Here’s the candidate profile for Jason Metters, who is standing in the May 2023 elections. All candidates were asked ten core questions; then, there were specific questions depending on whether candidates were existing councillors or not.
All answers appear unedited, apart from maybe tweaks to formatting, as sent through by the candidates.
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- Candidate Name: Jason Metters
- Party: Stone Independents / Stafford Borough Independents
- Election: Stone Town Council / Stafford Borough Council
- Ward: Walton North / Swynnerton and Outlon
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Core Candidate Questions
1. Do you live in Stone and within the ward(s) you’re standing in? If not, what is your motivation for standing in Stone and not your own ward?
I live in Stone having grown up predominantly in Walton, and I have chosen to represent this ward on the town council as I am close to a lot of the residents and their families in the area. I have three family members in this ward and I feel personally attached to the area. I know that I have an ear to the ground with the issues that affect the residents, and I hope to represent their best interests, especially regarding HS2 proposals which will affect the traffic and roads across the ward.
For Swynnerton and Oulton, I chose to stand in this ward due to the lack of representation from other parties during the last election. For fair democratic representation, we need to ensure that there is a choice of candidates. I am becoming increasingly familiar with the issues faced by residents in the rural areas – there is an appetite for conservation and eco-friendly projects that preserve the natural beauty of the area, as well as road safety concerns, and HS2 concerns. As an independent, I have no national loyalty to this project and hope to represent the views of residents to ensure the best possible outcome and mitigates the imposition this huge undertaking has forced upon locals.
2. Are you involved in any Stone-based charities, schools, groups, sports clubs, etc.? If so, in what capacity?
In my day job I am the Deputy Chief Officer of the local charity ‘15 Square’, a men’s health charity that operates internationally. I am also a member of a local social club that has raised money for the fantastic Community Hub, a worthy charity in the area. When I am not injured, I am often found playing squash at the Stone Lawn Tennis and Squash Club.
3. If elected, what will you, as a councillor, bring to the council?
I have strong a commitment to transparent representation at a local level. I do not want to spend the term being driven by ideology, and instead I want to deal with each issue independently by considering all viewpoints. I will not cast a vote whatsoever, unless I feel that the community supports that vote overall.
4. How do you plan to engage with and represent the interests of all members of the Stone community, including those from diverse backgrounds or with differing opinions?
I will actively seek the perspectives of groups, charities and organisations working with people from other backgrounds. I value integrity, non-judgement, and I encourage everyone to express different opinions so we can reach a consensus of interest on local issues. Recently, I have been communicating with locals who have specialist needs for local facilities due to limited mobility. I would not have considered the issues raised until I spoke with residents, therefore I am committed to listening to the wisdom others.
5. What do you think are the three most important issues facing the Stone community, and how do you plan to address them?
HS2 is an issue that will continue to affect local areas dramatically, some more than others depending on location. Secondly, and related to the first – loss of greenspaces and natural beauty is a threat to this region. As Stone becomes more residential and the outlying towns and villages are developed, we risk damaging habitats and ecosystems as well as the picturesque beauty of the area. Finally, the high streets and corner shops – as more people to move online shopping and remote working, I predict emptier shops if we do not adapt to a rapidly changing world and the challenges of the modern retail.
6. How do you propose to ensure that the local economy continues to thrive and support all local businesses?
Understanding the challenges for businesses is essential to adapting. Competition is rife due to the power of online shopping, therefore I am a big believer in promoting local. A pound spent locally generally stays local for longer and feeds in to other business creating healthy commerce. Other issues such as the high operating costs, risks associated with beginning a new venture, and a lack of support can become major barriers to entry. I want to ensure that we promote small business networks and traders collectives so that expertise can be shared and we can run events that make it a lower barrier to entry for independent traders and small businesses.
7. How do you plan to work with other members of the council to achieve your goals?
I intend to join working groups tackling local issues. Effective collaboration on issues rather than ideology can help us to overcome political polarisation and promote consensus-building, leading to more successful outcomes for the community as a whole.
These values are fundamental to many of the local independents. I hope to work with other council members to foster a sense of shared purpose and collective responsibility, and to work together towards common goals and objectives. One person alone cannot have ears everywhere, which is why I am proud to be part of a network that does.
8. How would you balance the needs of different groups and priorities when making budget decisions?
All decisions will be based on the will of the community behind the decisions. Budget challenges are a major factor for many local issues, however I intend to justify any decisions based on the demand from constituents and the value of the projects.
9. What is your position on local environmental issues, such as climate change, pollution, and waste management?
I fiercely believe in the sanctity of the local ecosystems and environment. River waste, aggressive treatment of hedgerows, HS2, and development without concern for loss of the greenbelt are not in the communities best interests when it comes to the environment. I am moved by the effort of groups and organisations that recognise that these concerns ought to be addressed and I hope to forge strong relationships with stakeholders and organisations in these sectors.
10. How will you ensure that your role as a councillor receives the required time and effort to carry it out effectively?
I am confident that I have the support of the other local independents, and I hope to carry the same dedication into local politics that I have previously in volunteer roles, my career, and my education. As this is my first time standing in local politics, I have been overwhelmed and encouraged by the support that I have received by other independents in the area who are determined to ensure that my term is effective. I hope to motivate local people to champion the causes that they believe in whilst representing them in their meetings.
Candidate-Specific Questions:
1. What five words would people who know you use to describe you?
Tenacious, outgoing, visionary, principled and resilient.
2. As you’re passionate about local politics and issues, have you ever previously made a public representation to the council about an issue that you think needs addressing? If so, what was the issue, and how did the council handle it?
<<NO ANSWER GIVEN>>
3. How can candidates be classed as “independent” when they are all united as a group under a single political banner? How is this different from voting in line with a national political party?
I will not be expected to obey a national agenda or a party whip. The Independent’s ‘banner’ is a call-to-arms for the principles of democratic representation, open discussion, and empowering transparent rational conversations between council members regardless of their underlying political camps. We are a varied group dedicated to the principle of fair representation, and very often this process leads to broad agreement on most local issues. This philosophy continues to attract people from all political camps to our banner.
4. What’s your pledge to the people of Stone if you’re elected?
My key concerns are for community, commerce and conservation – but – I want to represent constituents transparently on all issues of concern, and to accommodate nuanced perspectives. I have the humility to cast my vote in the best interests of local stakeholders rather than bringing my own agenda and ideology. I want to bring values, not ideologies.
