Council bullying investigation costs reach £74k
BBCAn unfinished investigation into a bullying complaint made against a former council leader has so far cost more than £74,000.
A senior local authority director made the allegation last September against Nick Kemp, who was leader of Newcastle City Council at the time.
The investigation into the complaint, which was commissioned by the council last November and is being carried out by an external law firm, is yet to conclude.
Councillors were told on Tuesday its findings were now expected to be delivered in August, following concerns about the length of time it was taking to complete, and that the probe had already resulted in a bill totalling tens of thousands of pounds.
Mr Kemp, who resigned as leader in September and later quit the Labour Party, has denied any wrongdoing.
The complaint against the Byker councillor was made by Michelle Percy, the council's director of investment and growth.
'Far too long'
Council solicitor Helen Wilson confirmed the current running cost of the investigation was £74,632.50, plus VAT.
She said the inquiry into the bullying complaint had been a "significant undertaking" requiring interviews with multiple individuals and a "large amount of information" being gathered, and said she hoped a final report would be issued to the council's monitoring officer in August.
If a breach of the council's code of conduct was found, then the matter would be referred to a special hearing in front of the audit and standards committee to decide what action to take, she added.
The committee's independent chair, Les Watson, said the situation had "gone on far too long" and that he wanted to move quickly once the final report is issued.
Mr Kemp, who was replaced by Karen Kilgour in the leader role, said at the time of his resignation that he "strenuously" refuted any allegations of bullying.
The long-serving councillor and five colleagues all quit Labour in November 2024, in doing so wiping out the party's majority in the council chamber, and now sit as members of an East End and Associates Independents group.