Daniel Allen, the Labour leader of North Herts Council, has thanked district councillors of "all parties" for keeping North Hertfordshire a "Reform-free area" in the recent elections for Hertfordshire County Council.

Speaking at North Herts Council's annual meeting yesterday (Thursday, 22 May), Cllr Allen said: "I'd like to congratulate Cllr Steve Jarvis on being elected as the leader of Hertfordshire County Council. Really, congratulations – I'm confident he'll make significant changes to improve the lives of Hertfordshire residents.

"I'm delighted to hear of his initial statement on potholes and special educational needs."

Cllr Jarvis was confirmed this week as the leader of a Liberal Democrat minority administration at County Hall, and has pledged to set up a summit on special educational needs.

He has also said the council will take a new approach to road maintenance, conducting nearby pothole repairs at the same time.

Cllr Allen continued: "On the county elections, I'd also like to thank everybody in this chamber for their hard work.

"Please can everyone look around them, all parties. North Hertfordshire has remained a Reform-free area thanks to the incredibly hard work by everyone, no matter what party they campaigned for. Well done."

The district council is made up of Labour, Liberal Democrat and Conservative representatives, as well as one independent.

All nine county councillors for North Herts are also councillors at the district level.

They include two from Labour (Ian Albert and Alistair Willoughby), two Conservatives (David Barnard and Ralph Muncer) and five Liberal Democrats (Tina Bhartwas, Ruth Brown, Steve Jarvis, Chris Lucas and Sean Prendergast). Cllr Bhartwas was elected as a Labour councillor but defected to the Liberal Democrats earlier this week.

Cllr Brown, leader of the Liberal Democrat group at North Herts Council, echoed Cllr Allen's comments about keeping Reform UK out, and said: "I think these were historic elections.

"We saw a rejection of the two main parties and we saw, for the first time ever, a Lib Dem administration at Herts County Council. I want to specially congratulate Steve Jarvis on his election as leader of the county council.

"I believe it was a vote for change, and we hope to deliver that change as a Lib Dem administration.

"We will certainly do our best, to the most of our ability, and work hard to deliver that change that our electors have voted for."

The leader of the district council's Conservative group, Cllr Muncer, said: "Congratulations to all of those who were successful and commiserations to those who weren't.

"Cllr Brown references the minority Liberal Democrat administration at County Hall.

"A number of soundbites were made during the election campaign and I know that Conservative colleagues at County Hall will very much be holding the Liberal Democrat minority administration to account on them.

"I do think it is a real opportunity for pride that we have the leader of the county council in this chamber, we have the cabinet member for resources in this chamber, we have the deputy cabinet member for environment, transport and growth.

"I certainly hope that the contributions which are made by district councillors across this chamber are taken away, back to County Hall, so that we have a county council that is going to continue to deliver for residents across North Hertfordshire."