A local government enforcer has been drafted in to lead a review of governance at Northumberland County Council after a string of scandals rocked the authority.
There has been significant concerns over the running of the council since August 2020, when chief executive Daljit Lally OBE was placed on "extended leave" after raising whistleblowing concerns.
She later returned to work after council leader Peter Jackson lost a vote of no confidence in September of the same year, losing by a single vote after members of his own administration turned against him.
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It has now been confirmed by the county council that Max Caller CBE will lead a governance review into the authority.
Mr Caller was also drafted in to produce reports on the bankrupt Conservative -led Northamptonshire County Council and Labour -led Liverpool City Council.
Mr Caller led the Best Value Inspections at Northamptonshire and Liverpool and was a Commissioner at Tower Hamlets.
He is a former Chief Executive of the London Boroughs of Hackney and Barnet and the former Chair of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England.
The report into Liverpool, complied over three months, was branded "scathing" by the Liverpool Echo and highlighted a series of shocking failures.
The council has confirmed the organisation Solace, of which Mr Caller is an associate, would be leading the review.
A spokesman said: "The Deputy Leader of the Council has commissioned SOLACE to lead an external corporate governance review of the Council. This follows consultation with both senior officers and group leaders of the opposition parties.
"The purpose of the review is to highlight areas for improvement and we expect that there will be learning for everyone, and an opportunity for the council to adapt and change the way in which we do business."
The news was welcomed by the leaders of both the council's main political parties.
Coun Glen Sanderson, Conservative leader and leader of the council, said: "It is something I've wanted to have since I became leader.
"As a new leader it was important to have somebody tell us what we're doing well and what we need to look at. It is the healthy thing to do.
"I need to get a good vision of the council and what we're doing right, and what we need to improve."
Mr Sanderson added that he didn't know Mr Caller but was "looking forward" to meeting him later this week.
Labour leader Scott Dickinson welcomed the review, adding that the suspension of Mrs Lally showed it was necessary - but added he felt it was an unusual step for a council to have to take.
He said: "From our point of view, it's really important that somebody from outside the organisation comes in and looks at member behaviour towards officers and how and whether elected officials understand the difference between officer role and elected roles, and some governance of how that works.
"The need for a governance review - these things don't happen in the ordinary world. Never before has Northumberland had a leader removed from office for incompetence and inability to lead the council."
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