role of Lead Member for Social Justice, Equality and Diversity. I also held the role of Chair for Licensing and Public Safety until the elections in 2023, following which I was offered the role of Cabinet Member for South Ribble Borough Council with a portfolio for Community Wealth Building, Social Justice, Equality and Diversity.

During the first term of office, I provided input toward policy development, embedding Equality and Diversity into practical application and took opportunities to challenge when practice didn’t match the policy. I managed to increase the visibility of the Social Justice Programme e.g., Windrush, Community Toilet Scheme and Staff Champions amongst others – the work is ongoing with a new Lead Member who sits within my portfolio.

I believe my life is driven by the core beliefs described as your named values. I am continually seeking to promote opportunities for others, particularly those for whom ‘the accepted norm’ is not a good fit. I am diagnosed with significant hearing impairment and ADHD, and I am cognisant of the variety of abilities and experiences which often deter individuals from pursuing success or seeking the support needed to progress their journey.

I am passionate in my belief that personal agency is essential. The key principles of participation, accountability, lifelong education, and the opportunity to work in co-operation with different groups in society, can reduce barriers to success. Promoting a sense of security and significance personally, releases an option for concern for the wider community and an individual’s place within it.

I have set up a co-operative (a lengthy process); a retail artisan opportunity which failed before it opened to the public, providing me with valuable learning opportunities. I have also gained a measure of understanding the role that local government can play in supporting co-operative innovation and addressing barriers to it.

My journey (with or without this post), will continue to work toward promoting community wealth within the wealth generating workforce, whatever their skill set, previous experience or aspirations.

Thank you for your time and consideration.