Lanigan was first elected as councillor for the Loftus in 2002 after being elected unopposed,[2] a position which she held until her defeat in the 2023 Local Elections. During her time as a councillor, Lanigan also served as a member of the council's Regulatory Committee and its Executive Scrutiny Board, as well as Cabinet Member for Highways, Transportation and Planning.[2]
In March 2023 She was formally censured after breaching Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's code of conduct.[4] She lost her seat in the subsequent election, after Labour gained one of the three Loftus seats.[5]