Worcester City Council election: a closer look at Rainbow Hill's candidates

Labour’s Tom Collins, who was elected for the first time in 2018 with almost 60 per cent of the vote, announced he would be standing down ahead of May’s local elections and the party has put its faith in Zoe Cookson – who finished second and 322 votes behind the Conservatives in the Nunnery ward last year – to keep hold of the seat.

The ward is already home to the city council’s Labour leader and deputy mayor Adrian Gregson, who was re-elected last year 234 votes ahead of Parveen Akhtar who is again standing for the Conservatives in the ward and hoping to build on last year’s second placed finish.

Simon Cottingham will be representing the Liberal Democrats, having stood several times in the past and most recently finishing in last place – more than 1,000 votes behind – in the St Stephen ward last year and Nick Weeks will be standing for the Greens in a four-way battle for a place on the council.

The two-councillor ward has long been a stronghold for Labour with Adrian Gregson representing the ward for nearly three decades alongside a number of party colleagues.

As well as a win for Labour in the ward in city elections last year, the party was also successful in the county contest with Lynn Denham keeping hold of the division for the party, taking over the reins from husband Paul Denham who had stood down having represented Rainbow Hill since 2013.

Labour will be expecting a straightforward win in Rainbow Hill but recent surprise results in surrounding wards as well as the historically low turnout – 24 per cent in 2018 and 26 per cent in 2021 – means the result is by no means a foregone conclusion.

PARVEEN AKHTAR (CONSERVATIVE)

“I have always been a resident of Worcester and attended Christopher Whitehead. I now live here with my husband and children. 

“Since leaving school I have been a carer. I enjoy helping wherever I can, particularly being able to assist others with accessing services.

“I enjoy getting out walking and swimming, so keeping fit is also important to me.

“I would enjoy representing a close community and be able to respond to the problems that people face.

“Rainbow Hill needs a councillor who is willing to go that further mile to look out for its people. I understand what issues are important to residents so will respond to them accordingly and make sure that their concerns are raised to the appropriate authority.

“I will work with residents to try to make their lives better and easier by being available to them.”

ZOE COOKSON (LABOUR)

“I have worked or lived in Worcester for over 20 years. I began my career at Worcester City Council tackling crime and anti-social behaviour before moving to the county council to lead on children’s centres, extended schools and healthy schools. After that, I worked on many different projects for the NHS. I now run my own business.

“From my career in local government, I have seen first-hand the vital difference a councillor can make.

“If elected, I will be a strong voice for the issues that matter in Rainbow Hill – tackling the cost of living crisis, crime and anti-social behaviour, speeding and selfish parking.

“I will demand clean streets free from litter and dog mess and work to improve local community facilities and events across the ward.”

SIMON COTTINGHAM (LIBERAL DEMOCRAT)

“Simon is passionate about the need to engage communities in service development and to owning and managing more of their resources.

 “He has been a visiting lecturer at the University College Birmingham on the Young People, Communities and Families Degree Course, health and social care BSC and has also supervised research students.

 “Simon has been involved at a senior level, currently as CEO of an advocacy organisation in Warwickshire and in the past has been involved with: Community Development group of the Local Government Association, Home Office advisory group on youth volunteering, Member of IDeA team evaluating a local authority as well as cross regional groups including the West Midlands Victims Commission, Preventing Violence against Vulnerable People Board, chair of the Regional Runaways and CSE Government Office Committee, Victims Commission."

NICK WEEKS (GREEN)

“I was born in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds and I spent most of my working life in London.

“Increasing disability forced me to take early retirement in 2005, and I moved to Worcester in 2011, choosing to live just off Rainbow Hill.

“I'm passionate about active travel, which in my case usually means an electric bike as I often find walking difficult. I'd use buses more if the service improved, and will continue to push for that as a priority.

“A former local government officer, I understand the need to work collaboratively with councillors and residents, so that worthwhile initiatives are not derailed by unnecessary problems or barriers. I put making life better for all of us above any kind of narrow party politics.”