
Councillor Neil Emmott, leader of the council.
About the leader of the council
This is the blog of Councillor Neil Emmott, leader of the council and councillor for West Middleton.
Read about what's happening at the council and how we're working hard to make the borough better for everyone.
Latest blogs from the leader of the council

Vision of the future as regeneration plans take shape
20 February 2026
When I became leader of the council in 2021, I set out my vision for the borough, key priorities and the services local residents want and expect the council to deliver.

No place for division as community comes together to remember the fallen
7 November 2025
When I became leader of the council in 2021, I spoke about our shared values of tolerance, unity and understanding that have been always been at the heart of our borough.

Inspiring events showcasing our borough at its brilliant best
7 August 2025
The last few weeks have showcased our borough at its very best, shining a light on our rich cultural offer, ambitious regeneration programme, and our pioneering support for the Armed Forces community.
Councillors and elections
Find details of your local councillor, committees, elections and more.
More about councillors and elections in the borough
Cost of living
Supporting you with your cost of living will continue to be a key priority.
View cost of living help
Warm Welcome Spaces
Warm Welcome Spaces in the borough of Rochdale are places where local people can gather for free in a warm, safe, welcoming place and enjoy a free drink, activities and access to other services.
Find Warm Welcome Spaces
Regeneration
Our regeneration projects, including the Rochdale Town Hall scheme and ambitious plans for the Middleton and Heywood townships, are key priorities.
More on regeneration
Improving the borough
We're working hard to make the borough a better place for people to live and work in. We're doing this by preserving our local history, investing in communities, developing transport links, and more.
Find out how we're improving the borough
About the council
Our ambition is to work cooperatively to reduce inequalities and deliver sustainable opportunities and services that will benefit our people, place and planet.
Decision making

Policies, strategies and reviews
We use policy and strategy documents to guide our decisions. We also use them to develop and run our services fairly and consistently.

Councillors and committees
Councillors are responsible for agreeing provision of services and how the council's money is spent.


