Insight 45 - Magazine - Page 12
Meet the Politicians
The Conservative Party, Labour and Reform were invited to participate in this
feature, we hope to feature them in our next edition
STEVE JARVIS
County Councillor for
Weston and Sandon
northhertsandstevenagelibdems.org.uk
INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO THE READERS
OF INSIGHT HIGHLIGHTING YOUR
BACKGROUND IN LOCAL POLITICS
I have been the Liberal Democrat County
Councillor for Royston West & Rural (which
extends from Royston to the edge of
Stevenage) for the last eight years. During
those years I was an opposition councillor
challenging the council on highways,
growth and infrastructure and services for
children.
Since May I have been the leader of the
County Council leading a team who now
have responsibility for all these areas and
many others.
I have also been a district councillor
for many years, including five years as
a cabinet member responsible for the
environment.
Outside politics I ran a small business
software company in North Herts for
nearly 20 years.
WHAT DO THE RECENT ELECTION
RESULTS TELL US ABOUT THE CURRENT
THOUGHTS AND CONCERNS OF THE
ELECTORATE?
The results of the May local election made
it clear that people want change. Many
thought that was what they had voted for
at last year’s General Election but have
been disappointed in the result.
Locally it is clear that people wanted to see
Hertfordshire run differently. They were
repeatedly told that the council was doing
a great job, but that did not match their
experience. They saw roads with too many
potholes, with one being fixed whilst those
around it were ignored. Those who had
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experienced the help provided for children
with special educational needs agreed
with Ofsted’s assessment that were too
many failures. Those who were concerned
about Hertfordshire’s environment saw
that little progress was being made to
make our county more sustainable.
WHAT DIFFERENTIATES YOUR PARTY
AND ITS APPROACH AND AIMS FROM THE
OTHERS ON THE COUNCIL?
Liberal Democrats believe that it is
important to listen to local people and
the views that they express. It is vital
to understand both people’s concerns
as individuals and as members of a
community whilst being honest with them
about what can be achieved.
We must do the best job we can for people
in Hertfordshire within the constraints that
are placed on the council.
To do that we must be prepared to look at
new ways of doing things and ensure that
we focus on the issues that matter.
WHICH ISSUES DOES YOUR PARTY VIEW
AS A PRIORITY FOR THE PEOPLE OF
HERTFORDSHIRE?
Our priorities are to do a better job for
Hertfordshire’s children, fix the broken
roads and improve the environment. We
believe that this will provide benefits
for all the people who live or work in the
county.
To make a start on these we have agreed
at a 10-point plan of priority actions
to fix our roads, make journeys safer,
improve our environment, support people
who most need our help and generate
bIZ4BIZ INSIGHT MAGAZINE | JUNE 2025
funding to invest in frontline services.
We have already announced our first two
priority actions. To support those who
most need our help we will bring young
people, parents, schools and teachers
together for a SEND Summit to inform our
plans to make the further improvements
needed. To fix our roads we will trial a
new approach to mend more potholes
in a single visit rather than coming back
another day.
WHAT ARE YOUR MAIN POLICIES FOR
BUSINESSES IN HERTFORDSHIRE?
Many of the things that businesses need
are not enormously different from those
that residents require. Both need to be
able to get about easily and reliably.
Both need a well educated and skilled
population and both need services which
are effective and easy to access.
There is currently much talk of growth
and we want to see growth plans for
Hertfordshire focused on making things
better for those who live, work and do
business here. Promoting Hertfordshire as
a great place to do business is something
that the council can help with, whilst
recognising that it needs to work with
business to achieve this.
WHAT DO YOU THINK HERTFORDSHIRE
WILL LOOK LIKE SOCIALLY AND
ECONOMICALLY IN 2030?
By 2030 I hope that Hertfordshire will be
more productive, generating more wealth
for those who live and work here. That will
enable them to be better off, socially and
culturally as well as economically. There
will undoubtedly be more people living in
the county and it is vital that the places for
them to live and work are developed in a
way which supports this.
There are already many great communities
across the county but by 2030 I hope that
there will be even more, working together
to improve lives.
