When Conservative leadership at Southampton City Council came to an end earlier this month following the elections, we asked whether it would have an impact on the job sharing with the Isle of Wight.
Less than a month has gone by and indeed it seems it has.
Southampton City Council have announced today that they’ve ended the temporary arrangement whereby the role of Isle of Wight Director of Economy & Environment, Stuart Love was shared with Southampton City Council, working as their Director of Environment.
Arrangement does not meet needs
Southampton CC say, “the new administration has made sustainability and environmental issues a high priority and the leadership has concluded that this sharing arrangement does not meet its needs. The temporary arrangement will finish by 1 July 2012.
Cllr Richard Williams, Leader of the Council (pictured), said: “I would first like to recognise the contribution Stuart has made in his short time with us and our decision in no way reflects on him. We have established not only a strong relationship with Stuart, but also with Isle of Wight Council in this period and will continue to look at ways of building on this relationship in the future.
“However, this administration is fully committed to the green agenda and we want to ensure we have complete focus at director level within the city. We also want to tie our environment work strongly to our economic development and employment activities. We felt this could not be achieved through the current sharing arrangement.”
Committed to developing relationship
Cllr Williams went on to say, “We remain committed to joint working and will continue to develop our relationship with the Isle of Wight.”
The council say they “will now look at creating a new merged Environment and Economy directorate”.
No change to Children’s Services
Cllr Williams has also clarified his support specifically for the ongoing development of joint working with Isle of Wight Council in Children’s Services and Learning, and also with Portsmouth City Council in Adult Social Care, which involves the sharing of a joint director.
