parish-editors

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.

Sandon and Burston Parish Council has a vacancy for a Clerk/Responsible Financial
Officer.

The post is for 22 hours per month paid according to SLCC/NALC guidelines and
dependent upon experience with a salary range SCP7 – 12 (£11.63 – £12.73 per hour). The
Clerk would be expected to work from home. A laptop and printer will be provided.

The Clerk will be responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Parish Council,
dealing with correspondence, preparing agendas and Minutes, managing the Council’s
website and attending Parish Council meetings that are held in Sandon Parish Rooms,
Lichfield Road, Sandon ST18 0DN at 7.00 p.m. on a bi-monthly basis.

The Clerk is also the Responsible Financial Officer of the Council and will be expected to
prepare the financial records for audit in accordance with the Audit Regulations which
apply to Parish Councils.

A background in local government would be useful. Training would be supported by the
Parish Council.

If you would like an informal discussion regarding this post please contact the Chairman,
Councillor Rosemary Wildblood by emailing parishcouncilrosemary@gmail.com

If you wish to apply, please send a letter of application summarising your strengths and
experience in relation to the role together with a current CV by email to
parishcouncilrosemary@gmail.com. Applications are also invited for an experienced
Locum Clerk.

The closing date for this position is Friday 17th November 2023.

NB rights are reserved to amend the closing date for application if considered appropriate.

Town Clerk – Alsager (Cheshire)

TOWN CLERK & RFO
ALSAGER TOWN COUNCIL
PERMANENT – FULL TIME
£43,516 (National Pay Award Pending) UPWARDS DEPENDING ON EXPERIENCE

Main Function of Position

• To fulfil all the requirements of Proper Officer and Responsible Financial Officer to the Council.
• To provide effective leadership to all stakeholders on matters effecting the Town Council.
• To be responsible for all employees of Alsager Town Council.
• To be responsible for managing the Councils facilities and the Alsager Institute charity.

The Town Clerk is the Proper Officer and lead advisor to the Council and as such is under a statutory duty to carry out all the functions, and in particular to serve or issue all the notifications required by law of a local authority’s Proper Officer. The Town Clerk will be totally responsible for ensuring that the instructions of the Council in connection with its functions as a Local Authority are carried out.

The Town Clerk advises the Council and assists in the formation of overall statutory and non-statutory governance policies to be followed in respect of the Authority’s activities and in particular to produce all the information required for making effective decisions and to implement constructively all decisions.

The post will be accountable to the Council for the effective management of all its resources including being the Responsible Finance Officer and will be responsible for Annual Budget Preparation and for all the financial records of the Council and the careful administration of its finances.

What you need to do now
If you’re interested in this role, please email office@alsagertowncouncil.gov.uk for an application pack or ring Nicola Clarke Town Clerk on 01270 876440 for an informal chat about the position.  The closing date for the receipt of application forms is 30 November 2023, with interviews being conducted during W/C 11 December 2023.

2023.10.27 – Alsager – Town Clerk Long Advert – October 2023

SPCA will be holding its first revamped Conference and AGM in September 2023. The confirmed date will be made available over the next few weeks and the conference will include speakers on topics relevant to the sector.

If you would like to make any suggestions on behalf of a member council on topics which you feel are relevant to your Council, please fill in the attached form – https://forms.office.com/e/k0yPbiVngV

Member Councils in Staffordshire today received their Welcome Packs which include information about the sector and partnership organisations.

The pack is designed to help Clerks, Chairman and Councillors with sector information that can often take years to build up when lost during handover between roles.

SPCA would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the project and we aim for the document to be update and issued to new clerks on commencement of role and Chairman each June.

If anyone has not received their pack please email us on spca.parish@staffordshire.gov.uk