Councillor Keith Wakefield was first elected to Leeds City Council in 1988. He is the Leader of Leeds City Council and has been the Leader of the Labour Group for seven years. Keith represents the Kippax and Methley Ward, covering many of the former mining villages in the East of Leeds.
Prior to being Leader of the Council, he was Leader of the Opposition for six years, served as Deputy Leader of the Council and also a member of the Executive. He currently chairs a number of Boards including Leeds City Council’s Executive Board and Leeds Initiative Executive as well as being Vice Chair of Leeds City Region Board and serving as a Director of Leeds, York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce.
In his time as a councillor he has been responsible for the Council’s budget, housing, regeneration, community safety, highways, education and tackling inequalities. He was also responsible for creating the Council’s first ever Community Safety and Regeneration Department, including the Council’s One Stop Centres.
Professionally, he worked for over 25 years as a lecturer in Further Education until he gave up work to commit himself full-time to being Leader of Leeds City Council.