UPDATED 16:04*
A SCHEME between Southampton City Council and the Isle of Wight Council to share director of environment Stuart Love has ended.
Southampton's Conservative-led council, which made the agreement, was voted out earlier this and replaced by a Labour-led administration.
A statement issued by Southampton council said: "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. Stuart Love has held the joint role since early April."
Cllr Richard Williams, Leader of the Council, 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.
"We remain committed to joint working and will continue to develop our relationship with the Isle of Wight."
A spokesman said the council would now look at creating a new merged Environment and Economy directorate.
Cllr Williams 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.
*Isle of Wight Council leader David Pugh said: "I recently met with Cllr Richard Williams, the new leader of Southampton City Council, and it became clear during our discussions that they wish to strengthen their activity in environmental matters.
"Cllr Williams confirmed to me last Friday that this included a commitment to have a dedicated full-time director for this policy area - hence this announcement.
"We are pleased that in the meantime they have benefited from Stuart's input, as they have acknowledged.
It was clear during our discussions that both local authorities have a shared commitment to progressing green policies and we intend to continue working together in this respect.
"We look forward to welcoming Stuart back into his full-time Island role at what remains an exceptionally busy time for the council and the economy and environment directorate.
"We would like to thank the officers who have taken on additional responsibilities for no additional remuneration during this trial.
"The council will continue to explore ways of joint working with other authorities as a means of sharing expertise and reducing costs.
"Our joint working with Southampton on school improvement and children's services will continue, as Cllr Williams has highlighted."