tom Jarman
Tom is a chartered engineer who is standing for election in the Stonehouse division.
He has an engineering degree from Oxford University, a post-graduate qualification in management from Cambridge University, and has extensive business experience at director level in venture capital and engineering firms, including local business Renishaw.
Tom has mentored, coached and raised funds for many start-up businesses, especially in the renewables, ethical housing and waste sectors.
He has a particular interest in finance, transport, governance, and housing. He co-founded (with Kevin McCloud) HAB Land – a home developer committed to building communities with high proportions of social housing and low environmental footprints. In this role he led what was then the world’s largest equity crowdfund, and he run other successful crowdfunding campaigns for community projects and not-for profits.
He has also been involved in projects to support oppressed leaseholders in retirement communities.
Most recently Tom has worked as a volunteer, in the fields of sustainability and ethical housing.
Tom has a deep interest in economics, believing that the current political and economic systems favour the wealthy rather than working towards prosperity for all, equality and social mobility. He advocates for ‘doughnut economics’ and similar principles that aim to benefit society as a whole, without damaging the environment.
“We need a new economics and politics if we are to deliver a sustainable future that serves people and planet,” he says.
Tom hopes to see an enlarged Green group on GCC from May, with the Greens part of a ruling coalition that will replace the Conservative administration. “This would offer a step change in the influence and impact Greens can have on County,” he says. “Greens can – and would – be a force for good, driving an agenda for social justice, protection of the environment and genuine local democracy.”
If elected he will help GCC become an exemplar for positive, community-led local government, working in a positive partnership with other tiers of government.
Tom is keen to get involved at the council in issues such as pension investments and social housing. He will also campaign for cheaper and more efficient ways of processing waste, focusing attention on the “huge waste of public money” that the controversial incinerator has involved. “There is a big opportunity to substantially reduce costs and recover public money, while also establishing new waste methods that will substantially reduce incineration,” he adds.
Tom was a co-founder of Community R4C, a community-owned project to develop a cheaper, more environmentally sound waste management system in Gloucestershire, as an alternative to the incinerator.
The group maintained that the environmentally damaging incinerator cost the public millions of pounds a year to run – despite the Conservatives’ claims that it saved money. After a high-profile legal campaign, the Conservative administration controversially forced Community R4C to shut down.
Tom says there are opportunities for new county councillors to challenge and change the “hugely harmful” £613m incinerator contract. “This needs to be addressed if we are to ever move away from the current approach of high waste, high destruction of resources and high environmental harm,” he says.
“As a county councillor with a deep understanding of the incinerator contract and what went wrong in council decision-making and oversight, I will welcome the chance to improve the lack of transparency and accountability at County Council level.
“Councillors should operate with integrity and commitment to public service and protection of our environment. There should be no place for politicians to pursue their private agendas and personal financial interests.”
Tom co-founded the Stroud Ukrainian Refugee Community Support network (SURCS), which played a leading role in helping Gloucestershire and Stroud lead the way in welcoming and supporting Ukrainian refugees.
He is a long-time supporter of Extinction Rebellion and a supporter of peaceful activism.
Tom’s experience in campaigning on various issues and in public speaking (he has often appeared on local TV and radio) will serve him well as a county councillor.
“My financial and legal skills and experience mean I am able to participate knowledgeably in technical discussion about business, finance, legal and technology/industry matters. I believe I have the right skills to make a contribution and be part of a change for good at GCC – and to help to make councillors more empowered and knowledgeable when it comes to making decisions involving large sums of public money.