Some council staff in Newcastle have warned that morale is at “rock bottom” and accused decision-makers of putting up a “wall of secrecy”.
Leaked responses to a Newcastle City Council employee survey also brand the local authority a “sinking ship” and raise concerns about the number of senior figures who have exited over recent months. The comments, obtained by ChronicleLive, were made as part of a Local Government Association (LGA) review of the council’s performance, which has been requested by the civic centre’s new leadership.
However, other respondents offered high praise for workers “going over and above what is expected to deliver services” and said the council is generally a “supportive and caring employer”. The LGA ‘peer challenge’ was launched after a period of major upheaval at the council, which has experienced a change of chief executive and the departure of a number of senior directors this year – as well as a switch at the top of the Labour-run political administration, with Nick Kemp taking charge after long-serving leader Nick Forbes was deselected.
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