The various areas of Caversham will have six new councillors representing them following the elections last week.
Caversham was a political battleground in the historic whole-council elections this year, with lower Caversham being a strong Labour area with the northern areas being more Conservative.
Incumbent Conservative councillors Clarence Mitchell, Simon Robinson, Paul Carnell and Isobel Ballsdon all kept their seats.
But that didn’t stop Labour seizing a seat in the newly created Caversham Heights ward, where their candidate Sue Kitchingham won the second highest number of votes.
READ MORE: Reading Borough Council election results in full
Matt Rodda, the Labour MP for Reading East, said he was ‘delighted’ to see Sue Kitchingham elected.
Labour also swept the re-formed Thames ward, which contains areas on both sides of the river.
See the new councillors representing Caversham, Caversham Heights, Emmer Green and Thames ward below:
Jacopo Lanzoni, Labour councillor for Caversham
Jacopo Lanzoni, an Italian who has lived in Caversham for over six years.
He got the most votes at this election, with 1,915 Caversham residents voting for him.
Mr Lanzoni set up Keep Caversham Tidy, a charity which organises cleaning and recycling north of the river.
Jan Gavin, Labour councillor for Caversham
Jan Gavin is no stranger to Reading Borough Council, having previously served as a councillor for Redlands.
She used to teach at Highdown School for 23 years and was previously the lead councillor for childrens services.
Her stated priorities include becoming a ‘community councillor’ by working with residents to raise and solve issues to improve and enhance Caversham as a place to live, work and play.
Matt Yeo, Labour councillor for Caversham
Matt Yeo received the second highest number of votes in the election, with 1,793 votes.
Having previously served in local government, he is currently finishing a PhD at the University of Reading in Sports Economics.
Cllr Yeo said, as a councillor, he will listen to residents and to make sure we the council is committed to maintaining good quality local services.
Harry Kretchmer, Conservative councillor for Emmer Green
Harry Kretchmer was elected for the newly formed ward of Emmer Green alongside Conservative councillors Clarence Mitchell and Simon Robinson.
Like cllr Mitchell, cllr Kretchmer is a former BBC journalist.
ELECTIONS 2022: Labour increase their majority on Reading Borough Council
He moved to Reading in 2019 and his priorities as a councillor will include making sure Emmer Green’s play areas get proper investment and will work to tackle illegal Traveller incursions.
Cllr Kretchmer will also work with Thames Valley Police to ensure streets are kept safe and to combat anti-social behaviour.
Sue Kitchingham, Labour councillor for Caversham Heights
Sue Kitchingham was elected in the all new Caversham Heights ward, were voters also chose incumbent Conservative councillors Isobel Ballsdon and Paul Carnell to represent them.
She said: “I’m proud of the effective and pragmatic way Labour has run Reading Borough Council while I have lived here. As a long-time user of Rivermead I’m delighted to see it being rebuilt with improved facilities.
“To tackle the climate emergency we need actions not words, so it’s great to see Labour is investing £34 million on improving energy efficiency in council homes, as part of their action to reach net zero by 2030.
“Decent housing and further action on climate change would be my priorities if elected.”
Nusrat Sultan, Labour councillor for Thames ward
Nusrat Sultan was elected for the largely reshaped Thames ward alongside incumbent Labour councillors Adele Barnett-Ward and Richard Davies.
Laying out her priorities, she said: “I am passionate about helping people with everyday issues; in particular around health and disability.
“I am interested in helping low income families and those in social housing. I am passionate about being a voice for Thames Ward.”
She is a proud mother and grandmother.
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