Cllr Loakes has given nearly three decades of service to Waltham Forest Council, having been elected in 1998 to the Leytonstone Ward- the Ward he still represents. This includes 6 years as Council Leader and 16 years in his current role as Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Climate and Air Quality.

Cllr Loakes has also been Chair of the North London Waste Authority (NLWA) for nearly 20 years. In his role as Chair of NLWA he is overseeing one of London's largest public sector infrastructure projects the reprovision of an ERF and a new Resource Recovery Facility in Edmonton.

In July of 2024, Cllr Loakes’ record in local government was recognised with a Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) from His Majesty, The King, for services to local government.

https://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/stories/cllr-clyde-loakes-mbe-services-local-government-huge-honour-and-privilege

Cllr Loakes continues to lead his climate and air quality portfolio and has recently overseen the 10 Year Anniversary of the pioneering Enjoy Waltham Forest programme, the council's ongoing commitment to tackling the climate crisis and most recently, a bold and emerging plan for nature recovery in the borough.