Councillors & Democracy

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How the Council operates

The Council has 35 councillors elected for a four year term. Councillors are democratically accountable to residents of their ward. The overriding duty of councillors is to the whole community, but they have a special duty to their constituents, including those who did not vote for them. Councillors have to agree to follow a code of conduct to ensure high standards in the way they undertake their duties. The Standards Committee trains and advises them on the code of conduct.

All Councillors meet together as the Council. Meetings of the Council are normally open to the public. Here Councillors decide the Council’s overall policies and set the budget each year, known as the budget and policy framework. The Council will elect the Leader of the Council, the Deputy Leader and the Chairs and Vice-chairs of Committees each year.

The Committees

The Council has a Committee form of governance which comprises Policy Committees and Regulatory Committees. The Policy Committees are responsible for implementing the budget and policy framework as agreed by full Council and decisions must be in line with the Council’s overall policies and budget. All members of the Council are entitled to a seat on one of the Policy Committees. The Policy Committees are the part of the Council with responsibility for most day-to-day decisions. Meetings of the Policy Committees will generally be open for the public to attend except where personal or confidential matters are being discussed. If a Policy Committee wishes to make a decision which is outside the budget or policy framework, this must be referred to the Council as a whole to decide. 

Financial and Performance Management and Scrutiny of Matters of Local Concern

Each of the Policy Committees has a role in monitoring the financial and performance of specific areas of Council business. In addition, the Policy Committees are able to undertake the scrutiny of matters of local concern outside of the functions of the Council. The Regulatory Committees are responsible for specific functions of the Council, for example planning and licensing. 

Audit and Governance Committee

The Audit and Governance Committee is one of the Council’s Regulatory Committees and it is a key component of the Council’s corporate governance. It provides an independent and high level focus on the audit, assurance and reporting arrangements that underpins good governance and financial standards. It is responsible for approving the Council’s annual statement of accounts.

Political Structure

Councillors are elected by local people to represent their community. Either two or three local city councillors are elected from each of the 15 areas of the city, or 'wards'. They work together to decide the council's priorities and how it should carry out its work. They also work to make sure that council services are delivered to you in the most efficient and effective way possible.

There are 35 councillors in total. Each one is elected for a term of four years. Elections are run by the Electoral Services team based at the Guildhall. One-third of councillors are elected each year. Elections are held on a four-year cycle, with City Council elections held over three years and Worcestershire County Council elections taking place in the fourth year.

Decisions are made by committees. Membership of the committees reflects the political balance of the Council.

The councillors you choose to represent you, give up a lot of their time to serve the community, and most are paid a basic allowance of £5,078 a year.

The political balance of Worcester City Council 

Current Worcester City Councillors

Find details on the current Councillors and wards which they serve.

If you are not sure which ward you live in please check out our 'My Local Area'.

Leadership of the Council

Councillor Lynn Denham - Leader of the Council

Councillor Jabbar Riaz - Deputy Leader of the Council

The Committees

Policy and Resources Committee

What it does: top-level policy-making; preparation of a draft budget for recommendation to full Council; monitoring of the Council’s performance; oversight of contracts including revenues and benefits; oversight of the City Plan and the internal Transformation Programme

Chair: Councillor Lynn Denham  (Labour)
Vice-Chair: Councillor Jessie Jagger  (Liberal Democrat) 
Vice-Chair: Councillor Louis Stephen (Green)

Communities Committee

What it does: Housing and homelessness; sport and leisure; museums, heritage and culture; community safety; health and well-being; CCTV.

Chair: Councillor Jabbar Riaz (Labour)
Vice-chair: Councillor Jill Desayrah (Labour)

Environment Committee

What it does: Parks and open spaces; play areas; cemeteries and the crematorium; allotments; domestic refuse collection; trade waste; garden waste; street cleansing; car parking; oversight of Worcestershire Regulatory Services.

Chair: Councillor Zoe Cookson (Labour)
Vice-chair: Councillor Karen Lewing (Green)

Health and Wellbeing Committee

What it does: Mental and physical health and wellbeing outcomes; disability access; health inequalities; Worcestershire Integrated Care System; health partnership working; child poverty; outreach services; financial hardship and support relating to the welfare of residents.

Chair: Councillor Elena Round (Green)
Vice-chair: Councillor Elaine Willmore (Labour)

Place and Economic Development Committee

What it does: Improvements to Worcester; economic development; planning policy; tourism.

Chair: Councillor Robyn Norfolk  (Labour)
Vice-chair: Councillor Hannah Cooper (Green)

Planning Committee

Chair: Councillor Karen Lewing (Green)
Vice-chair: Councillor Patricia Agar (Labour)

Licensing and Environmental Health Committee

Chair: Councillor Richard Udall (Labour)
Vice-chair: Councillor Karen Lawrence (Liberal Democrat)

Audit and Governance Committee

Chair: Councillor Neil Laurenson (Green)
Vice-chair: Councillor Matt Lamb (Labour)

Standards Committee

Chair: Councillor Sarah Murray (Liberal Democrat)
Vice-chair: Councillor Basharat Ali (Labour)

The Mayor of Worcester

• The Mayor for 2024/2025 is Cllr Mel Allcott
• The Deputy Mayor for 2024/2025 is Cllr Matt Lamb

The Mayor is the Civic Head of the Council. In May of each year, one of the Councillors is elected to serve as Mayor for one year and another is elected as a Deputy. He/she chairs meetings of the Full Council and represents the city at ceremonial occasions. The Mayor also welcomes international visitors and attends events organised by local people.

Your vote: make it count

If you want to play your part in the future of Worcester, then use your vote. By taking the time to vote in local elections, you can make sure that your voice is heard. The elected councillor will be the voice of your local community for the coming four years - so make sure you have your say.

To be eligible to vote in any elections you must be over 18 and your name must be on the Electoral Register which is updated annually. To enter your name you must complete the registration form which is sent to your home each year.

For more details please visit our Elections page.