Staff Information
the Acting Chief Executive and Training Officer, Ian Cruise-Taylor is on leave until the 8th April.
please direct queries to Victor Kelly the Chairman on 07800891420 or kelly2698@outlook.com
the Acting Chief Executive and Training Officer, Ian Cruise-Taylor is on leave until the 8th April.
please direct queries to Victor Kelly the Chairman on 07800891420 or kelly2698@outlook.com
As part of the SPCA health & wellbeing (H&W) project, funded by Public Health, a web-based resource page, the ‘H&W toolkit’ has been created to support T/PC who require information on matters relating to H&W.
The site contains three main areas:
Finally, in the coming weeks, there will be a link to examples of local H&W initiatives developed by T/PCs to inspire and showcase the positive work taking place across the county.
The toolkit is continually being updated, so do check back from time to time as new information will likely have been added.
As a reminder, if your T/PC is enthused by improving the health and wellbeing of your local community, please do get in touch with the H&W project officer to share your thoughts, ideas and discuss opportunities, as we may be able to support with your endeavours. Contact Andy Wheeler – Health & Wellbeing Project Officer via andy.wheeler@staffordshire.gov.uk
Dunston with Coppenhall Parish Council and Quarnford Parish Council, as of late March 2024, both have separate open vacancies for part time Parish Clerk / Responsible Financial Officers with no current closing dates.
Please see the vacancies page for further details on each role.
Heath Hayes & Wimblebury Parish Council have two current vacancies open for a Parish Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer and a Communications Officer. The closing date for both is Thursday 21 March 2024.
Please see the vacancies page for further details on each role.
The Staffordshire Parish Councils’ Association President (Councillor Tony Holmes) and Chief Executive (Robert Pettigrew) attended a meeting of the Stone Area Parish Liaison Group in the Frank Jordan Centre in Stone this afternoon.
The main item of business on the Agenda was a discussion about highways, and a team of officers from the County Council – led by Richard Rayson, the community highways manager – spoke about changes in the arrangements with the authority’s strategic partners which should deliver improvements in the levels of pro-active community engagement and action to address the ongoing concerns of parishes and towns across Staffordshire. A discussion followed in which specific concerns – especially those relating to Yarnfield – were raised with the team and the challenge of deteriorating infrastructure quality alongside straitened financial pressures was explored. The Liaison Group also considered other matters, including the upcoming commemorations in 2024 for the eightieth anniversary of D-Day and several other events of importance.
The visit to the Frank Jordan Centre also provided an opportunity for Councillor Holmes and Mr Pettigrew to call in on the Stone Community Hub, which operates out of the building. This independent charity is dedicated to improving the lives of residents in Stone and the surrounding villages by providing advice in time of need. The Hub provides a warm, supportive environment in which to meet, discuss opportunities and support local people with their concerns. Their work is impressive, and relies on local support, fundraising and small grants: any money raised is dedicated to supporting this invaluable undertaking.
The SPCA Annual General Meeting for 2023 was held on the evening of Monday 30 October in the Trentham suite at the offices of Staffordshire County Council.
At the meeting, the President (Councillor Tony Holmes – Forsbrook Parish Council) was confirmed to continue in office, alongside the three Vice-Presidents (Councillors Mike Allen – Haughton Parish Council, Lewis Anderson – Horninglow & Eton Parish Council, and Pat Ansell – Cannock Wood Parish Council). A new Chairman of the SPCA was elected (Councillor Victor Kelly – Penkridge Parish Council), and Councillor Nigel Caine – Perton Parish Council was elected as Vice-Chairman. A number of new Councillors and a Clerk joined the SPCA’s Executive Committee, including Councillor Tom Kelt – Stone Town Council, Councillor Lyn Swindlehurst – Leek Town Council, Councillor John Anderson – Outwoods Parish Council, and Mrs Dawn Plant – Clerk, Forsbrook. Members were also elected to the SPCA’s Policy & Resources Committee, and appointments were made to representative external bodies, including the West Midlands’ Association of Local Councils and the National Association of Local Councils, amongst others.
The President invited the SPCA Chief Executive, Robert Pettigrew, to introduce the annual report & accounts for the year (2022-23), and then asked him to outline his plans for the Association. This was followed by a short introduction to the SPCA’s new Health & Wellbeing Project Officer, Andy Wheeler, who spoke about his work in delivering this collaborative project.
Following the conclusion of the formal business of the meeting, Professor Steven Griggs, of the University of Staffordshire, delivered a presentation on the future of local councils, which drew upon a study about the sector in the context of evolving public policy dynamics and highlighted three possible scenarios about how parishes and towns might respond.
The SPCA has recruited a new Health & Wellbeing Project Officer, Andy Wheeler, who started in his role this week.
Introducing himself, Andy writes: I’m Andy Wheeler and I’ve recently joined SPCA in the position of Health & Wellbeing Officer. Prior to relocating to Staffordshire I’d taken up community safety and health & wellbeing roles for local authorities on the south coast.
I really enjoy a project, and am excited by the prospect of what this new position holds. I’m hopeful by working with parish and town councils across the county we’ll make positive steps towards increasing opportunities for health improvement.
Outside of work, I’m a keen runner and cyclists, and since moving to the area, I’ve been enjoying the many lanes and canal paths that Staffordshire has to offer.
I look forward to meeting and working with many of you in due course.
The SPCA’s whole council development programme travelled to two parishes in South Staffordshire this week – delivering our Councillor Fundamentals training to councillors in Perton and Cheslyn Hay.
This development programme is proving especially popular, and has been well received as useful from experienced councillors as well as those who are relatively to their council.
Feedback from the whole council development sessions confirms that holding a session – which is to some extent, a briefing and facilitated conversation exploring a particular topic or theme, enables specific points of direct relevance to the council to be explored, and some new topics have arisen in consequence.
The whole council development sessions also provide the SPCA with an opportunity to meet with the members of an individual council, and understand better the specific local issues which are proving pertinent in that particular locality. We will be using the feedback gathered from these face-to-face sessions to inform the development of our programme of support for members in the future: would you like the SPCA whole council development programme to visit your parish or town council – is there a topic which you would like to explore together?
Please contact the SPCA with your idea – spca.parish@staffordshire.gov.uk.
Stone Town Council
Deputy Town Clerk
Full-Time Permanent (37 hours per week)
£31,099-£34,723 per annum (pay award pending)
Stone Town Council is a busy local council supporting the town of Stone, Staffordshire. In addition to operating two community centres, various town markets and organising a full programme of events, it will be opening new heritage centre later in the year.
We are looking for an enthusiastic and experienced person to join our small, dedicated Council team as Deputy Town Clerk. The postholder will be responsible for supporting the Council’s 18 elected Councillors, overseeing the Council’s community centres, markets and other operational services, and undertaking the Council’s day-to-day financial administration. They will also be expected to deputise across the whole range of the Council’s activities in the absence of the Town Clerk.
This is a varied and interesting role, with significant interaction with members of the public and Councillors. The successful candidate will have had previous experience of financial administration and be confident and credible in dealing with others. Previous service in the public sector would be an advantage but is not essential.
Please ring 01785 619740, email clerk@stonetowncouncil.gov.uk or visit the Council’s website at www.stonetowncouncil.gov.uk for further details of the role and information on how to apply.
The closing date for applications is midnight on 5th November 2023, and it is expected that interviews will be held during the week commencing 13th November 2023.
NOTE: Due to ongoing issues being experienced by the Council’s website hosting provider, the website may not be available. If you have any problems, please contact us via the phone number or email address above and we will provide the information pack and a link to the application form direct.
High Offley Parish Council
VACANCY: PART-TIME CLERK / RESPONSIBLE FINANCIAL OFFICER.
Around five hours per week (to be worked flexibly from home)
High Offley Parish includes the villages of Woodseaves and Shebdon within Stafford Borough.
The successful candidate will be required to aƩend the monthly Parish Council meetings held on the 2nd Thursday of the month, extraordinary meetings
called from time to time and the Annual Parish Meeting.
Applicants should be problem solvers and have experience of committee work, minute taking and keeping financial records together with strong communication, IT and social media skills. A laptop computer and printer will be provided.
You should be able to work flexibly to respond to issues as they arise and should live within easy travelling distance of Woodseaves.
An interest in local community matters and working with volunteers is essential and, while experience of local authority administration would be ideal (CiLCA trained), training and support can be provided.
Starting salary in accordance with NJC scales of pay, subject to any national reviews. Salary will be awarded based on relevant experience.
Please submit CV and covering letter to Chair, Councillor Emma halls by e-mail to emma_halls@hotmail.com.
The closing date for applications is the 10th November 2023.
NB rights are reserved to amend the closing date for application if considered appropriate.