Below is the candidate profile for David Nicoll, the Labour Party candidate for the Staffordshire County Council Stone Rural seat.
This profile has been added to our Candidate Profiles page on our 2021 election hub – click here to see more candidate profiles.
Answers to the questions aren’t edited, other than for formating, and are therefore the candidates own words.
In your own words tell our readers about yourself
I’ve been an accountant for over 30 years and have a passionate interest in environmental issues. I am also professionally certified to help companies develop and implement their sustainability reporting against global standards.
What’s your personal statement about why you’re standing and what you want to achieve over the term if elected?
Given my background, I am committed to our rural and urban environment, and that includes our economy. I run a Climate Positive firm, but not every company can do this easily; Stone needs Green Industrial schemes. Our Tory Council has ‘paid lip service’ and made various statements about the importance of these issues, but the reality is that they have not been followed up by any meaningful action. Over the last year under Covid there has been a real opportunity to reset many of our local priorities and ensure that we are best placed to take advantage of the lifting of restrictions. These have been manifestly missed by our current administration.
As a parent, I am also acutely aware of the challenges faced by young people. The challenges of costly and unreliable public transport, lack of housing, and limited local facilities are high on my agenda. Let’s make our area a vibrant, attractive, and characterful place to live, learn, and work.
In particular, our ‘Step Up To Work’ scheme will provide high-quality apprenticeships and make getting to them easier. Having good skills isn’t a secret to be protected: we need to spread skills and help everyone to help themselves. Nobody should be left behind.
How does standing as a political party candidate affect serving local people on local issues?
As a member of the Labour Party I can work closely with colleagues across the county to ensure that we get things done in a joined up and consistent way. Getting the changes we need requires collaboration and partnership, and with my colleagues across the county and in the community we can deliver much more than we can acting on our own.
Do you live in the area you’re standing for, if not what’s your link to Stone and your reason for standing in this area and not your own?
Yes. I live right in the heart of the Stone Rural Division, in the village of Hilderstone.
What’s been your history as a political councillor?
This is the first time I have stood for county councillor.
Apart from family commitments what other commitments do you have on your time? This could be work, business, voluntary or community roles – if these are linked to organisations in Stone then please mention it.
I work for myself, and work from home, so I have the advantage of considerable flexibility in my time. As with many people active in their local communities, I do spend time and money helping out various local charities and organisations, although that is up to them to publicise, not me!
What are the top 5 issues that you think affect the residents of Stone?
Post-Pandemic recovery
We need to support local business, invest in recreational infrastructure and introduce schemes to help young people obtain the skills needed to access employment.
Environment
We live in a beautiful part of the country, yet to preserve that we need to act on and invest in sustainable business, living, and recreational policies.
Crime and antisocial behaviour and fly tipping
Crime and the fear of crime blights communities and an increasing number of people feel ignored on this. We need our communities to feel safe.
Transport
We need better public transport links across our area which is very poorly served.
Health Services and Social Care
We need good access for all and a sustainable future that is flexible to our changing needs.
How will you keep in touch with your constituents’ concerns?
I will of course report back regularly to community and parish groups across the Division, and there will be plenty of ways to contact me both electronically and in person as the Covid rules will allow. The key thing for me will be to keep in touch with the widest range of bodies and people involved in our community, and I will certainly aim to make it as easy as possible to get in touch and receive feedback.
