Barnet Council Seeks New Chief Executive to Lead Local Initiatives
Barnet Council is actively looking for a new chief executive to replace the interim leader
Barnet, UK, Chief Executive, Council, Job Vacancy
Barnet: The council is on the hunt for a new chief executive. This comes after John Hooton left last June, and Cath Shaw has been filling in since then.
They just posted the job on their careers page, and the salary looks pretty good—between £206,492 and £218,002. Hooton had a solid run, leading the council for eight years and making some significant improvements.
Under his watch, children’s services went from “inadequate” to “good,” and they tackled climate change pretty well. But the new chief will face some tough challenges, especially with finances and social care services.
Council leader Barry Rawlings has already warned that tough decisions are coming, with a budget gap of £52 million looming for 2025/26. He mentioned that they’ll need to focus on fewer priorities moving forward.
The job description highlights that the new chief will need to transform services and empower local communities. It’s a big task, but they’re looking for someone who can inspire the team and keep costs down.
They hope to fill the position by spring and are looking for interest from both inside and outside the council. It’s a crucial role, and they want someone ready for the challenge.