He served as a Rushden Urban District Councillor between 1906 and 1910 and, a Leeds City Councillor from 1923 to 1929, then as Alderman in Leeds 1929--36 and was chairman the Housing Committee.
He served as a Rushden Urban District Councillor between 1906 and 1910, although he moved to Leeds in 1909. In local politics, Dobbs acted as a Leeds City Councillor from 1923 to 1929, then as Alderman in Leeds 1929--36 and was chairman the Housing Committee.