An independent review into the culture at Newcastle City Council has called for a 'reset' and pointed the finger of blame at councillors with 'significant behavioural and trust issues'. The Local Government Association (LGA) peer review, commissioned in December 2024 amid a series of controversies—notably bullying accusations made by senior director Michelle Percy against former council leader Nick Kemp—was delayed until the end of a separate investigation that cleared Mr Kemp of breaching the council's code of conduct. Publication of the findings was further delayed until after the May local elections, in which Labour lost power in Newcastle. The report is now public ahead of being formally presented to councillors next week.
LGA Findings on Culture and Behaviour
The LGA team calls for Newcastle City Council to 'reset relationships and rebuild trust across the whole council' following what it terms a 'distracting period', warning that bad behaviour from certain individuals had become 'normalised'. The review found that most people interviewed felt the council's culture had improved since December 2024, though some councillors had a 'loss of confidence' in the organisation. It also noted 'good leadership, effective governance and good relationships' between senior officers and politicians.
However, the inquiry team stated that the 'greatest risk to the council is presented by several councillors (outside the administration) demonstrating some significant behavioural and trust issues, including a lack of respect'. The report warns that 'poor behaviour has now become almost accepted, tolerated and normalised' among a small group of elected politicians, and that such problems existed 'across the piece and not just amongst one or two parties'. Full council meetings were described as 'intimidating' for some members.
Recommendations and Political Context
The report recommends that councillors take 'proper responsibility for their actions' and that Civic Centre officers call out poor behaviour at an early stage, doing so 'equally and impartially'. In relation to the bullying accusations that sparked the review, the report concluded that the council's checks and balances 'worked' and that 'the people overseeing it did as much as they could as quickly as they could'. However, it also found that the level of upheaval at the top of the council over recent years was 'compounding uncertainty' for staff, and that 'whilst officers at various levels are doing their best to serve councillors, they are not being helped by the lack of clarity on the best way to do it'.
Labour lost its majority on the council when Mr Kemp and several others quit the party shortly after he resigned as leader in 2024, leaving the authority in no overall control. A Liberal Democrat minority administration is now in power at the Civic Centre, following May's elections. The report is due to be presented at a full council meeting next week, with an action plan to deal with its recommendations outlined later in July.
Responses from Council Leaders
Council Leader Colin Ferguson, who became leader in May, said: 'We are in a very different place now than when this motion was brought forward, particularly given we now have 52 new members following the May elections. Nevertheless, my original motion committed to a report coming back to council, and I pledged before the local elections that I would do just that if I became leader. On the whole the report is positive, and confirms that the governance arrangements we have in place are fit for purpose. An action plan will be put in place to address any improvements and I will present that to cabinet this month. I have enjoyed a positive relationship with officers since becoming leader, have welcomed my engagement with members from all political groups so far, and I look forward to working collaboratively across the council chamber in this new political landscape.'
Chief Executive Pam Smith added: 'We have a passionate leadership team who stand ready to support all elected members in a shared ambition to deliver the very best outcomes for residents in Newcastle. I am pleased that the report recognises this and the positive changes that have taken place.'
