Many will know me, or of me, as I have been a councillor since 2009, having retired from banking in 2006.

Full statement

Since first being elected, I have served as both a Ward councillor in Woodfield and a County councillor for St Nicholas Division which, as you know, includes Woodfield.

During this time, it has been a pleasure and privilege to support residents and respond and help with their issues, whether it be housing, buses, objections to planning matters, highway maintenance, safety and improvements or the local environment etc.

I know that the state of our highways is important to residents, and I work closely with officers and engineers to discuss priorities. We all appreciate that we cannot do all we would wish, as quickly as residents would like, given the limited resourcing, but I am proud to have attracted investment to improve roads, footways and cycleways around the County and, in particular, St Nicholas – did you know that the condition of Hertfordshire’s roads is consistently above the national average, and we are one of the best in the South East? However, more needs to be done, and I would aim to continue to utilise available funding to maintain this programme.

The failings of commercial bus operations are well known to me, and I have used my influence to lobby Government for the powers and, importantly, the substantial funding required to allow Hertfordshire to pursue Franchising options, which will facilitate the County Council taking more control, with the aim of improving connectivity and reliability – we are promised the powers, and I would continue to seek the required funding.

Being concerned over the education of our children, I would continue as a governor of The Leys, and contributing to their development and wellbeing.