Flooding campaign

Please keep the entries coming. Most recently observed are flooding problems at:
– junction of Essex Road and St Peter’s Road
– junction of Manor Road and Hillside Road

These I have taken up with Herts Highways.

Thank you!

Many thanks to all of you who supported me on Thursday.

It is now my duty to support all my residents – regardless of how they voted and to try and get the still Conservative dominated county council to deliver the change that you have so clearly indicated that you want.

I will be having a meeting about the school places crisis on Tuesday.

Overall results show Lib Dems on 27% in Herts

Electorate: 816,950
Poll: 39.3%
Spoilt: 2475

Conservative 55 seats 147,776 votes 46.0% +3.7
Green 1 seat 22,900 votes 7.1% +2.4
Labour 3 seats 44,650 votes 13.9% -12.1
Liberal Democrat 17 seats 87,042 votes 27.1% +1.0
Other 1 16,142 votes 5.0% +4.6

That means that the Conservatives have 20 more seats than they would do under a legitimate voting system. The Liberal Democrats have four fewer.

The majority of electors voted for change at county hall. Change (eg improved roads, more school places) will not be delivered because the electoral system is skewed to benefit the Conservatives.

Full results: http://www.hertsdirect.org/actweb/election/default.htm

Lib Dems take all eight seats in St Albans constituency

In a historic first all eight county council divisions which form in part or in whole the St Albans parliamentary constituency are held by Liberal Democrat county councillors:

St Albans Central
St Albans East
St Albans North
St Albans South
St Albans St Stephen
The Colneys
Sandridge (also in Hitchin and Harpenden)
Abbots Langley (also in Watford and South West Herts)

Chris White becomes leader of the opposition on Hertfordshire County Council

Chris has been re-elected as Liberal Democrat Group Leader on Hertfordshire County Council and so becomes Leader of the Opposition.

Stephen Giles-Medhurst (Watford: Central Oxhey) was re-elected as Deputy Group Leader.

Further announcements, including the nominations to Hertfordshire Police Authority, will be made over the course of the next week.

Overall the Liberal Democrats made four net gains from the Conservatives while Labour collapsed from 16 to 3 seats.

County Council election results

St Albans Central

Chris White – Liberal Democrat 2034 45.6% [+3.2]
Conservative 1095 24.6% [+0.5]
Green 786 17.6% [+9.6]
Labour 524 11.8% [-11.7]

Chris’s majority: 939

Overall, the County Council now comprises:

Conservative 55
Lib Dem 17
Labour 3
Others 2

Today is polling day

Today is polling day for the county council and European Parliament elections.

Voting takes places between 7 am and 10 pm.

The council should have deleivered you a polling card. You do not need this to vote but it will help you identify the polling station and help the staff.

Outside your polling station you will find ‘tellers’. These are party volunteers who are entitled to ask you for your polling number (but you don’t have to respond). They cannot find out how you have resulted as a result. The purpose of this exercise is to allow the parties to find out which of their supporters has voted and to call on those who have not. It is therefore normally to your advantage to give your number because it will avoid you being disturbed later.

The numbers are normally shared amicably between the parties.

The results of this election should be available as follows:

County Council: from Friday lunchtime
European Parliament: from Sunday evening

Swine flu update

Note to district councillors from the Chief Executive

This is just to let you know that the Health Protection Agency and Herts
PCT have issued a statement which provides an update on the swine ‘flu
situation within Hertfordshire. They have identified four cases of swine
‘flu in the county. All those affected are being treated in accordance
with standard treatment including individual confinement and
anti-virals. The Health Protection Agency has not stated where in
Hertfordshire these cases are located. A copy of the statement may be
found at the following link:
http://www.wherts-pct.nhs.uk/Content.asp?id=SXA516-A77F7F42

In terms of St Albans City and District Council’s activities, the
council continues to monitor the situation and to ensure contingency
planning is in place. For our staff, government advice is that people
should maintain good hygiene, and wash hands often. Staff are encouraged
to use the alcohol gel and sterile wipes which have been placed in
kitchens and next to photocopiers. The position is currently assessed
weekly at the Chief Executive’s Board.

Government advice on travel and public meetings is that it is safe to
travel to both Mexico and the US, and for public meetings to go ahead.
In other words, business as usual.

The agreement with the PCT is that it will take the lead on public
communication with the other local public bodies acting in support. We
will issue another update to all members later in the week. A separate
briefing note will be sent to all staff this afternoon.