People and roles

Member of Parliament (MP)

Does: Portsmouth has two MPs (Portsmouth North and Portsmouth South). MPs deal with matters that are the responsibility of the UK Parliament and government — for example the NHS, benefits and pensions, immigration, and national school funding — scrutinise the government and vote on laws. They can take up constituents’ cases and make representations to the council.

Doesn't: MPs do not run council services, direct council officers or decide council spending. For council matters Parliament’s own guidance points people to the local council or their councillor.

UK Parliament: Who should I contact with my issue? · ModernGov web service: GetMpOrMepsAndWards (bIsMPs=true)

City councillor

Does: 42 councillors, three per ward, elected for four years. Together at Full Council they set the budget and main policies and appoint the Leader. The Leader and Cabinet take most executive decisions; other councillors sit on scrutiny panels and regulatory committees (planning, licensing). All councillors handle ward casework and act as advocates for residents.

Doesn't: Individual councillors do not manage staff or take operational decisions; those are for officers. Complaints made to a councillor are passed to the council’s complaints team.

Constitution Part 1 Ch 1: Summary and explanation (PDF) · Constitution Part 1 Ch 2: Members of the Council (PDF)

Council officers (staff)

Does: Paid staff who give advice, implement decisions and manage day-to-day services. Three statutory officers have legal duties: the Head of Paid Service (Chief Executive), the Chief Finance Officer (s151) and the Monitoring Officer (legality and councillor conduct).

Doesn't: Officers do not set policy or the budget; they act within powers delegated by councillors and are answerable to the Chief Executive.

Constitution Part 1 Ch 1: Summary and explanation (PDF) · Constitution Part 1 Ch 12: Officers (PDF)

Hampshire and the Solent Combined County Authority (HSCCA)

Does: A strategic authority created through the government’s Devolution Priority Programme, bringing together Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton on regional priorities such as transport, skills, housing and economic growth. Portsmouth’s Leader sits on its Board.

Doesn't: The HSCCA does not collect bins or run day-to-day council services, and it is not the same thing as local government reorganisation (LGR), which concerns the structure of councils and is under government review after the March 2026 decision was withdrawn on 7 Sep 2026.

Hampshire and the Solent Combined County Authority: About us · GOV.UK: LGR programme review and decisions withdrawal letter to council leaders (7 Sep 2026)

Head of Paid Service

Natalie Brahma-Pearl

Chief Executive

Designation from Constitution Ch 12.2.3. Name confirmed on the Dec 2025 directors chart and as signatory of the 23 Sep 2026 Full Council agenda.

Constitution Part 1 Ch 12: Officers (PDF)

Chief Finance Officer (Section 151)

Chris Ward

Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Finance & Resources

Ch 12 designates the Director of Finance & Resources as s151 officer; the Dec 2025 chart names Chris Ward as "Director of Finance & Resources (Section 151 Officer)"; he signs the 22 Sep 2026 Cabinet budget report with the title shown.

Constitution Part 1 Ch 12: Officers (PDF)

Monitoring Officer

Peter Baulf

City Solicitor

Ch 12 designates the City Solicitor as Monitoring Officer. The name comes only from the December 2025 directors chart; not re-confirmed in a 2026 document. Public contact: monitoringofficer@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.

Constitution Part 1 Ch 12: Officers (PDF)