The Chief Executive of the Isle of Wight Council, John Metcalfe, is set to leave the local authority after 6 years at the helm.
John, who costs the Island taxpayer over £160,000 a year, will be taking up the role of Chief Executive at Cumbria County Council, subject to approval later on today (Thursday).
It’s understood that John will lead the northern county council until 31st March 2023, when Cumbria County Council and surrounding district councils will be replaced by 2 new unitary authorities – Cumberland Council and Furness Council.
The move up north will see John receive a salary boost of around £38,000 and up to £8,000 in relocation allowances.
John Metcalfe joined the Isle of Wight Council in July 1997 as Deputy Director of Economy, Tourism & Leisure. He held the position for over 17 years before becoming Deputy Managing Director for a period of 8 months. It was in December 2015 that he stepped up to the role of Chief Executive.
In a heartfelt message to colleagues, he said:
“It has been a pleasure and privilege to work alongside you and to make the difference we all want to see for the Isle of Wight.
“You are an amazing group of officers who consistently give above and beyond for the good of our Island community and the council.
Article continues below this advertisement “This is not a path I had ever expected to take, but everything happens for a reason and personally and professionally it is the right thing for me to do now.
“I am excited by the challenges that lie ahead for me in Cumbria but a huge part of my heart will always be with you, willing you on to greater things.”
Council leader, Councillor Lora Peacey Wilcox, said John had been a dedicated servant to the council. She said:
“As chief executive and with his outstanding support, the council is more sustainable and innovative than ever it has been, and is well placed to take advantage of the opportunities ahead to improve the quality of life for Islanders.
“I am grateful for all of John’s work in the time I have been leader and have valued all of his support and guidance to me and my colleagues, he hasn’t just been my rock, he’s been my mountain.
“As a result, we now have a clear corporate plan that sets out what we aim to achieve over the life of this council and we will shortly agree another balanced budget and medium term financial plan to deliver on our wider aspirations.”
A detailed announcement will be made shortly regarding the management of the council.
Boxing clever .
Once the Cumbria council is fazed out, who will be getting a golden goodbye.
This man is wise
I wish I could get £8,000 relocation allowance !! Let alone £160,000 a year plus !!
If the Council are looking to save a decent amount of money in the forthcoming year, TURN OUT THE LIGHTS AT NIGHT at the Council offices. When energy prices soar it’ll certainly eat into their budget so anyone with a grain of good housekeeping common sense will move to mitigate the impact. If not, what does that say for the Council’s housekeeping elsewhere and how they spend our money?
All the lights are on monitor sensors – you can see them turn on and off as people start during the early winter mornings at county hall
It’s also worth noting that people work in council offices as night a lot of the time by the looks of it
Top Tip don’t bother to replace him !!!!! Money saved ….
Another balanced budget and medium term financial plan… Will this include some good housekeeping by the Council I wonder? Like turning out the lights at County Hall at night when energy prices go through the roof? Or will they just keep squandering taxpayers money but it’s an endless resource…
we all know that our Council tax pays for the Services but the Councill INSIST it does not ,they will keep stating the council tax is a PROPERTY TAX who are they kidding
Sounds like a “Bridge” too far to me…
We wave good bye to another money drain don’t bother replacing and all of you lot in the council pitch in save save save without cuts to much needed services on the island. Like adult care! There’s half a million saved in three years! Woop woop. Who next on the block? Oh and let the council management pay for their own fuel. Or get a bus like every other normal person on this island that works. Creates more jobs as bus drivers valets for the buses, Mechanics and more regular buses well I be blowed this would equal better economics for the island as you all keep bashing on about.
Sorry readers just they have taken the utter Mic for years.
Absolutely delighted to see him go, and may he take all his sheep with him. Then, maybe, we can have a proper team, with a proper leader, that we can afford. I would suggest pay no higher than 5% of what is currently being paid.
Goodbye and dont know how you can sleep at night drawing £160,000 a year money for doing what?, When good people work hard and and cant afford to pay their bills and live a decent life, take all the brown noses with you!!
“I am grateful for all of John’s work in the time I have been leader yes helping you rip of the island council tax payers any way you can and getting away with it Does Cumbria know what they are letting themselves in for
As a matter of interest can anybody inform me of one positive thing he did for the Island to warrant the one million pounds plus pension plus perks he received over the six years?
Don’t replace him and give us all a council tax discount of £1.50 each
He will return in April 2023 with an inflated salary in a position created especially for him, keep the central heating on to keep his house warm and cozy.
JUST ANOTHER “YES MAN “
It’s a serious question, what does the Chief Executive of a Council actually do? It would probably be a good idea if someone on the Council, Laura Peacey Wilcox for instance, could tell us in plain English what he does on a day-to-day basis as its cost us, who pay his wages, well in excess of £600,000.
I, for one, have no idea what he’s done and whether he’s made the slightest bit of difference to anyone living here.
So, come on Ms Peacey Wilcox, tell us what he’s done that’s been so good and let us make a decision on whether he’s been worth what we paid him.
if he has not been replaced then this will be a saving of over £160,000 ,this will be a start ,to the cost cutting, i hope this council will listen to the people and not replace this posistion .
Why employ so many persons on over £100,000.00 plus a year
Who needs them, what do they actually do for their money!
Time to remove all the parasites in county hall!
He’s the one who get’s a bonus for achieving 400 new homes a year regardless of how much it destroys the island’s beauty. Soulless, corrupt man.
Just re read the article!!!!!
He has resigned……
So if he has Resigned??????
Why / who is paying his re- location cost’s????????
If I resigned from a job I am lucky if I get a bunch of flowers!!!!!
Surely he should pay his own moving cost’s after all he can afford it !!!!!!!
Careful John, the Cumbria council may not be like the Isle of Wight and may actually want *something* in return for their £200,000 a year
It won’t be all working from home in your garden in the summer and out on the Solent on a weekend up there