Manchester City Council's chief executive has said the authority ‘won't rest' until ‘deeply concerning' findings from an investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour by senior officers are addressed.
Tom Stannard said: ‘This was an unparalleled council-wide listening exercise with nothing off limits. Where there are challenges identified they will be confronted, not ignored.
‘While it is reassuring that most staff would recommend Manchester City Council as a place to work and have confidence in their managers, it is completely unacceptable that anyone should feel undervalued, unable to raise concerns, unsupported if they do or – in the worst cases – unsafe. These issues cannot and will not be ignored.'
The report by external consultants Impact Culture was commissioned after allegations of inappropriate behaviour by senior male officers towards junior female staff was reported by local news organisation The Mill.
Its findings were shared with staff last week and – based on responses to a workforce survey – revealed that only 36% felt that complaints about inappropriate behaviour were treated fairly, regardless of the officer's seniority.
Staff also reported a perceived ‘accountability gap' with more senior officers more sheltered from serious consequences.
Some also expressed concerns that raising issues could have negative consequences for them and 32% said they had witnessed inappropriate behaviour from senior officers.
Among the senior officers embroiled in the original allegations published by The Mill were James Binks, Manchester's assistant chief executive at the time.
Binks joined Rochdale MBC as its chief executive in April 2025 but was suspended in November of that year and subsequently resigned.
