The Isle of Wight Council has confirmed that its long-running shared arrangement with Portsmouth City Council for the Section 151 chief finance officer will come to an end next year.
The agreement, which placed Chris Ward in the role for nearly a decade, began at a time when the authority faced deep financial strain and needed stronger leadership.
What a Section 151 officer does
A Section 151 officer is the council’s chief finance officer. They are the person legally responsible for making sure the council’s money is managed properly and not spent in ways it shouldn’t be.
The council says increasing pressures on both authorities, alongside the scale of ongoing Local Government Reorganisation, prompted the decision to move to a full-time, Island-based Section 151 officer.
A recruitment process will begin shortly.
Mr Ward will continue in post until May 2026, guiding the council through preparation of the 2026/27 budget and supporting financial planning during the transition.
A decade of financial challenge
Mr Ward arrived in April 2016 as the council faced severe budget pressures. He introduced a new Medium Term Financial Strategy that delivered a £50 million boost to the authority’s finances. The council adopted the plan and highlighted the immediate improvement it brought at the time.
Over the following years, he helped steer the organisation through national funding reductions and local pressures, while also securing an additional £4 million per year from central government.
Context: previous criticism of governance
The announcement comes against the backdrop of a series of governance reviews reported by OnTheWight earlier this month, including the external investigation that described the council as “dysfunctional”.
As reported, the council leader said that “no heads would roll”, despite the severity of the findings.
Recommendations in the accompanying analysis emphasised the statutory importance of the Section 151 officer and highlighted concerns around capacity, independence and the need for clearer financial oversight.
Today’s decision to end the shared arrangement echoes those earlier recommendations, particularly the call for a Section 151 officer with the time, focus and independence to meet the council’s legal responsibilities.
Perera: His professionalism and dedication have left a lasting impact
Chief executive Wendy Perera said,
“By the time that Chris leaves, he will have served the Isle of Wight Council for a decade.”
She added,
“His professionalism and dedication have left a lasting impact on the council and the Island community.
“I’m sure everyone will join me in thanking Chris for his exceptional service and wishing him every success in the future.”
Thanks offered for commitment and financial expertise
Council Leader, Councillor Phil Jordan, said,
“I want to thank Chris for his commitment and financial expertise and guidance over the past ten years.
“He has financially managed in no small way to deliver financial outcomes and budget requirements that we all, as residents and businesses on the Island and under extreme funding cuts, have found protection from potential government intervention.
“I know from working closely with Portsmouth and their Leader that his role is extending to include LGR and Devolution for Portsmouth Council and I am aware that his wider commitments are becoming too much to manage for himself personally.
“I wish him well and very pleased we are working through our arrangements with him so that he will stay until May 2026 in order that we may have sufficient time to recruit a replacement for when he does eventually leave.”
Mr Ward reflects on his tenure
Mr Ward said,
“It has been an absolute privilege to work for the Isle of Wight Council over the past ten years but, with the advent of LGR and the enormity of the workload involved, going forward I no longer feel able to fulfil my statutory duties to the council effectively.
“After much thought over recent months, I have concluded that the Isle of Wight Council’s interests would be better served by a S.151 Officer who can devote the necessary time and attention to this important role.
“I have enjoyed the experience immensely and hope that I have made a lasting impact on the council’s financial sustainability and the delivery of sustainable public services to the Island’s residents.
“I look forward to continuing to work together as partners and through our networks in the years ahead.”
Next steps
The council will now prepare to recruit a full-time Section 151 officer to take over in mid-2026.
The timeline gives the organisation space to address the issues raised in the recent governance reports, build capacity, and strengthen the financial leadership that the reviews said the authority needed.
