Opportunities

Hours: 12 hours per week

Permanent or fixed term: Permanent

Location: Home-based

Additional relevant details about location:

Attendance is required at monthly Parish Council meetings at the Chute Pavilion and Recreation Ground, Vyne Road, Sherborne St John, Basingstoke, RG24 9HX.

The Parish Council meets monthly on the 4^th Wednesday of the month. The Clerk is expected to attend these meetings in person.

What is the salary?

Salary will be negotiated depending upon experience, ILCA or CiLCA qualifications preferred and transferable skills and is anticipated to be in the range LC1, SCP 24-28, (£16.16 – £18.05 per hour), reviewable annually.

Starting salary will be dependent on the applicant’s current skill set and experience and will be reviewed upon the satisfactory completion of a 6-month probationary period.

In addition, the Council pays £26 per month as an allowance to cover the expenses of working from home, to cover electricity, heating, lighting, telephone, and internet.

Mileage to meetings is not paid.

What are the hours?

12 hours per week (on average).

Overtime will need to be agreed in advance with the Chairperson or the Treasurer. Payment for overtime hours worked will be paid one month in arrears.

Summary about the council and how the role fits in?

Sherborne St John Parish Council is seeking to appoint a Clerk and RFO from September 2023 or as soon as possible thereafter to support the Parish Councils x 5 Councillors. The role is generally home based, for 12 hours a week to be worked flexibly as required.

Sherborne St John Parish has a population of approx. 1,600 people with an annual budget precept of £45k

The Parish’s main asset is the Chute Pavilion, a sports pavilion with associated playing field, tennis courts and play areas, all of which are extensively used. The management of the Chute Pavilion is part of the candidates remit.

What will the specific duties of the role be?

• Agenda setting (in consultation) for all Parish Council meetings and ensuring publication
• Attending these meetings, taking and completing minutes and advising where necessary on the legality of resolutions and their implications
• Ensuring that annual meetings are held and properly published
• All tasks associated with implications of new legislation, existing legal obligations within policies or legislation relating to Parish Councils, including employment responsibilities, risk assessments and Health and Safety.
• Any decision requiring implementation of contracts and leases
• Finances – act as RFO for the Parish Council, managing the council’s bank accounts, keeping a record of income and expenditure, reporting current details at Council meetings, preparing the budget, banking, expenditure, audits
• The Parish Council is looking to implement an on-line accounts package. The new Clerk would be a significant contributor to this implementation.

Personal Specification

• Administration experience with an organised approach and good attention to detail
• Capable of managing your own workload in order to meet deadlines
• Minimum GCSE English & Maths Qualifications
• Experience of budget setting, financial control and account keeping
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office and IT systems including e-mail and websites
• Previous experience of working within local government, charitable or voluntary sectors (paid or un-paid)
• Ability to work impartially and effectively on your own or as part of a team
• Excellent oral and written communications skills
• Ability to communicate well with various sectors of the community with diplomacy
• Practical experience of providing administrative support to meetings
• Willingness to work flexibly as required to include daytime and/or evening meetings (normally 3rd Wednesday of the month)
• The Parish Council is prepared to consider a candidate without any Parish Clerk qualifications and would be prepared to mentor such a candidate in order to achieve the necessary qualifications.

What will you offer the ideal candidate in return?

Sherborne St John Parish Council offers flexible working from home with a monthly tax free allowance of £26.

The Council will fund the Introduction to Local Council Administration qualification for the successful applicant, if they do not already hold it or the higher level CiLCA.

Mileage expenses @45p will be paid when travelling on behalf of the Parish Council, excluding attendance at monthly Parish Council meetings.

A parish council laptop will be provided.

How can the prospective applicants find out more details, such as a full role description and person specification and if you require them to complete an application form, how do they access this?

Please contact the chairman, Richard Morgan, by emailing [email protected] or telephone 07799 072506.

When is the closing date for applications?

Monday 31 July 2023

How do applicants apply?

Please contact the chairman, Richard Morgan, by email [email protected] or telephone 07799 072506.