Stainland & District
Parish Council

Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer  

Stainland and District Parish Council 

2024 

Scale 18-23 starting salary £15.21ph 15 hours per week, hybrid working from home and office based.   

 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 responsible for ensuring that the instructions of the Council in connection with its function as a Local Authority 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 Authority’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. * Or to monitor the work of a designated other officer designated the Responsible Financial Officer.  

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 Committees. To attend such meetings and prepare minutes for approval. *Other than where such duties have been delegated to another Officer. 

5.​To attend all meetings of the Council and all meetings of its committees and sub-committees. *Other than where such duties have been delegated to another Officer. 

6.​To receive correspondence and documents on behalf of the Council and to deal with the correspondence or documents 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. 

7.​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. 

8.​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. 

9.​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. 

10.​To supervise any other members of staff as their line manager in keeping with the policies of the Council and to undertake all necessary activities in connection with the management of ​salaries, conditions of employment and work of other staff. 

11.​To monitor the implemented policies of the Council to ensure they are  

​achieving the desired result and where appropriate suggest modifications. 

12.​To act as the representative of the Council as required. 

13.​To issue notices and prepare agendas and minutes for the Parish Meeting: to attend the assemblies of the Parish Meeting and to implement the decisions made at the assemblies that are agreed by the Council. 

14.​To prepare, in consultation with the Chair, press releases about the activities of, or decisions of, the Council. 

15. To liaise with the allotment association and issue annual invoices for rent. 

16. To ensure adequate insurance is in place for the parish council and allotments. 

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

16.​To work towards the achievement of the status of Qualified Clerk as a minimum requirement for effectiveness in the position of Clerk to the Council.  

17.​To continue to acquire the necessary professional knowledge required for  

​the efficient management of the affairs of the Council:   Suggested is  

​membership of your professional body The Society of Local Council Clerks. 

18.​To attend the Conference of the National Association of Local Councils,  

​Society of Local Council Clerk’s, and other relevant bodies, as a representative of the Council as required. 

Please find the application form here

application-form-2024.

Person Specification

clerkjob description 20241

The application document is available in word document if required.

If you would like to discuss this role further please call 07493 231380.

Please return the completed application form to Laura Peckover via e-mail parish.clerk@sdpc.uk or by post to Laura Peckover, Stainland Library, Stainland Road, Stainland, Halifax, HX4 9HW by 12 noon on Friday 19th July 2024. 

Interviews will be held week commencing Monday 29th July 2024

Shaw Park Update

Calderdale Council have made StainlandandDistrict Parish Council aware of the much-needed safety measures that are due to be implemented in the next couple of weeks at Shaw Park following a recent Health & Safety inspection. The changes that they are required to make are as follows:

Additional fencing
Gated entry points
Water safety signage on all entrances to the park
Near water hazard signage

These changes are all in aid of making it clear to visitors of the park / play area when they are using the site, they in the vicinity of water and the potential dangers that this can pose. This will ensure that users of the park and community are still able to enjoy the park as areas are fully accessible but include safety features to help maintain safety for all users especially those who need extra supervision.

Please see attached the maps highlighting where new fencing and signage will be located. Click here

• Stainland and Sowood are separated from Ryburn by strong physical boundaries, have little shared identity, and few community or transport links.
• Tacking these areas onto an already sprawling Ryburn ward could leave Stainland and Sowood isolated and poorly served
• Attending/participating in ward forums in Ryburn will be more difficult for residents in Stainland and Sowood, particulary those reliant on public transport
• Splitting the Stainland and District Parish over two Calderdale wards undermines its identity and makes addressing issues facing the parish more difficult to tackle effectively

Stainland and District Parish Council Public Consultation

SDPC would like to hear your views on how the old tennis court area in Stainland Memorial Park could be put to better use for play or sporting activities. The tennis courts have been in a dilapidated state for decades, but the area has lots of potential to provide some new facilities for the community.

The old grass court is currently used for football and has two open goals that appear to be well used.

Please get in touch if you use the area. We would like to know if there is any demand for some improvements such as adding a new goal with an

integrated back, cricket wicket or ball target.

The old, tarmacked court is currently unused, and the surface is in a very poor condition.

Initial discussions with CMBC suggested this area could be converted to include two or three zones for different activities such as a basketball hoop, skateboard ramp and bike track for younger children.

This would be a long-term project for the Parish Council with guidance from CMBC about the availability and type of options they would support in the park.

Please get in touch with Laura Peckover via email parish.clerk@sdpc.uk or 07493 231380 with suggestions or comments.

Please complete our survey on the link below 

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LM8Q8PW

NOTICE OF VACANCY

OFFICE OF COUNCILLOR

STAINLAND & DISTRICT PARISH COUNCIL (Stainland Ward)

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972 (s.87(2))

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to Section 87(2) of the Local Government Act 1972, due to the resignation of Jill Knights from the above-named Parish Council, a vacancy now exists in the office of Councillor for the Parish in the Stainland Ward.

If within 14 days after the date of this notice a request for an election to fill the vacancy is received by the Returning Officer, Town Hall, Halifax, HX1 1UJ by TEN electors for the Parish Ward, an election will be held to fill the vacancy.

Requests should include each electors’ name, address and signature and should be sent to the Returning Officer at the address below. It may also be sent as an attachment by email to: electoral-services@calderdale.gov.uk

If no requests are received, the vacancy will be filled by co-option.

Dated this day 8^th January 2024

Laura Peckover

Clerk to the Council

In computing any period of time for the purposes of this notice a Saturday, Sunday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Good Friday or a Bank Holiday or day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning, shall be disregarded.

Please note the deadline is the 22nd January 2024

Have your say here —>  Calderdale | LGBCE

CMBC are now consulting local people on a new pattern of wards for Calderdale Council. CMBC have an open mind
about the final recommendations, and will consider every piece of evidence received from local groups and
people, regardless of whom it is from or whether it relates to the whole council area or just a part of it.
If you agree with CMBC recommendations, please let us know. If you don’t think the recommendations are right for
Calderdale they want to hear alternative proposals for a different pattern of wards.

Stainland & District Parish Council will be holding a public meeting in December to discuss this matter and take forward your opinions and thoughts to CMBC. The meeting date has not been confirmed yet so please watch this page for updates and subscribe to our email updates.

DR – Poster Portrait – Calderdale

DR – Summary – Calderdale

NOTICE OF VACANCY
OFFICE OF COUNCILLOR
STAINLAND & DISTRICT PARISH COUNCIL (Holywell Green Ward)
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972 (s.87(2))
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to Section 87(2) of the Local Government Act
1972, due to the resignation of Jan Booth from the above-named Parish Council, a
vacancy now exists in the office of Councillor for the Parish in the HolyWell Green
Ward.
If within 14 days after the date of this notice a request for an election to fill the
vacancy is received by the Returning Officer, Town Hall, Halifax, HX1 1UJ by TEN
electors for the Parish Ward, an election will be held to fill the vacancy.
Requests should include each electors’ name, address and signature and should be
sent to the Returning Officer at the address below. It may also be sent as an
attachment by email to: electoral-services@calderdale.gov.uk
If no requests are received, the vacancy will be filled by co-option.
Dated this day 7th November 2023
Laura Peckover
Clerk to the Council
In computing any period of time for the purposes of this notice a Saturday, Sunday,
Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Good Friday or a Bank Holiday or day appointed for
public thanksgiving or mourning, shall be disregarded.