Councillor reacts to 'unsettling and surprising’ events at Northumberland County Council

Earlier on August 13, it was confirmed that Northumberland County Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for children’s services, Cllr Wayne Daley, and the cabinet member for adult wellbeing and health, Cllr Veronica Jones, have both resigned from their positions in the council’s cabinet.

It followed the announcement of chief executive Daljit Lally’s ‘period of extended leave’, which came just after she emailed all 67 county councillors to flag up what she claimed were ‘significant whistle-blowing concerns’, including in relation to council and Conservative leader Peter Jackson.

Cllr Gordon Castle – currently the Alnwick ward’s sole representative on the county council after Robbie Moore was elected MP for Keighley in December and then this year’s elections in May were suspended due to coronavirus – addressed August 13’s meeting of Alnwick Town Council with a prepared statement.

He said: “The chief executive, Daljit Lally, is on extended leave and interim management arrangements are in place with Kelly Angus as interim acting chief executive and Cath McEvoy-Carr as acting deputy chief executive.

“This is obviously unsettling and surprising to many, including me; however, after discussions with colleagues I am assured that a full and totally independent investigation will follow soon.”

Cllr Castle said the investigation would cover reasons for the chief executive’s absence and determine if proper procedures were followed, “together with an evidence-based investigation” of claims made which are “strongly denied by the leader and other cabinet members”.

He added: “The deputy leader and cabinet member for children’s services, Cllr Wayne Daley, and the cabinet member for adult wellbeing and health, Cllr Veronica Jones, have both resigned their positions on the cabinet (including the deputy leadership) having been unable to agree with the decision to suspend the chief executive.”

Cllr Castle said the situation at the council “should not be allowed to divert attention from the outstanding work carried out by members and officers, especially during lockdown, where the public had good reason to be satisfied with the county council. This excellent work will continue unabated”.

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