Bullying probe findings delayed to after election
GoogleThe findings of an independent inquiry into the running of a council will not be published until after crunch local elections.
Councillors agreed to commission a review into the governance of Newcastle City Council in December 2024, following concerns about bullying within the Labour-run authority.
The inquiry began late last year, but conclusions will not be made public before May's local elections, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Colin Ferguson, leader of the council's Lib Dem opposition group, said the delay was "intolerable".
The inquiry began over concerns about the behind-the-scenes culture at the Civic Centre and controversy surrounding a bullying complaint made against former leader Nick Kemp by a senior director.
That followed the end of a separate investigation which ultimately cleared Kemp of breaching the council's code of conduct.
Delays to the wider inquiry's conclusions have sparked fresh questions about transparency at a critical period in city politics.
'No good reason'
Every council seat in Newcastle will be up for grabs in the May elections, meaning there could be significant changes in the balance of political power on Tyneside.
Labour has been in power in Newcastle since 2011, but currently operates a minority administration after losing its majority following a series of defections.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service understands a draft version of the Local Government Association peer review report was delivered more than a month ago.
A council spokesperson confirmed a final report would "be brought to a future meeting of full council", as was agreed in the original motion voted on in 2024, but there were none scheduled before May.
Ferguson said the wait was "intolerable" and for "no good reason", adding the inquiry's findings were a "vital part" of the council moving on.
LDRSNick Hartley, who leads the council's Green group, also called for the report to be published this month, saying: "Transparency and accountability are essential if we want to rebuild trust in the way the council is run."
Marion Williams, who leads the East End and Associates Independents, said the pre-election furore was a case of "I told you so".
Her group had previously raised concerns over the timing of the review and had wanted it delayed until after the elections to avoid "a process that appears rushed, retrospective, or disconnected from the challenges facing the city".
A Newcastle Labour spokesperson said the December 2024 motion "made clear" the final report would be brought to full council and "be published in line with the process agreed" by members.
