Clerk to the Council

Previous Applicants Need Not Apply

Wheatpieces Parish Council, on the outskirts of Tewkesbury, invite applications for the position of Clerk to work alongside the Responsible Finance Officer.

The Council is looking for a well organised, enthusiastic person with excellent office management. It is
essential that the applicant communicates well at all levels and has strong ICT skills – particularly a good knowledge of Word and Excel. Excellent administration skills are a key requirement including accurate minute taking. A basic understanding or previous experience of Local Government is preferred, but candidates from other sectors who can demonstrate the relevant skills will be considered..

The role will also involve liaising with the Borough and County services when required.

Training is available for all aspects of the Clerk role.

The successful applicant will be based at the Parish Council office in the Wheatpieces Community Centre.

The successful applicant will be required to attend all meetings of the Parish Council and its committees and sub-committees. At present the Full Council meetings take place monthly, usually on the 1st Thursday of each month at the Wheatpieces Community Centre at 7pm.

Salary will start between SCP LC1 salary point 9 to 17 depending on experience (between £14.59 & £16.61).

You will automatically be enrolled into the Nest Pension Scheme of which you can opt out at any point.

Overall Responsibilities

The Clerk to the Council/Parish Clerk will be the Proper Officer of the Council working alongside the Responsible Finance Officer 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 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 Clerk is expected to advise the Council on, and assist in the formation of, overall 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 person appointed will be accountable to the Council for the effective management of all its resources and will report to them as and when required.

Specific Responsibilities

1. To ensure that statutory and other provisions governing or affecting the running of the Council are observed.
2. To prepare, in consultation with appropriate members, agendas for meetings of the Council and its committees and sub-committees.
3. To attend all meetings of the Council and its committees and sub-committees and prepare minutes for approval.
4. To implement the decisions made by the Council.
5. To issue notices and prepare agendas and minutes for the Annual Parish Meeting: to attend the assemblies of the Parish Meetings and to implement the decisions made at the assemblies that are agreed by the Council.
6. To receive correspondence and documents on behalf of the Council and to deal with the correspondence or documents or bring such items to the attention of the Council. To issue correspondence as a result of instructions of, or the known policy of, the Council.
7. To act as the representative of the Council as required, including attendance at conferences/seminars.
8. To prepare, in consultation with the Council, the Council’s newsletter and arrange for its distribution.
9. To prepare, in consultation with the Council, press releases about the activities of, and/or decisions of, the Council.
10. To attend training courses or seminars on the work and role of the Clerk as required by the Council.
11. To continue to acquire the necessary professional knowledge required for the efficient management of the affairs of the Council.
12. To maintain and update the Parish Council website with the up to date and necessary documentation.
13. Experience in a clerk role is highly desirable and experience in the Responsible Finance Officer role would be advantageous but not essential.
14. Ensure all council activities and decisions comply with local government law, issue legal notifications and manages official documents.
15. Provides independent, objective and non-political guidance to councillors on governance, procedures and policy.
16. Prepares agendas, attends meetings, records accurate minutes and ensures the public receives proper notice of sessions.
17. Approves the schedule of payments during council meetings (as the proper officer) but leaving the physical banking execution to the Finance officer.

Interviews to be arranged by agreement
Position start date as soon as possible – October/November

To apply:

Please submit a copy of your CV by clicking on Apply Now.