University professor sworn in as new Mayor of Charnwood

Cllr Paul Baines will be representing the borough over the next 12 months with his Mayoress, wife Dr Ning Baines.

Cllr Baines, councillor for Anstey and professor at the University of Leicester, was sworn in as the 48th first citizen of the borough on Monday May 17 at the Council’s Annual Meeting.
 
Cllr Baines will be representing the borough over the next 12 months with his Mayoress, wife Dr Ning Baines.
 
The Mayor said: “It is a privilege to serve as the Mayor of Charnwood and I can’t wait to get started in my new role representing the people in the borough.
 
“Being the Mayor is a fantastic opportunity to find out about the positive difference many people, groups and organisations make to our local communities. It’s also a chance to thank them for their hard work.”
 
Cllr Baines was born in West Yorkshire and spent most of his early life in Bradford and Leeds. He graduated with a first-class Management and Chemical Sciences honour’s degree at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST), where he also undertook postgraduate MPhil and PhD in Management degrees.
 
Cllr Baines began his career in academia at Middlesex University where he founded and ran the Business Development Unit. He also founded the Master’s in Management programme in 2013 and the country’s first Executive MBA Apprenticeship programme in 2017 at Cranfield University.
 
It was a Professor of Political Marketing and Associate Dean post at the University of Leicester School of Business which brought Cllr Baines to Charnwood where he has been a borough councillor since December 2018.
 
Since being elected as the borough councillor for Anstey, Cllr Baines has served on the Scrutiny Committee, as a member of the Budget Scrutiny Panel, and as Chair of the Commercialisation Scrutiny Panel.
 
In his spare time, the new Mayor of Charnwood enjoys travelling, watching films and walking up mountains.
 
Living Without Abuse and Marie Curie have been chosen as the 2021-22 Mayoral charities.
 
Cllr Baines’ appointment marks the end of the Mayoral year for Cllr David Snartt.
 
Cllr Snartt said: “My Mayoral year has been like no other due to the covid-19 pandemic but nevertheless I’ve thoroughly enjoyed seeing the fantastic work our communities have been doing to support one another through an extraordinary year.
 
“Thank you to every person, group and business I’ve been able to safely visit during my Mayoral year and for the outstanding work they have done for the people of Charnwood.
 
‘May I also thank everyone who donated to my two local charities, LOROS and Admiral Nurses.  
 
“As I hand the chains over, I wish the new Mayor and Mayoress of Charnwood all the best in their roles.”
 
Cllr Jennifer Tillotson has been elected as Deputy Mayor and will be supported in her year of office by her husband John Tillotson.