About the current Mayor

Councillor Jannetta Sosin has lived in Great Baddow in Chelmsford since 1980. Alongside her husband, Andrew, she shares four adult children and eight grandchildren.

As a silk artist and jewellery designer, the new Mayor is passionate about the creative arts. She chairs the National Guild of Silk Painters and is a member of Chelmsford Art Society and Essex Craft Guild.

Councillor Sosin also previously served as Vice Chair of the National Association for Gifted Children and spent ten years taking part in Theatre at Baddow productions.

In 1999, she joined Great Baddow Parish Council and has since served on various committees, including as Chair the parish council and Chair of Planning.

The new Mayor has been a Chelmsford City Councillor since 2019 and previously served as a borough councillor from 2003 until 2015. She has, up until recently, chaired the city council’s Planning Committee. Her husband is also both a city and parish councillor.

Deputy Mayor

Councillor Smita Rajesh has lived in Chelmsford for more than 15 years. She currently lives in Chelmsford West with her two children and husband, Rajesh, who will be her Deputy Mayor’s Consort.

In addition to her role as city councillor for Marconi ward, Councillor Rajesh is a school governor, a trustee at Chelmsford Citizens Advice Bureau and chair of trustee board at Chelmsford Hindu Society.

The new Deputy Mayor is passionate about securing a brighter future for Chelmsford and the wider world through unity and support for one another. With this in mind, she continues to work on connecting communities around Chelmsford and Essex.

Mayor's charity 

The Mayor has chosen Chelmsford CVS as the mayoral charity for 2025–26. The local charity offers support and guidance to voluntary organisations, community groups and charities across Chelmsford, and acts as a brokerage to match people with local voluntary opportunities. Mayoral events and activities held throughout the year will raise funds in support of this work.