Independent candidate Jill Hood has retained her County Council Stone Urban, securing 47.84% of the vote with an increased majority.
Jill, who already represents Stone at Town and Borough level was initially elected to Staffordshire County Council in 2017 taking the Stone Urban seat. For her 2021 campaign Jill told A Little Bit of Stone:
“I have 14 years’ experience as a councillor and believe it is important to work first as a Town Councillor, then as a Stafford Borough Councillor, before progressing to County Councillor. The experience you gain on the journey is vital to dealing effectively with the many issues that come your way. I’m standing for re-election as I feel confident that I can continue to deliver improvements for Stone and its residents.”
The results breakdown was:
| Votes | |||
| Simon Bell | Conservative | 1414 | 34.27% |
| Jill Hood | Independent | 1974 | 47.84% |
| Tracey Lindop | Labour | 620 | 15.03% |
| Rob Norman | Green | 118 | 2.86% |
| Total Votes | 4126 |
When we asked Jill for her top 5 issues for Stone she highlighted the following:
“(In no particular order)
- Highways Maintenance: roads, pot holes, gullies, drains and flooding.
- Post Pandemic Recovery: poverty, unemployment, finances, health and well-being, social care, difficulties contacting doctors surgeries, lack of face-to-face Mental Health Crisis Care Services under-resourced and under staffed in a time when there is a rise in mental health problems. People are not getting the help they need.
- A more visible Police presence is required. Residents need to feel safe.
- Educational Support: for ‘catch up learning’ in every Stone School.
- Local Green Spaces and Quality Play Facilities: land being sold off by Stafford Borough Council and the ongoing lack of play facilities.”
Congratulations to Jill who increased both her vote count and vote share from her 2017 performance.
