Finance chief steps aside in face of cuts
Roger Ching
ONE of Portsmouth City Council’s highest-ranking and longest-serving officers is to stand down to help save cash.
Roger Ching, the council’s strategic director and Section 151 officer, will leave by August 31, having taken early retirement.
He said: ‘I am 60, and have reached the magic age where I can retire.
‘I have been at the council 41 years, and because of the financial situation, the time’s right for me to step aside.’
The council has to save £22m in the next three years, having already been forced by government cuts to slash £15m from this year’s budget.
Mr Ching feels his salary, which is between £105,000 and £109,999 a year, will be a good start for the council’s saving.
He will not be replaced and his resignation will mean the council’s heads of service for finance, cultural revenues and benefits, audit and performance, and housing management, will report to one of the five remaining strategic directors.
And his Section 151 role – with responsibility for all the council’s financial affairs – will be taken over by the council’s head of finance Chris Ward. Mr Ching, who oversaw the Spinnaker Tower project, said: ‘I have enjoyed all aspects of my job a great deal, and I will have memories which will be with me every time I walk around the city.’
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Comments
There are 23 comments to this article
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jed
Sunday, June 12, 2011 at 09:30 PMRoger Ching has contributed to the success of the Spinnaker Tower as an amazing attractor to the City. As the city's business partners in the Tower Continuum has been fortunate to work along side Mr Ching over the last 10 or so years. He has always had the best interests of the city at the top of his agenda. In comparison to many other councils Portsmouth city council are fortunate to have the loyal and professional services of a true gentleman like Roger. All at the Spinnaker Tower wish him and his family well in their new future.
GeraldineVeronica
Sunday, June 12, 2011 at 07:10 PMComment removed by moderator
GeraldineVeronica
Sunday, June 12, 2011 at 07:10 PMComment removed by moderator
GeraldineVeronica
Sunday, June 12, 2011 at 07:10 PMComment removed by moderator
GeraldineVeronica
Sunday, June 12, 2011 at 07:09 PMComment removed by moderator
GeraldineVeronica
Sunday, June 12, 2011 at 03:22 PMComment removed by moderator
GeraldineVeronica
Sunday, June 12, 2011 at 01:20 PMComment removed by moderator
GeraldineVeronica
Sunday, June 12, 2011 at 01:20 PMComment removed by moderator
brantsmith118
Sunday, June 12, 2011 at 12:56 PMComment removed by moderator
Veterus
Sunday, June 12, 2011 at 11:31 AMThe hypocrisy of this is typical of PCC and Roger. The so called saving pales into insignificance against the millions of taxpayers money that was squandered during the mismanagement of programmes and projects - including the Spinnaker Tower - that Roger oversaw. If PCC was serious about saving money and improving performance they would not have sacked the corporate priority team leaders appointed in 2005 and spent another 6 figure sum getting PWC to advise them to repeat the same restructuring now. I quite like Roger but his competence and integrity over the years does not warrant a triumphant farewell. He was long past his best before date and has doubtless ensured a very wealth retirement for himself and his cronies.
PUPPPU
Saturday, June 11, 2011 at 08:49 PMRoger's role is being spread amongst other Strategic Directors and the recently appointed Head of Financial Services who was previously Chief Accountant but whose post disappeared under the current restructuring but "thankfully" was able to replace the previous Hof FS who also took early retirement as the job desription and person specification was allegedly written with only one person in mind that being the person who has overseen at least 3 restructurings of his department...one wonders if he has now got the right structure in place as the previous two were clearly not fit for purpose. How can you be involved in a new structure with your job not in it but you end up getting the post of your line manager who conveniently retires? For further details see minutes and reports on PCC website under Employment Commitee
Graham Wheatley
Saturday, June 11, 2011 at 02:01 PMNevertheless, it still does prompt the question that if his role is so important (and at 100K p.a., it should be important) why is he not being replaced? Could one draw the conclusion that he is not being replaced because the role is (and was) unnecessary?
SirRodney
Saturday, June 11, 2011 at 09:57 AMHaggar, Rather negative way of looking at things really. I appluad the Council for not replacing Mr Ching and giving the other directors more responsibility. I also appluad Mr Ching for stepping down, when he could have continued for many more years.
SirRodney
Saturday, June 11, 2011 at 09:53 AMPup, I think the journo missed a comma after culture
Shifty-Shaddock
Friday, June 10, 2011 at 09:10 PMComment removed by moderator
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