Local Support, International Reach
Councillor Louise McKinlay is currently the Deputy Leader of Essex County Council following her re-election in May 2021, as well as being the Cabinet Member for Communities, Economic Growth and Prosperity. She is proudly the first female Deputy Leader of Essex County Council.
Some of Louise’s proudest achievements include, establishing the blueprint for the national Holiday Activity and Food programme. In 2018, work was started in Essex County Council to provide childcare and extra-curricular activities, along with a healthy meal, for vulnerable children and those from low-income families. The scheme has gained global recognition and has won awards for social impact, whilst helping families across the county. In addition, Louise led on a new Plan for Essex Libraries, with a view to modernising facilities, increasing the offer and making the service more relevant to people. This has seen a growth in membership with improved IT and shared space working.
Cllr McKinlay is actively leading for Essex County Council on the priority areas of spreading opportunity, economic growth and business engagement – work that former Education Secretary and Chair of The Purpose Coalition, Justine Greening, has described as “trail blazing.”
Louise is the current Vice Chair of the People and Places Board at the Local Government Association. She was previously elected as Leader of Brentwood District Council in May 2009, as the youngest ever female Council Leader in the Country. She held the position for ten years, before stepping down in May 2019. During her tenure, she was short-listed for the LGiU Council Leader of the Year Award in 2017, from over 200 submissions.
In May 2017, she was elected to Essex County Council for the Brentwood Hutton division and was immediately brought on to the Cabinet as Member for Finance and Resources, before later going on in May 2019 to become the Cabinet Member for Children and Families.
Professionally, she spent a number of years in the City working in Investment Banks and established her own consultancy company, supporting businesses in reducing their costs, managing projects and leading change and transformation. Louise also owns and runs a property company with her husband.
She is committed to supporting the local community and worked in Brentwood to establish the Hutton Community Centre, bringing together local schools, faith groups, sporting clubs and organisations from the area to help run and sustain the facility.
As Cabinet Member for Communities, Economic Growth and Prosperity, Louise leads the council’s work on inward investment, major infrastructure projects and business engagement.
