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Vacancy for Town Clerk

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WHALEY BRIDGE TOWN COUNCIL

Vacancy for Town Clerk 

Are you a good manager and an excellent communicator? Whaley Bridge Town Council, in north-west Derbyshire, is looking for a Town Clerk – the head of the Council’s paid staff. The job description is attached. A competitive salary will be offered.

The post is part-time, with contracted weekly hours of approximately 25; exact arrangements can be tailored to an extent to suit the successful applicant. The Council’s office is in the Mechanics Institute, Market St, Whaley Bridge. Its meetings are generally in the evening of the 2nd Thursday of the month.

Applications should be sent to towncouncil@whaleybridge.com, for the attention of the Chair, by noon on Tuesday 8 May.

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Job Description: TOWN CLERK (and Responsible Financial Officer)

Overall Responsibilities

The Town Clerk manages all the activities of the Town Council, in accordance with legislative requirements and the policies set by Councillors. He/she is the head of the Council’s paid staff, and is accountable for the effective management of all the Council’s resources.

The Town Clerk is also the Council’s Responsible Financial Officer, ensuring careful stewardship of the Council’s finances and maintenance of its financial records.

Specific Responsibilities

1. To carry out the legal responsibilities of being the Council’s Proper Officer.

2. To prepare agendas and meeting papers for the Council and its committees, and to attend their meetings, so as to advise councillors thereat and prepare minutes.

3. To produce reports and data required for effective decision-making.

4. To drive forward proactively the implementation of decisions made by Councillors, ensuring relevant stakeholders are kept advised, and utilising specialist advice as necessary. To monitor, post-implementation, whether those decisions are achieving the desired result.

5. To develop the Council’s annual budget for Councillor discussion and approval.

6. To maintain the Council’s financial records (regularly reviewing achievement against budget), and to ensure (i) value for money in purchasing and (ii) efficient invoicing and credit-control for services provided by the Council.

7. To create effective grant applications, as required.

8. To ensure suitable and timely responses to incoming correspondence and messages, creating a positive external impression of the Council and its activities.

9. To proactively explore opportunities for modernising and improving the Council’s activities and administration. To keep abreast of emerging best practice in the Local Council sector.

10. To ensure effective supervision, administration and maintenance of Council-owned street-furniture, premises, allotments, sports area and other land.

11. To ensure that suitable and sufficient risk-assessment of the Council’s activities is carried out (and regularly reviewed) and that identified mitigations are implemented.

12. To lead, direct and develop all other members of staff as their line manager, and to ensure the creation and consistent application of suitable HR policies.

13. To act as the external representative of the Council when required.

14. To ensure the effectiveness of the Council’s website. To prepare press releases about the activities or decisions of the Council.

15. To act as Secretary and Financial Officer to Whaley Bridge Mechanics’ Institute (a registered charity), ensuring effective management and administration of its premises.

Experience & qualifications

16. To study to achieve the status of Qualified Local Council Clerk as soon as reasonably practicable.

17. Must be well experienced in use of MS Office software (Word, Excel, etc) and familiar with moving towards a paperless office.

18. Some experience of local government might be advantageous, but is not essential.