Report finds climate of 'fear and intimidation' at Northumberland CC

An independent governance review into Northumberland County Council has found that the council's working environment was "harmful" and that there was a "climate of fear and intimidation."

The report, which was carried out by strategic advisor Max Caller after being commissioned earlier this year and presented at an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday, states that the council had "lost its way" over the years to the extent that "leadership at both political and managerial levels is "distracted" and focused on "internal issues."

There was also significant criticism directed at the chief executive Mrs Daljit Lally, who did not attend the meeting and had, according to Caller, attempted to stop the review going ahead, with the report branding the situation "extraordinary".

Caller said: "The fact of the matter is that instead of the leader making a reasonable request and getting an item on the agenda, there was an attempt to prevent this council having a review and reporting to it, no matter what it said.

Lally was briefly suspended in early August 2020 before being reinstated two months later.

On May 23, a rare Section 114 report was issued by the council’s Finance Officer, raising the alarm over what were described as "unlawful payments", including an annual allowance of £40,000 paid to the chief executive on top of her salary.

The report also raised concerns about a council operated consultancy business, Northumbria International Alliance, which was not set up as a separate legal entity, something the report says breached the Localism Act 2011.

The leaders of the council's two largest parties - Cllr Glen Sanderson of the Conservatives and Cllr Scott Dickinson of Labour - both called for unity in moving forward.

Independent councillor Georgina Hill hit out at the council's political leadership. She said:

"The report is damming. It is focused on officers, but I have seen former leaders and portfolio holders shaking their heads saying it is nothing to do with me.

"I think councillors have been let off the hook. It is them that have been in charge for the last five years."

In May 2021 the Conservatives took overall control of the council, winning 34 of 67 seats in local elections.