Council: Keighley Town Council

County: West Yorkshire

Salary: SCP 33 – SCP 43 (£35934 - £45591)

Closing date: 18/10/2019

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Town Clerk

Applications must be returned by 18/10/2019

Keighley Town Council are recruiting a Town Clerk. As the head of paid service for the council, you will be responsible for the development and management of policy, strategy and operations across the council’s provision, by working with elected council members, external bodies and staff.

Reporting to the Town Mayor and Chair of HR committee, you will be responsible for carrying out all of the functions required by law for a local authority’s Proper Officer and for issuing all statutory notifications.

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate their experience of working at senior management level including evidence of working in a financial setting, including particularly budget setting and financial management.  Practical experience of serving meetings/committees is essential.

Whilst previous experience of working as a Town Clerk or Parish Clerk is desirable, we will also consider applicants with transferable skills who meet the below criteria.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

  • To be responsible for ensuring that the lawful instructions of the council in connection with its function as a local authority are carried out and to act as the main point of contact on council business
  • To advise the council on, and assist in the formulation of, overall policies, to produce information required to enable elected Members to make effective decisions and to implement these constructively
  • To be accountable to the council, the Mayor and Chair of the HR committee for the effective management of its personnel, financial and other resources
  • To be responsible for all the financial records of the council and the careful administration of its finances in close association with the Responsible Financial Officer
  • To prepare, in consultation with appropriate Members, Chairs of committees and staff, agendas for meetings of the council, its committees and sub-committees, to ensure all such meetings are clerked, including the Annual Town Meeting, and that Minutes are prepared for approval. That agendas and minutes are available for the publication with agreed timescales
  • To receive correspondence and documents on behalf of the council and to prepare correspondence in consultation with the Mayor on the instruction of, or known policy of, the council
  • To effectively manage the council’s business planning processes including those associated with service planning reviews, and budget preparation in consultation with the Mayor and/or relevant elected Members
  • To be responsible for the effective line management of all members of staff under his/her management responsibilities
  • To act as the official representative of the council, as required by the council
  • To ensure effective and positive press and public relations and to prepare, and monitor, in consultation with the Mayor or relevant committee Chair, press releases about the activities of, or decisions of the council
  • To be available to attend training courses and/or relevant conferences associated with the work and role of the Town Clerk to be authorised by the Mayor
  • Any other duties as the council may consider appropriate to the post from time to time
  • Under the health and safety guidelines issued by the council, ensure the safety and well-being of all who visit or work in the facilities provided by the council
  • Analyse and interpret external information such as nationally derived local government policy, local and national political, social and economic trends
  • Support plans, and prepare policies and reports as required by the council
  • Undertake operational problem solving as required
  • Undertake routine administration as required

Skills and attributes required:

  • Evidence of working at senior management level
  • Experience of successful partnership working
  • Good negotiation skills
  • Ability to provide objective advice to councillors in a timely and coherent manner, including and analytical report writing analysis
  • Experience of using standard software systems and a working knowledge of Microsoft Office packages, including Word, Excel, Outlook
  • Flexibility to work out of office hours when required, to attend council meetings (evenings and weekends)
  • Full, clean driving license

Desirable skills and attributes:

  • Knowledge of current employment legislation
  • Previous experience as a Town or Parish Clerk or Deputy (or in a senior position in either public or private sector)
  • Experience of communicating with councillors and external agencies
  • Knowledge of the law as it affects local councils
  • Knowledge of local council legislation and understanding of planning legislation
  • Experience of using accounting packages
  • Website management and familiarity with social media for business
  • Experience of bidding for external funds

Education/Qualifications

  • Minimum 2 A levels or equivalent
  • Completion of, or working towards/prepared to work towards the Certificate in Local Council Administration and a willingness to commit to a continuation of professional development
  • A degree or appropriate management or professional qualification is also desirable, but not essential to this post

This is a full time, permanent role, working Monday – Friday in the Keighley offices.  Flexibility to work additional hours around this will be required.

Deadline: Friday 18th October

At this stage a full CV should be emailed to Fortem People:

[email protected]

Tel: 01756 748387