NEWCASTLE council chief executive Jeremy Bath's three-month hiatus has come to an end as the council boss returns to steer the ship next week.
A lot has changed since Mr Bath took off on leave in June, incumbent Labor lord mayor Nuatali Nelmes conceded defeat to Independent Ross Kerridge and at least four new faces have good odds of a seat on council.
Future lord mayor Ross Kerridge has no prior experience in public office and admitted being thrust into the chair would be a challenge.
"There's a well-established induction program auspiced by the Office of Local Government and I'm expecting that combined with the council's induction program will get us to the point where we can be a productive council into the future," Dr Kerridge said.
"It will be a challenge, but the system has been built around this, there have been many precedents."
Dr Kerridge seemed on Friday to have softened on his commitment to launch a "thorough forensic investigation" into the Neylon-Sivo letter-writing scandal which saw Mr Bath face heavy scrutiny from both the public and non-Labor councillors.
"I've said I believe there is sufficient concern in the community about multiple aspects of council and would seek an external review of multiple aspects; financial transparency, aspects of decision-making and appointments that have been made," Dr Kerridge said.
"There are multiple things that need to be addressed, and if an external, independent review finds the community's concerns are unfounded it will reassure the community, that is a good outcome in itself.
"If the external independent review finds areas for change or improvement we will develop a strategy to address those things."
In August, Dr Kerridge told the Newcastle Herald it was time for change, to "stop the rot" and "end the scandals engulfing Newcastle council".
"And if the lord mayor won't launch an investigation - I will," he said last month.
"If elected lord mayor I will move to immediately initiate a thorough investigation into this scandal."
Mr Bath, who has been on extended leave in the months leading up to the September council election, has faced a storm of publicity for more than a year surrounding the scandal linked to his friend of 30 years Mr Neylon.
The name Jason Sivo has been linked to Mr Bath's best mate Scott Neylon as the pair supplied the same mobile phone number to the Herald in letters to the editor a few months apart.
Mr Bath has been the subject of heavy scrutiny since revelations last year that dozens of letters and online comments have been published in media outlets over 13 years under the name Scott Neylon, which twist the truth, distort reality and follow Mr Bath's career progression, attacking his critics and supporting his employers.
Mr Bath has denied writing the letters or having any association with them, and Mr Neylon has claimed he penned the letters under his name.
An investigation by council's consultant Pinnacle Integrity found in December that there was "insufficient evidence" that Mr Bath was involved in the misleading letter-writing campaign, or that he passed confidential information to Mr Neylon.
Dr Kerridge said he and the chief executive will need to develop "a professional and appropriate relationship" as the inaugural council meeting fast approaches on October 8.
"That will be one of the things we will have to deal with," he said.
Mr Bath remained on leave for the four week caretaker period during the council election, which began on August 16 and finished September 13.
The council's chief financial officer and executive director corporate services David Clarke has been acting chief executive since June 20.
A City of Newcastle spokesman confirmed Mr Bath would return from leave on Monday, September 23 but did not respond to questions from the Herald about what role he would play in facilitating a smooth transition into public office for the new councillors.
