Candidates for Rochdale Council local elections

Rochdale will go to the polls to elect a new crop of councillors early next month – when a third of town hall seats will be up for grabs.

Of the 20 seats being contested this time around, 15 are currently held by Labour, four by the Conservatives and one by the Lib Dems.

While Labour’s dominance – they hold 46 of the 60 seats – means they cannot lose control of the council; the electorate could still choose to give the party a bloody nose.

Party leaders may fear a backlash over the green belt loss proposed for the borough under regions controversial development plan, while cuts to community centres and lollipop patrols have also proven contentious.

And a 3.99 per cent hike in council tax (not including the mayoral precepts) will also have gone down badly in some areas – although all authorities in the region have had to take similar measures to balance the books.

Among the big Labour names up for re-election this year is Councillor Sara Rowbotham, the party’s health spokeswoman.

Known for her role in uncovering the borough’s child sexual exploitation scandal, she will be hoping residents in North Middleton will again back her at the ballot box.

Current Mayor Mohammed Zaman will be hoping he doesn’t lose his seat along with his ceremonial robes when the result comes in for Milkstone and Deeplish.

Other notable Labour names up for re-election include party whip Councillor Donna Martin, in East Middleton and long-serving former Mayor Councillor Susan Emmott – who has been a fixture on the council since 1983.

Councillor Emmott will again be defending Hopwood Hall.

And while fewer in number, the Conservatives will be depending on the electorate to return some of their key players, too.

Deputy leader Councillor Pat Sullivan is up for re-election in Bamford, along with Councillor Peter Winkler in Norden, Councillor Ann Stott JP in Littleborough Lakeside and Councillor Rina Paolucci in Wardle and West Littleborough.

And while the Lib Dems only have one seat to lose, it’s a big one – that of leader Councillor Andy Kelly. The outspoken councillor will be working hard to hold on to his seat in Milnrow and Newhey.

Standing down at this election are councillors Cecile Biant, who has served Spotland and Falinge since 2011, and Lynne Brosnan, who has represented Kingsway for the past four years.

In their stead newcomers Elsie Wraighte – previously PA to former council leader Richard Farnell – and Rachel Massey will fly the flag for Labour in Kingsway and Spotland and Falinge respectively.

Also running in Spotland and Falinge is Mick Coats – once one of the ‘Rochdale Seven’ – a group of Labour members who called for an investigation into Simon Danczuk when he was the party’s prospective parliamentary candidate.

The current overall political make-up of Rochdale Council is 46 Labour, 10 Conservative, 4 Liberal Democrat.

Voters will go to the polls on Thursday 2 May.

The full list of candidates can be viewed online:

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/elections

Nick Statham, Local Democracy Reporter