New Nettlestone And Seaview Councillor Pledges To Create ‘Positive Change’ For Community

Nettlestone and Seaview’s newly elected independent Isle of Wight councillor has said her role is to create ‘greater community satisfaction’.

Jules Hayward told the parish’s annual meeting yesterday (Wednesday, May 13) her current emphasis at County Hall is on the economy, regeneration, transport and infrastructure committee (ERTIC).

In separate comments, Cllr Hayward said she is ready to ‘listen, learn and work’ alongside residents, community groups and fellow councillors from across the political spectrum to help create ‘positive change locally’ and contribute constructively to the Island’s future.

She told the meeting:

“My previous work at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and running my own business has been about creating change – and that’s what I’m really interested in…how do we make things better?

“As well as running my own business and being part of the parish council and a councillor, now, I’m also a mum of two young kids.

"I’m juggling all those elements and I’m trying to get the balance right.

“I won’t always get it right… I will be giving my best efforts to those different realms and demands in my life.

"There are certain things I can do in the role as a councillor and there’s certain things I’m unable to influence directly.

“I can’t do anything other than listen, learn and develop an understanding of the council and how it works and how we want to set it up between now and May 27 where we have our first full council meeting.”

Cllr Hayward said over the next two and a half weeks she needs to be ‘really effective’ in terms of getting on the right committees to represent residents and the area.

She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) change can be created when people with different views are willing to come together, focus on what there is in common and take a ‘really constructive approach’ to challenges facing Island towns and villages.

The councillor was elected with 44.3 per cent of the overall vote in her ward, with 542 votes, beating the Conservative candidate by a margin of 175.