Cambridgeshire and Peterborough mayor failed to address 'toxic culture', report finds

A new report has found the mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Dr Nik Johnson, faced allegations of bullying and creating a toxic culture.

Mr Johnson was found not to have breached the code of conduct in relation to bullying, but was criticised for not doing more to address the behaviour of an ex-employee.

The report comes after the mayor apologised for his actions in the early days of him taking office following a two-year investigation.

At the time it was not made public what he was apologising for and the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority said it will not publish the full report.

But it's now published details that reveal some of the background to what happened.

The report said three complaints were lodged against the mayor, which included allegations of “bullying behaviour and toxic culture”.

The independent investigator said the mayor did not breach the code in relation to bullying, but found he had breached the code in relation to civility and disrepute.

In particular, the report criticised the mayor’s lack of action to address the alleged behaviour of a former employee who had been described as a “henchman”.

The investigator said a lot of what had been complained about around the allegations of bullying and a toxic culture originated from an ex-employee.

In the report, it said the investigation was not looking into the actions of the unnamed ex-employee, but said their actions, the mayor’s awareness of them and his response to it was relevant.

The report said Mr Johnson claimed that apart from one incident between a senior officer and the ex-employee, he did not personally witness any inappropriate behaviour from the ex-employee.

However, the investigator found this was “implausible” and said the mayor must have been aware of “various and serious issues” regarding the ex-employee’s conduct.

The investigator highlighted that the issue was specifically brought to his attention in September 2021 through a “stark warning” email that referred to the ex-employee as a “henchman”.

The report said: “Those involved at the time or who witness, were party to or later became aware of such interactions were quite entitled – in the absence of the mayor’s obvious intervention – to conclude that the mayor was aware of and potentially even supportive of or directing the ex-employee’s behaviour, or was behaving in such a way himself.”

The report also highlighted an instance where an ex-employee shared their views on an HR process at the authority in a Whatsapp group with the mayor and another ex-employee.

The investigator said the mayor was aware this discussion was “inappropriate” and should have intervened to stop the discussion.

“The independent investigator concluded that the mayor was aware of the ex-employee’s unacceptable behaviour towards others and did not call out that behaviour; nor did the mayor take sufficient and appropriate steps to stop it," the report said.

“In view of the seriousness of the conduct and the fact that this was, at the time, an employee of the Combined Authority, it would have been appropriate for the mayor to engage with HR in the event that the ex-employee failed to take heed of any instructions from the Mayor or others requiring them to regulate their behaviour.

“Given the ex-employee’s position, the independent investigator would have expected the Mayor to recognise the importance of doing so."

The report continued that Mr Johnson's "failure to intervene amounted to him condoning such behaviour."

“It was particularly surprising that the mayor did not take suitable steps (including seeking support from HR) on receipt of the stark warning regarding the ex-employee’s conduct (in which the ex-employee was referred to as a ‘henchman’) in an email to the mayor in September 2021.”

The investigator said he did not think the mayor damaged the reputation of the Combined Authority, but said he had inflicted disrepute on himself in his role as mayor, due to his lack of leadership.

Following the investigator finding a breach, the mayor was ordered to undertake further HR training and to issue a written apology.

A recommendation was made to improve the training for a new incoming mayor.

Mr Johnson said he was sorry for what had happened.

“I have had a lot of time to reflect on what happened in those early days and have long since realised that much of it need not have," he said.

“I regret having been the cause of upset and apologise unreservedly to those I gave reason to complain. I am sorry and I have actually wanted to say so for ages.

"I wish I knew then what I know now, I am a better person for everything that has gone on and, I would argue, a better mayor."

Mr Johnson added the Combined Authority has improved and wished "the organisation we were a part of then is what it is now and as it is so much better in every conceivable way.

"I say that because I genuinely believe all of these improvements began back then and I can only hope that the very real, very public progress made since provides something in the way of solace.”

Rob Bridge, chief executive at the Combined Authority, said the publication of the decision notice marked an end to the investigation process.

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