Councillor Mona Khurana has resigned from her position as Sandwell Council's cabinet member for children and families, just three months after being appointed. The Blackheath councillor is leaving the role due to 'increased family responsibilities', according to Reform council leader Ray Nock.
Councillor Matt Lloyd has been named as her successor with immediate effect, as Reform continues to hold control of the council following its historic victory in May.
Cabinet leader thanks departing councillor
Council leader Ray Nock expressed regret at Khurana's departure, saying: "I want to thank Councillor Khurana for her work over the last few months as cabinet member for children and families and I'm sad that an increase in her family responsibilities means she can no longer continue in the role."
He added: "My cabinet is totally committed to making our borough an even better place to live and work, and I'm delighted that Councillor Lloyd is stepping up into this role."
Nock emphasised the importance of the portfolio, stating: "Children and young people are the future of our borough, and Councillor Lloyd will be leading on this key area of council activity to make sure every child in Sandwell has the right support from birth through to becoming a young adult with the right skills to have the best chance in life."
New cabinet member pledges to build on Ofsted rating
Matt Lloyd, the new cabinet member for children and families, said: "I look forward to building on the recent Ofsted judgement that our children's services are rated 'good'."
He continued: "We will be working hard to make sure children in Sandwell are safe and protected, and that the right support is in place, particularly for those with special educational needs and disabilities."
Reform took control of Sandwell Council in May in a historic win, ending Labour's grip on power for the first time since 1979. Khurana was appointed to her cabinet role shortly after that election.
All-male cabinet and children's services record
Her departure now means Sandwell Council's cabinet is entirely male.
Sandwell's children's services were rated 'good' by Ofsted for the first time in more than a decade at the end of last year. Previous inspections under former Labour administrations judged the services 'inadequate' in 2013 and 2015, before the service was taken over by Sandwell Children's Trust in 2018.
The service was judged to 'require improvements' in 2022 before achieving its 'good' rating in 2025, where inspectors noted that the council's children's services had made "significant changes."
