Introducing the new Mayor of Chelmsford for 2025–26

Last night (Wednesday 14 May), Councillor Jannetta Sosin was elected as Mayor of Chelmsford for 2025–26. The appointment was unanimously agreed by members of all parties during an Annual Full Council meeting. Former Chelmsford City Councillor, Christine Shaw, will support the new Mayor as her Mayoress.

Councillor Smita Rajesh will serve alongside the Mayor and Mayoress as the Deputy Mayor for Chelmsford. She will be supported by her husband, Kumar Rajesh.

Mayor Sosin also selected Hindu Priest Pandit Arun Shashtri, and the Reverend Canon Sebastian Harries of Chelmsford Cathedral as her Mayor’s Chaplains for the year.  

Departing Mayor thanked for year of service

Before appointing the new Mayor of Chelmsford, thanks were given at Full Council to the retiring Mayor, Councillor Janette Potter and Mayoress Jackie Galley, for their service. This was also extended to the outgoing Deputy Mayor Councillor Susan Sullivan and her consort John Pioli for their contributions to Chelmsford.

Between May 2024 and May 2025, the mayoralty attended a total of 355 engagements and meetings across Chelmsford. These included a Museum of Chelmsford memory café for people living with dementia; a 90’s throwback musical at Chelmsford Theatre; and more recently, district-wide celebrations to mark VE Day 80.

In 2024-25 Chelmsford's mayoralty attended diverse events across Chelmsford.

Events such as afternoon teas and golf days were also hosted by the mayoralty to raise money on behalf of their chosen charity for 2024–25 – Farleigh Hospice. In total, £12,310.08 was raised on behalf of the charity in 2024–25 by the Mayor of Chelmsford.

The departing mayor said of her year in office:

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“It has been an absolute honour to be appointed Mayor of Chelmsford for 2024-25. Together with my Mayoress, Jackie Galley, we have attended many local events, religious services, and charitable activities, where we met many interesting volunteers, local residents, and community groups. My charity of the year was Farleigh Hospice, and I am pleased to say that we raised over £12,000 for them. I wish the incoming Mayor all good wishes for her year.”

Councillor Janette Potter, retiring Mayor of Chelmsford 2024-25

Chelmsford CVS selected as new mayoral charity

The new Mayor of Chelmsford, Councillor Jannetta Sosin, 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.

During her term in office, the Mayor will also chair Full Council meetings three times a year in a ceremonial role and will support community and charitable events across the district on behalf of Chelmsford City Council.

About the new Mayor of Chelmsford

Councillor Jannetta Sosin has resided 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. Councillor Sosin thanked Full Council for appointing her as Mayor of Chelmsford for 2025-26:

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“I am very grateful to all councillors for selecting me to become Mayor of Chelsmford for the coming year. I have met many mayors in my time as a parish and city councillor, and what I consider they have in common is an immense pride in the City of Chelmsford. I look forward to following in their footsteps. Thank you also to our city staff, who support us so well and to friends and family, some of whom have joined us this evening. With your support I am sure the Mayoralty can look forward to the coming year with confidence.”

Councillor Jannetta Sosin, Mayor of Chelmsford 2025-26

About the Deputy Mayor of Chelmsford

Councillor Smita Rajesh has lived in Chelmsford for more than 15 years. She currently lives in Chelmsford West with her two children and husband, Kumar, 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.

Civic Service in June for new mayoralty

Chelmsford residents are welcomed to join the new Mayoralty at the annual Civic Service at Chelmsford Cathedral, which will take place on 22 June 2025 from 3.30pm.

If you’d like to invite the new Mayor or Deputy Mayor to join an upcoming event or visit a charity or organisation, you can submit a request via Chelmsford City Council’s website.