Chairman of Council
Our Chairman is the first citizen of the Epping Forest district. They are elected at the council’s annual general meeting held in May. The position is held for a period of 1 year and is apolitical.
Invite our Chairman to your event using the online form below.
Chairman Louise Mead
Biography
I have lived in Loughton for 23 Years. I grew up in Woodford Green and went to Braeside School in Buckhurst Hill, eventually ending up at Epping Forest College to study my A ‘levels where I took my favourite subject, Government and Politics.
I have been a member of the Loughton Residents Association since I was first elected to be a district councillor back in 2014.
After 20 years I gave up my social work career in 2020 to home educate my autistic daughter, but I hope that my experience in social work along with some of my own difficulties and challenges in life, enables me to have the understanding and empathy of the issues that affect us here in Epping Forest and beyond and the root causes.
In 2024 l was elected to service as Vice Chairman of Council, and in 2025 l became Chairman of Council.
I am very much looking forward to meeting many more residents during my chairmanship in the coming months and continuing to raise the profile of Epping Forest District Council as a place to work and live.
Chairman’s charity
The Chairman has adopted Epping Forest Foodbank and The League of Friends of St Margaret’s Hospital as her chosen charities.
2025 to 2026
- Chairman of Council – Councillor Louise Mead
- Vice-chairman – Councillor Alan Lion
Follow our Chairman on social media
Previous Chairmen
| Year | Chairman |
|---|---|
| 2024 to 2025 | Councillor Les Burrows |
| 2023 to 2024 | Councillor Darshan Sunger |
| 2022 to 2023 | Mary Sartin |
| 2021 to 2022 | Helen Kane |
| 2020 to 2021 | Helen Kane |
| 2019 to 2020 | Councillor Richard Bassett |
| 2018 to 2019 | Councillor Richard Bassett |
| 2017 to 2018 | David Stallan |
| 2016 to 2017 | Councillor Jeane Lea |
| 2015 to 2016 | Liz Webster |
| 2014 to 2015 | Tony Boyce |
| 2013 to 2014 | Mary Sartin |
| 2012 to 2013 | Brian Rolfe |
| 2011 to 2012 | Ken Angold-Stephens |
| 2010 to 2011 | Anne Grigg |
| 2009 to 2010 | Penny Smith |
| 2008 to 2009 | John Knapman |
| 2007 to 2008 | Caroline Pond |
| 2006 to 2007 | Ann Haigh |
| 2005 to 2006 | Brian Sandler |
| 2004 to 2005 | Councillor Richard Morgan |
| 2003 to 2004 | Stephen Barnes |
| 2002 to 2003 | Doug Kelly |
| 2001 to 2002 | John Gilliham |
| 2000 to 2001 | Ron Heath |
| 1999 to 2000 | Stan Goodwin |
| 1998 to 1999 | Michael Heavens |
| 1997 to 1998 | John D Padfield |
| 1996 to 1997 | Ron Barnes OBE |
| 1995 to 1996 | Kay Ellis |
| 1994 to 1995 | Joan Davis |
| 1993 to 1994 | Bill Easton OBE |
| 1992 to 1993 | Don Spinks |
| 1991 to 1992 | Jim Axon |
| 1990 to 1991 | Brian Hudspeth |
| 1989 to 1990 | Ron Braybrook |
| 1988 to 1989 | Ann Miller |
| 1987 to 1988 | Reg Amanet |
| 1986 to 1987 | Ian Abbey |
| 1985 to 1986 | Ashley Bryant BEM |
| 1984 to 1985 | Michael Aldworth |
| 1983 to 1984 | Freddie Limer MBE |
| 1982 to 1983 | John Pledge |
| 1981 to 1982 | Dennis Morton |
| 1980 to 1981 | Ian Beattie |
| 1979 to 1980 | Harry Taylor |
| 1978 to 1979 | Bob O’Malley |
| 1977 to 1978 | Brian Greenhill |
| 1976 to 1977 | George Padfield |
| 1974 to 1976 | Arthur Welch |