Government appoints council legal director to Bedford intervention team

Shawkat will join Lead Inspector Paul Najsarek and Assistant Inspector Margaret Lee under the directions of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).

The inspection was launched in February in light of financial and governance concerns and an earlier warning that it risked a section 114 notice.

In a letter to Shawkat, James Blythe, Deputy Director of Local Government Stewardship and Interventions at MHCLG, said the inspection itself has been directed to focus on the council's governance and scrutiny arrangements, audits, and capacity, specifically in relation to its finance function.

It will focus on the council's organisational culture, among other things, he wrote.

He added: "Given our concerns relate to broad decision-making, and whether the standards expected for effective and convenient local government are being upheld, the inspection will consider decision-making in relation to those functions, encompassing leadership, governance, organisational culture, use of resources, partnerships and community engagement, and impact on service delivery."

Shawkat is the current director of legal services, IT services, democratic services, electoral services and procurement at the London Borough of Bromley.

She has held senior legal and monitoring officer positions across county councils, a unitary authority and four London councils since 2006.

Adam Carey