The Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, has today confirmed that Mo Baines will join the Board of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) as Lead Non-Executive Director (NED) for a one-year term, taking effect from 21st October.
Mo Baines is an expert in public policy and local government, with a particular interest in service delivery models, local government finance and research. She is currently Chief Executive at the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE), and visiting professor at the University of Staffordshire’s Centre for Business, Innovation and the Regions.
The Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner said:
“I’m delighted that Mo will be joining the MHCLG Board. Her knowledge and experience of how local government and public services operate will inform the work and direction of the department, and I look forward to working with her to drive forward our ambitious agenda over the next year.”
MHCLG Lead Non-Executive Director, Mo Baines said:
“I’m honoured to be joining the Department at this time to deliver such an important, challenging and exciting agenda. I look forward to working with the skilled and dedicated team of colleagues from across MHCLG, and wider partners within and across the local government, housing and communities sector.”
For more information:
About Mo Baines
Mo Baines joined the Board of the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government in October 2024.
Mo has extensive experience of working in public policy and local government, with a particular background in service delivery models, local government finance and research. She is the Chief Executive at the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) and visiting professor at the University of Staffordshire’s Centre for Business, Innovation and the Regions.
Mo has served in a number of other public sector roles over the course of her career, including as Head of Communications and Deputy Chief Executive of APSE, prior to her appointment as Chief Executive. Mo has authored and contributed to a number of public policy research papers and publications on service delivery and insourcing, housing and planning, workforce matters and local government finance. Mo has throughout her career worked closely with public sector trade unions, local councils and councillors across the UK and is passionate about the value of local government services to communities.
About the MHCLG Board
The Departmental Board is chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister, and comprises all junior ministers, senior officials, the Lead Non-Executive and non-executive board members (appointed by the Deputy Prime Minister in accordance with Cabinet Office guidelines). The board meets quarterly, with overarching responsibility for departmental performance and delivery.
The Board provides overall leadership for the department’s business, as well as advice, support and challenge on the delivery and performance of key policy areas and programmes against priority outcomes.
About the appointment process
The Deputy Prime Minister has undertaken this appointment on an interim basis without competition in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments and following consultation with the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The appointment will now ensure that there is NED representation at the first Ministerial Board in November. A competitive recruitment for all other permanent NEDs will take place within the next year and a competitive recruitment for the Lead NED will run once these are in place.
