Richard Roberts has been unanimously elected as the new leader of Hertfordshire County Council.

Speaking at the annual meeting of the county council on Tuesday, Conservative councillor Roberts outlined his priorities for the next four years.

He told councillors that he wished to build on the strong leadership, ambition and nationally recognised services that were the legacy of previous leaders Robert Ellis, Robert Gordon and David Williams.

He pinpointed good health and well-being, the environment and responsible sustainable growth and the closest possible ties between the NHS, the voluntary sector and local government as his own priorities.

"For me there cannot be a choice about whether we protect our environment or grow our economy," said Roberts, who was first elected to the county council in 2003.

"Where we live shapes our lives. The built and natural environment the towns the villages we call home have to be part of a greener, cleaner, safer Hertfordshire.

"We will need to grow our economy and provide the housing of the future – but that doesn't have to be at the expense of the environment in its entirety."

Pointing to the ambition to be carbon neutral by 2030, Roberts highlighted the need to plan with residents for a future without petrol or diesel.

He stressed the need to work with businesses as the county emerged from the impact of the Covid pandemic.

"Some parts of our economy have been badly hurt by the pandemic," he said.

"And we must work ever closer with partners to rebuild the confidence of the business sector and those employees of the future, who will need new skills, training and education to make the most of the new opportunities."

Councillor Roberts paid tribute to the staff and residents whose lives had been turned upside-down by the pandemic, particularly those working in the care sector.

He said the vaccine programme was 'nothing short of miraculous'. And he said that he hoped we were now set on a path out of restrictions that enables us to think afresh about the future.

"Responding to Covid brought the best out of us," he said. "Let us build on that legacy – and hold ourselves to account in memory of what has just passed."

Nominating Roberts as leader, councillor Morris Bright said he was a new leader who had his own vision for the county and would be doing it 'his way'.

He said he was a kind man, a good listener and a cerebral thinker. And he suggested the council would find his qualities of empathy to be ideal in a leader.

Until the local elections on May 6, the position of leader was held by David Williams – who lost his Harpenden North East seat to the Liberal Democrats.

And Roberts and Bright both referred to the sadness that Williams was no longer there.

Morris said that David Williams had commanded the respect of all on the council, as well as officers and outside bodies such as the Local Government Association and County Council Network.

And he said he was a good man who sought to take people on his journey in a collegiate way.