Amanda Pinnock made history in 2015 when she was elected as the first councillor of African descent to serve on Kirklees Council. Representing the Ashbrow ward in Huddersfield as a Labour Party councillor, her career in local politics has been heavily driven by a commitment to equality, environmental action, and improving the standard of living for her constituents.

Professional Advocacy

Outside of her council duties, Pinnock is a practising solicitor who actively represents the interests of Kirklees residents. Much of her professional focus has centred on ensuring that her clients have access to justice, which includes taking direct action to challenge rogue landlords and protect tenants living in substandard accommodation.

Environmental and Community Leadership

Her dedication to public service eventually led her to join the council’s leadership as the Cabinet Member for Communities and Environment. In this role, she has championed local environmental initiatives aimed at creating cleaner towns and green spaces. This included supporting campaigns like “It’s Still Littering!” in Heckmondwike, which worked in partnership with Keep Britain Tidy to change public behaviour around rubbish and build a greener Kirklees.

Roots and Cultural Heritage

Pinnock’s connection to the local area runs deep; her family moved to the Colne Valley area when she was eight years old, giving her fond memories of growing up in the region. She has been vocal about her desire to tackle difficult societal issues—such as the cost-of-living crisis, climate change, and the broken housing market—so that future generations can thrive rather than just survive.

As a prominent Black leader in the community, she has also been an active voice in celebrating the region’s rich cultural history. She has strongly supported the Windrush Wise Words project, an initiative designed to honour the Windrush generation and bring Huddersfield’s Caribbean stories to film, ensuring that the community’s positive contributions and historic hardships are permanently recognised.