Council director is set to move on

BARNSLEY Council is on the lookout for a new executive director of core services as Shokat Lal looks set to be made chief executive of Sandwell Council.

Shokat – who joined Barnsley Council in 2020 – was chosen unanimously from a cross-party committee on the West Midlands council, and will be appointed on a permanent basis subject to approval at their full council meeting on Tuesday.

In his current role, Shokat is responsible for corporate services including finance and legal and governance services.

Prior to this, he was the assistant chief executive at Rotherham Council where he was part of the senior leadership team responsible for bringing the council out of intervention.

Coun Kerrie Carmichael, leader of Sandwell Council, said: “I’m delighted the committee unanimously recommended Shokat as our new permanent chief executive.

“His experience and evident passion and commitment to transforming services for residents made him the outstanding choice to lead the council through the significant challenges ahead.”