Ahead of the upcoming county council elections on May 4, we asked each party to submit details of their manifesto pledges. 

This is the response we received from Stephen Giles-Medhurst, leader of the Liberal Democrat group.

The Conservatives have run the county council since 1999. Since then, the county council has become ever more remote from the real needs of local people.

Liberal Democrats believe that there are a number of key areas which need urgent attention.

A Liberal Democrat county council will reverse, as far as possible, the cuts made to those suffering homelessness and the proposed cuts in day centres for older and vulnerable people.

We will press for ever closer working between the county council and the NHS to make sure bad practice is driven out and patients have the best possible care from Hertfordshire health bodies.

Government interference has hugely undermined the ability of the county council to drive up standards and provide or expand schools. We will resist attempts by the current government to reintroduce selection. All selection does is ensure that most children from the age of 11 are permanently disadvantaged in life.

A Liberal Democrat council would take a tougher stance with failing highways contractors, devolve more highways money to local county councillors, and allow greater local flexibility on street light switch-offs.

The county council continues to cut bus services with little regard to the effect that this has on people’s lives. A Liberal Democrat county council would reverse those cuts.

A Liberal Democrat council would make money go further by selling off unused county council property in urban areas, axing wasteful expenditure, and let contracts with commercial providers more competently to secure a better deal for the local taxpayer.

Liberal Democrat group leader Stephen Giles-Medhurst said: “It is time for a fresh start in the way the county council is run. We will listen to the people. We will not cut funding for voluntary groups or buses and take urgent measures to bring our roads up to standard.

“As the official opposition to the Conservatives we are the only ones that can take over from them and take Hertfordshire forward for a new start.

“The Conservative run-council has let residents down.”

We will be bringing you live coverage of the count as it happens on the evening of Thursday, May 4.