Job Title: Clerk to the Council and Responsible Financial Officer
Hours of work: 37 hours per week. (Parish Office closes at 1pm on Fridays)
Base: The Council Offices, Community Way, Croxley Green, Rickmansworth, Herts, WD3 3SU
Responsible to: Croxley Green Parish Council
Responsible for:
* Two other administrative employees and two Rangers.
* Annual budget circa £360,000 (2024).
* Financial reserves circa £800,000 (2024).
* Council offices and depot.
* 6 acres of land at Weston Wood & Cauis Woodland (2024).
* Ground maintenance equipment and work.
Summary of Job
The Clerk is accountable to the Council for the effective management of all its resources and staff, ensuring that the Council’s civic and administrative functions and services are performed professionally, ensuring the instructions of the Council are carried out, and reporting to the Council as and when required.
As the Council’s Proper Officer to carry out all the functions required by law, and in particular serve or issue all the statutory notifications required in a timely manner.
As the Council’s Responsible Financial Officer to be responsible for and manage all financial procedures and records, and the administration of its finances, and exercise good stewardship of the Council’s assets in compliance with all statutory obligations or other laws, provisions and notices governing or affecting the running of the Council.
Duties
The Clerk will develop and manage policy, strategy and operations across the Council’s functions working with elected members, external bodies and staff to achieve the Council’s objectives.
Engage With Others
* Foster good relations within the community in support of the Council’s objectives.
* Ensure that the Council plays an informed and effective role in local issues.
* Develop effective liaison and working partnerships with other relevant Local Authorities, public, statutory and voluntary bodies, and agencies.
* Advise the Council on matters of ceremony and civic protocol and arrange civic functions and occasions.
* Act as the official representative of the Council as required.
Meetings
* Ensure that statutory and other provisions and notices governing or affecting the running of the Council are observed.
* Advise the Councillors on meeting procedures and regulations.
* Prepare agenda for meetings of the Council, its committees and sub-committees.
* Ensure all such meetings are serviced and the minutes prepared for approval.
Policy & Strategy
* Advise the Council on, and assist in the formulation of, policies and procedures, keeping up to date with current and forthcoming changes in legislation, and ensuring that all Council policies and procedures meet statutory requirements.
* Produce relevant information to enable elected members to make effective decisions advising on both the practicability and likely effects of the proposed courses of action.
* Constructively implement such policies and procedures.
* Monitor the implementation of the policies and procedures of the Council to ensure they are achieving the desired result and, where appropriate, suggest modifications.
Business Planning & Budgeting
* Develop the Council’s business planning process including workforce planning and encourage proposals from Councillors.
* Advise the Council and its Committees on and prepare the annual budget estimates of income and expenditure for revenue services, the capital budget programme and annual Precept requirements.
Public Relations, Communications & Publicity
* Maintain positive and effective press and public relations.
* Prepare and issue press releases and other communications about the Council’s activities.
* Promote the Council and its activities through its website ensuring that it reflects the Council’s policies, is refreshed and kept up to date and, through social media contribute where necessary to support the Council’s policies and decisions.
Correspondence & Records
* Receive and deal with correspondence and documents on behalf of the Council when appropriate bringing relevant items to the attention of the Council.
* Maintain such records and systems as are necessary for the effective administration of the affairs of the Council and ensure that they are kept in a safe and secure manner.
Activity & Business Management
* Organise and manage Council projects to achieve the objectives required by the Council.
* Keep services and activities under continuous review, identify, plan and implement improvements in quality, effectiveness, efficiency and economy.
* Monitor and manage risk, including financial, operational and reputational risks and make sure that the Council’s obligations to insure are properly met.
* Ensure that all health and safety obligations are met and all necessary risk assessments are undertaken.
* Monitor planning applications and advise the Council on planning and land use development issues affecting the area.
People Management
* Induct new Councillors into their role and support their continuing training and development.
* Manage all staff in line with legislation and best practice and the Council’s policies ensuring they perform to expected standards.
* Arrange and/or undertake staff annual performance appraisals or reviews and deal with any redundancy, disciplinary, capability or grievance issues.
* Promote equality of opportunity and treatment and the appropriate attitudes and behaviours of all employees.
Property & Facilities
* Be responsible for the management, maintenance, cleanliness, use and security of all the Council’s properties and facilities.
Financial Responsibilities
As the Council’s Responsible Financial Officer be responsible for:
* The administration of the Council’s finances, and the proper maintenance and application of the Council’s Financial Regulations and relevant Standing Orders.
* Financial accounting, management reporting, budgeting, forecasting and longer-term planning.
* Ensuring the Council complies with internal and external audit requirements and VAT regulations applicable to local authorities.
* Preparing and submitting the statutory Annual Return for local Councils.
* Ensuring that the Standing Orders and Financial Regulations are kept up-to-date and aligned to good practice.
Other Responsibilities & Duties
* Continue to acquire the professional knowledge required for the efficient management of the affairs of the Council and to attend training courses or seminars on the work and role of the Clerk, Proper Officer, and Responsible Financial Officer and the Council’s activities as required by the Council.
* Undertake such other duties appropriate to the work and role, having regard to the size of the Council and the number of employees, as may be required by the Council from time to time.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: From £46,000.00 per year
Schedule:
* Flexitime
Ability to commute/relocate:
* RICKMANSWORTH: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in RICKMANSWORTH
Application deadline: 27/11/2024
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