Peter Kelly

Occupation: Civil Servant

Co-operative Businesses traded with in last 12 months Food, Funeralcare and Bank

Skills and experience

I previously served on the Glasgow and Lanarkshire Area Committees and the Scottish Values and Principles Committees. I believe that there has been a breakdown in communication between the membership and the elected representatives with local members not knowing who to approach for information about their local shop. I live in Lanarkshire, work in Glasgow and use shops in both. I would be honoured to be your representative on the Members’ Council.

Additional information

I have been a member of the Co-operative for more than 20 years and served on both the Glasgow and Lanarkshire Area Committees. I am aware that there is no-one on the Council from either of these areas which together have a population of just under 2 million. I shop in Co-op branches across the central belt and get my gas and electricity from Co-op Energy. My mortgage is with the Co-op bank as is my savings account although I am aware that the Group has no longer any interest in the bank. I am involved in the wider mutual sector. I am a Director of a national credit union and treasurer of my local Co-op Party branch. My day job is as a Civil Servant with the Employment Tribunal and I also volunteer with a charity, Enable Glasgow, assisting in the running of social activities for adults with learning difficulties.

I welcome the recent announcement that the Group is investing £28 million in Scotland this year with 18 new stores creating 275 jobs and I would like to see how this can be spent equitably across the whole country. As we enter the second decade of austerity household budgets continue to be squeezed and I would like to see shoppers turn to the Co-op for value and service taking back market share from the discounters.