Labour back new leader to take the helm at Dudley Council
Dudley Council's finance boss is set to take over as the authority's new leader after being elected head of the borough's Labour group.
Netherton councillor Qadar Zada has been chosen as the man to succeed Pete Lowe, who announced he was standing down as council leader last week.
Councillor Zada, who is currently head of finance, is now set to take over as leader. There will be a formal vote by the full council at a meeting for which a date has yet to be announced.
The Dudley-born 38-year-old, who has served as a councillor since 2011, said it was an 'honour' to be chosen as leader but that his focus was on improving the lives of the people of Dudley.
He said: "From a very young age I have been a member of the Labour party.
"To lead the Labour party in the borough I love is a privilege and an honour but this isn't about me it's about making sure we now use this to continue the good work Pete started.
"The one thing on my mind is the residents of Dudley."
Control has swung back and forth between Labour and the Conservatives in Dudley over recent years, with no single party commanding a majority at the council house.
Labour recently regained control of the authority after Councillor Heather Rogers defected from the Tories, giving their rivals the numbers to launch a takeover.
Councillor Zadar echoed the views of several council leaders in the Black Country over a lack of funding for local authorities.
