Council chief takes up new roles

Stephen Savage is leaving Newcastle City Council after almost 40 years to take up a part-time position with the Rugby League World Cup and a part-time advisory role with businesses in the city to help with the easing of lockdown and recovery.

He will chair a new group in partnership with NE1 coordinating the city council and ​businesses in their efforts to attract residents and visitors back to the city centre. His role with Rugby League World Cup 2021 will help deliver games across the North East including the opening ceremony and the first England game at St James’s Park. 

It marks the end of a long and distinguished career in which Mr Savage headed up many of the council’s regulatory services including environmental health, trading standards, building control, parking management and licensing which included control of the operation of alcohol, gambling, street trading, lotteries and amusements and sex establishments. 

He was instrumental in attracting major investment to the North Bank of the Tyne including Bridon Ropes which created thousands of jobs, and he led on major reclamation schemes including the remediation of the Tar Works at Walker riverside, and the clean-up of the River Tyne.

In more recent years, Mr Savage turned his attention to attracting a series of high profile events which have raked in hundreds of millions of pounds for the local economy including the Tall Ships Race in 2005, Olympic Football in 2012, the Rugby Union World Cup in 2015, four Magic Weekend rugby league tournaments, the Rugby Union European Champions and Challenge Cup and England v Italy  2019, Try on the Tyne and a string of music festivals including Evolution on the Quayside and This is Tomorrow in Exhibition Park last year.

He played a key role in the creation of New Year’s Eve celebrations in the early 2000s which helped earn Newcastle an enviable reputation as a party city with a thriving night-time economy.

Mr Savage, who started his career at Wear Valley Council in 1978 as a trainee environmental health officer, said he was sad to be leaving the council but looking forward to his new roles.

He said: “It’s been a privilege. I’ve been very lucky to work for the residents of Newcastle all my career with the most special and capable officers, ambitious politicians and entrepreneurial local businesses alongside supportive organisations including the City’s Freemen.

“I will be sad to leave but I look forward to starting in two new roles working for the benefit of businesses and people in the region.”

Council chief executive Pat Ritchie said: “Stephen’s record at the council has been incredible and he’s been a wonderful ambassador for the city. His leadership in regulatory services and expertise in staging major events has been invaluable to the city.

“Although I’m sad to see him leave I am delighted he is taking up two important new roles helping the city recover from the pandemic.”

Cabinet Member for Employment and Culture, Cllr Ged Bell, said: “Newcastle is a cleaner, safer and more prosperous city thanks to Stephen and the teams he has led over a career spanning almost 40 years. That is a record that very few council officers match anywhere in the country and it's been a privilege for me to have worked with him for 25 of those years.

“Although he’s leaving the council, I am delighted he will continue in two new roles helping the city get back on its feet after the pandemic. His vast experience will be much in demand, and I hope he finds the time to pursue his many other interests outside of work.”

Mr Savage will take up his new roles in the coming weeks.