Lymington and Pennington Town Council - Vacancy for a Deputy Clerk
Name of recruiting organisation
Lymington and Pennington Town Council
Employed role/Volunteer role
Employed
Permanent role/Fixed term role
Permanent
Location:
Office based with free parking available
Salary:
Salary £38,626 - £41,511 FTE SCP29–32, (equiv £31,318 to £33,658 at 30 hours). LGPS pension scheme and free car parking.
Hours:
25 to 30 hours per week negotiable. Mostly Monday – Friday
Our council and the role:
Lymington consistently appears amongst the most highly desirable places to live in the country, located on the New Forest coast next to the sea. Known for yachting, marinas, cobbled quayside streets and many quirky independent retailers, it offers a vibrant weekly market, parks and gardens, and an acclaimed museum. In addition to the usual democratic and local government functions, the Town Council manages many sporting facilities, pavilions, allotment sites, playgrounds, open spaces and annual events. This Council has many exciting projects needing implementation and leadership. We look forward to your application to join us.
Duties will include:
1. In order to be able to give accurate advice at Council and Committee meetings the candidate should possess or achieve the SLCC CILCA qualification within 12 months of starting the role. Cost of CILCA training, registration, attendance at courses, coursework and examination process will be met by council, although it is expected that a fair amount of study will be in own personal time.
2. To support the Town Clerk in ensuring statutory and other provisions affecting the running of the Council and to deputise for the Town Clerk as required.
3. To support the Town Clerk’s role as principal advisor to the Council through attendance at Council and Committee meetings as required.
4. To be responsible for such Committees and working parties as instructed, including liaising with committee officer on preparation of agendas, producing supporting papers, attendance at meetings, drafting of minutes and any actions arising from meetings as required.
5. To attend meetings of such other bodies, organisations and groups as may be reasonably required.
6. To engage with third party contractors to carry out work on behalf of the Council by adhering to the local authority procurement and tender process as instructed by the Town Clerk.
7. To oversee management of Council resolved projects and/or services as necessary. 8. To carry out any risk assessments for Council duties or services as requested, and to assist/ provide support to the Town Clerk in preparation of any policies or Governance requirements.
9. To act as line manager and support the administrative officers with their day-to-day responsibilities. This may include assistance with events planning, celebrations, markets and allotment functions.
10. To have knowledge of the Council’s accounting processes and record keeping as necessary to carry out functions of Deputy Clerk.
11. To assist the Town Clerk in ensuring the Council’s responsibilities as an employer are met.
12. To support the Town Clerk in the preparation and administration of the Annual Town Meeting.
13. To undertake personal and professional development relevant to the role.
14. Any other reasonable duties that may be assigned from time to time.
This document sets out the main dimensions of the job it describes. It does not define all individual tasks or priorities, which may be expected to change from time to time to meet operational needs.
The ideal candidate will have/be:
Key Skills and Attributes
Essential: • Excellent ICT skills, able to use Microsoft Office software and other software packages with confidence • Excellent ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing to a range of audiences including councillors, voluntary and local community groups, third party contractors and colleagues • Report writing skills including the presentation of financial information in numerical and narrative forms • Proven ability to manage, supervise and work as part of a small team • Proven ability to undertake and effectively organise own diverse workload and meet tight deadlines, managing changing and conflicting demands • Ability to use own initiative and work independently • Ability to make decisions which fall within level of responsibility • Ability to respond positively and proactively to complex and unexpected problems and situations • Ability to organise, conduct, chair and speak at meetings • Negotiation skills • Ability to project manage work • Excellent numeracy and literacy skills Education and Qualifications Essential: • GCSE Maths and English (Grade 5, previously C and above) or equivalent Desirable:- CiLCA or commitment to acquire within 1 year Business or project management or financial qualificationsEducated to degree level or equivalent
Knowledge
Essential: • Project management principles • Knowledge of organisational IT needs • Health and safety and risk management, and its application • Awareness of equal opportunities, Equality Act 2010 and the protection of children/vulnerable persons Desirable:- Understanding of the key issues impacting local government, especially town/parish councils Knowledge of Democratic Services Human Resources Management Knowledge of Lymington and Pennington area and the issues it faces
Experience
Essential: • Working with budgets at a high level • Delivering multiple projects • Liaising and working at a senior level with other organisations • Providing customer focussed services to the community • Dealing with a wide range of correspondence and enquiries • A busy environment/office Desirable:- Working in a political, public sector environment Wide range of personnel processes and organisational HR functions Staff supervision/management and motivating a cross-functional team to ensure results are deliveredWorking for or with a Town/Parish Council Drawing up and monitoring contracts and contractors
Personal Attributes
Essential: • Professionalism in representing the Council to Members, colleagues, other organisations and the public • Excellent interpersonal skills • Willingness to take on a range of tasks as required • Customer focused • Flexible and self-motivated approach to work • Diplomatic and assertive • Honest and reliable • Attention to detail • Committed to achieving openness and transparencyOther
Essential: • Ability and willingness to work occasional evenings and occasionally at weekends • Flexible to change working hours when needed. Access to own transport.Closing date:
Noon 26th February 2025