Our Mayor

Councillor Paul Gittings was first elected to Reading Borough Council in 2002, representing Minster Ward before it became Coley Ward under the reorganisation of the borough boundaries. He has held a number of positions on the council, most recently as Lead Councillor for Adult Social Care. Previously he was lead councillor for the Environment and then Culture and Sport and chaired the Strategic Environment Planning and Transport Committee. Councillor Gittings also represents the council on the Royal Berkshire Fire Authority becoming its first-ever Labour chair in 2022 and is currently vice-chair. 

A photo of Councillor Paul Gitttings, The Mayor of Reading and Councillor Amjad Tarar, The Deputy Mayor of Reading at the Annual Meeting of the Council on 27 May 2026.

Away from council duties, Paul is a keen sportsman and represents GB in the age group triathlon team, racing at World and European championships. In his work life, Paul has been a TV producer and digital journalist at organisations such as Reuters and CNN and also delivers Bikeability cycle training in Reading and other local schools. He is proud to be president of the Reading Cygnets Swimming Club and a trustee of Berkshire Outdoor Education Trust.

The Mayor’s Chosen Charities for the year are:

ABC to read

Logo for "ABC to Read" — an open book illustration with the text "ABC to read" arched above it and the tagline "Assisting Berkshire Children to read" below.

ABC to read is a local children’s literacy charity supporting primary school children across Berkshire who are struggling to read. Our volunteers help children improve not only reading ability, but also confidence, communication skills and enjoyment of learning. Teachers regularly report improvements in classroom engagement, participation and self-esteem.

Refugee Support Group

Logo for "Refugee Support Group" — three green figures of varying sizes (representing a family or group) above two hands shaking, alongside the organisation name in green text on a black background.

Refugee Support Group was established in 1994 to support refugees and asylum seekers in Reading. Since then, we have become a trusted source of support and advocacy for sanctuary seekers across Berkshire, promoting their rights, wellbeing, and inclusion.
Guided by a vision of an inclusive Berkshire where every sanctuary seeker is valued, our mission is to provide support and advocacy that promotes integration and participation. Through services including legal advice, resettlement support, wellbeing services, and pathways to economic inclusion, we help sanctuary seekers rebuild their lives.

Sport in Mind

Logo for "Sport in Mind" — a cartoon brain character wearing a yellow sweatband, with arms raised holding dumbbells and standing on two legs, illustrated in bright blue on a dark background, with the organisation name below.

Sport in Mind is the leading mental health sports charity in England and Wales, transforming mental health through sport. We deliver programmes using physical activity to promote wellbeing, especially for those facing the greatest barriers.
Established in 2010, we work in partnership with the NHS to support over 61,000 people. Despite the proven benefits of physical activity, many with mental illness remain inactive due to barriers such as low confidence, social anxiety, and the severity of their condition.

Please consider donating to the Mayor’s Charity Fund.

Responsibilities

The Mayor represents the council at events, welcoming guests and visiting local organisations. She also chairs full council meetings. The Deputy Mayor (Councillor Amjad Tarar) may stand in if the Mayor is not available.

Invite the Mayor to an event

Contact the Mayor’s secretary with the date of your event. If there is a space in the Mayor’s diary, you can invite him to your event.

Our Deputy Mayor

Councillor Amjad Tarar has been elected as Deputy Mayor for the 2026/2027 term.

Last updated on 02/06/2026