Senior city official has left authority

A SENIOR director at Newcastle City Council who was at the centre of a bullying complaint against its former leader has left the authority.

- By GRAEME WHITFIELD

Director of investment and growth Michelle Percy has been one of the most prominent officers at the council in recent years.

Ms Percy made an allegation of bullying last September against Nick Kemp, who was leader of Newcastle City Council at the time.

He resigned as leader shortly afterwards, though has denied any wrongdoing. An investigation by an external law firm commissioned by the council last November is still ongoing.

Ms Percy joined the council in 2016, having worked with developer Clouston Group on key developments in the city including Stephenson Quarter.

She often represented the council at public events and was seen to lead efforts to bring investment into the city, as well as being close to Newcastle United's leadership team after its takeover by a Saudi-led consortium. She is set to leave the council at the end of July, but the terms of her departure have been not publicised.

She said: “I am incredibly proud of what my teams, Newcastle City Council and I have achieved in my time as the city’s director of investment and growth.