CLERK TO OLVESTON PARISH COUNCIL - JOB DESCRIPTION

We are recruiting a conscientious  individual to come and work for Olveston Parish Council as our Clerk/ RFO. We anticipate the weekly workload to be around 15 hours, to include 2 evening meetings a month.

You will be provided with a laptop and can work from home at hours that suit you. 

Overall Responsibilities

The Clerk to the Council will be the Proper Officer of the Council 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 function as a Parish Council 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 Council'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. The Clerk will be the Responsible Financial Officer and responsible for all financial records of the Council and the careful administration of its finances.

Specific Responsibilities

1. To ensure that statutory and other provisions governing or affecting the running of the Council are observed.

2. To monitor and balance the Council's accounts and prepare records for audit purposes and VAT.

3. To ensure that the Council's obligations for Risk Assessment are properly met.

4. To prepare, in consultation with appropriate members, agendas for meetings of the Council and sub Groups. To attend such meetings and prepare minutes of the Council meeting for approval.

5. To receive correspondence and documents on behalf of the Council and to deal with the correspondence or documents after consultation with the portfolio holder 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.

6. To receive and report on invoices for goods and services to be paid for by the Council and to ensure such accounts are met. To issue invoices on behalf of the Council for goods and services and to ensure payment is received.

7. To study reports and other data on activities of the Council and on matters bearing on those activities. Where appropriate, to discuss such matters with administrators and specialists in particular fields and to produce reports for circulation and discussion by the Council.

8. To draw up both on his/her own initiative and as a result of suggestions by Councillors proposals for consideration by the Council and to advise on practicability and likely effects of specific courses of action.

9. To monitor the implemented policies of the Council to ensure they are achieving the desired result and where appropriate suggest modifications.

10. To act as the representative of the Council as required.

11. To issue notices and prepare agendas and minutes for the Parish Meeting: to attend the Annual Parish Meeting and to implement the decisions made at that meeting that are agreed by the Council.

12. To prepare, in consultation with the Chairman or relevant portfolio holder/sub group, press releases about the activities of, or decisions of, the Council.

13. To attend training courses or seminars on the work and role of the Clerk as required by the Council.

14. To work towards the achievement of the status of Qualified Clerk, within two years, as a minimum requirement for effectiveness in the position of Clerk to the Council.

15. To continue to acquire the necessary professional knowledge required for the efficient management of the affairs of the Council: Preferred is membership of your professional body The Society of Local Council Clerks.

16. To attend the Conference of the National Association of Local Councils, Society of Local Council Clerks, and other relevant bodies, as a representative of the Council as required.

17. To ensure the Council is fulfilling all GDPR requirements.

NOTICE OF A CASUAL VACANCY

 Notice is hereby given that due to a resignation, one vacancy has occurred among the members of the Parish Council.

Any person wishing to fill this vacancy should apply to the Locum Clerk in writing/ email before the 20^th September 2018 providing a little information about themselves and why they would like to be considered for the role of Parish Councillor.

 An applicant's name must appear on the current register of the Voters List or the applicant should during the whole of the twelve months preceding September 2018 resided in or within three miles of the parish or, the applicant’s only place of work during the whole of the twelve months preceding September 2018 is in the parish. The applicant must not be debarred from standing as a Councillor.

 Election to the aforesaid Council will be voted for by the present sitting number of Parish Councilors’ at their next meeting on the 25^th September.

 5^th September 2018

Olveston Parish Council

Appointment of Clerk/Responsible Finance Officer

A vacancy has occurred for a Clerk/Responsible Finance to commence 1^st October 2018.

For this varied position, candidates must be computer literate and have internet access. Candidates ideally should have previous experience working as a Parish Clerk and/or have knowledge of local government, although training can be provided.

Candidates should be prepared to undertake continuous professional development training throughout their period of employment, including studying for the Certificate in Local Councils Administration if they don’t already have it.

The Clerk is responsible for preparing agendas, taking minutes, dealing with correspondence, liaising with contractors and local government officials, managing the Parish Accounts, organising audits and the updating the Parish Council website. The successful candidate will be expected to be aware of, or to make themselves aware of, the requirements of the GDPR and to act as the Council’s Data Controller.

The Clerk ensures correct procedures are followed and advises the Parish Council to ensure that it acts within its powers. The ability to communicate well at all levels is essential.

The salary is based on approximately 15 hours per week and will be calculated according to the National Joint Council rates, dependent upon qualifications and/or experience but will be within the range SCP 15 to 25 (LC1) (£17,972 - £23,111 pro rata), with mileage reclaimable at 44 pence per mile.

Attendance is required at the Parish Council Meetings on the 2^nd and 4^th Tuesday of every month at 7:30 p.m. Other extraordinary meetings may be arranged as necessary throughout the year.

  Please send your CV and covering letter addressing the requirements outlined to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (all applications to be submitted electronically).

Enquiries tel. 07780 572594

Closing date for applications: 1^st August 2018

New Parish Clerk for Olveston Parish sought

 Olveston resident Richard Rogers has recently decided to step down from his post as Clerk for Olveston Parish Council. Richard has assisted the Parish Council very efficiently over the last seven years and his support and advice will be greatly missed by Parishioners and Councillors alike. The Councillors have expressed their profound thanks and wish him every success in the future.

Olveston Parish Council is now seeking a new Clerk for this varied and challenging position. Parish Councils are taking on an increasing role in the management of local facilities on behalf of parishioners and more responsibility is being devolved from local councils. The role of the Parish Clerk is therefore developing in line with these increasing responsibilities. There are nationally recognised qualifications for Parish Clerks to equip them to support Parish Councillors and ensure correct procedures and accounting systems are followed by the Council. Clerks are often the first point of contact for parishioners and form an important link between the local community and the Parish Council.

Further information about Olveston Parish Clerk vacancy is available at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The next Surgery with Olveston Parish Councillors will be held on Saturday 15th September from 10:30 at the Olveston Methodist Church Coffee Morning.  Facilities will be available for private discussions - all welcome.

Olveston Parish Council is committed to working for the good of the whole of Olveston Parish and wants to hear your views on what we should be doing to support the local community. All your ideas are welcomed. Please take a moment to explore this site.

Olveston is an Ancient Civil Parish with records of overseers going back to the early 1700’s, the Parish Council was formed under the Local Government Act 1894 and serves the villages of Olveston and Tockington, and the hamlets of Old Down, Awkley, Ingst, and Lower Hazel.

Parish and Town Councils are the first tier of Local Government in this country. As such, on many issues, Olveston Parish Council is the best first stop for information and guidance. We are in direct communication with the District Council, and liaise with them on many matters impacting on the Parish. There is a huge variety in what the Parish Council has to do and we welcome anyone who wishes to help in making the Parish the best place to live. If you have the time and the passion, we are always looking for volunteers

This is the first standalone website for Olveston Parish Council, being a priority in our aspirations for greater communication with the residents we represent. We hope this will provide a greater insight of councillor’s roles and responsibilities, whilst keeping the community better informed about issues that may affect them.

Thank you for visiting our website, we hope you enjoy browsing. 
Your input into the website is warmly welcomed and crucial so that we can provide you with the information you need. Tell us what you like and dislike, what other information and facilities you would find useful and please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions, along with the work of the Parish Council in general. Please use the "Ask A Question" form.

If you have anything of concern that you would wish to report, from road condition to street lighting, please use the “report a problem” link or contact the Parish Clerk by phone on 07780 572594 or via email on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Olveston Parish Council, Queen Alexander Memorial Pavillion, Alveston Road, Old Down, BS32 4PH

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