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Ainstable Parish Council is looking to appoint a new parish Clerk, who will also serve as its Responsible Financial Officer.  Ainstable Parish is based east of the Eden River, north of Penrith, south of Carlisle and Brampton, has 2 wards of Ainstable and Croglin.

Job role: 

The role will be home based at a location with Internet Access, other than to attend Council evening meetings (6 per annum) at Ainstable or Croglin. The Clerk will ensure the Council concludes its business correctly whilst providing independent, objective and professional advice to the Council.

Main responsibilities:

Planning, arranging and attending Council meetings (6 per annum-normally held on the 3rd Tuesdayevening by-monthly). Occasional attendance at other meetings may be required.

Preparing meeting agendas and papers for the public meetings.  During the meeting minute taking on a provided Council laptop.

Financial administration: preparing accurate accounts using Scribe accounting system (Scribe will provide support and training).  Work with external auditors. Preparation of annual budget for the Council.

Carrying out decisions of the Council.

Communicating with members of the community on behalf of the Council and where appropriate ensuring advice and information is made available.  Updating the parish web site.

Checking email communications and distributing as necessary to members of the council.

Key Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

Has previously worked in a similar administrative role including preparing agendas and taking and preparing minutes of meetings. Knowledge of Word, Excel, and good general mathematic skills. Desirable experience of Scribe accounting system and basic web publishing using WordPress with Microsoft 365.  We have a professional ICT support firm who will give full support and provide training.

The ability to work effectively on your own and in a team.

Education:

GCSE or equivalent in Mathematics and English.

Certificate in Local Council Administration – desirable (training for this qualification can be taken with the support of the council).

Salary:

The current number of hours worked per annum is 312 (~ 6 hours per week, flexible) and at the last review the rate per hour was £15.21 on the LC2 (18-23) point scale. This rate depends on qualifications and experience and includes a pro rata holiday pay entitlement. This may be reviewed after the probationary period. Training, where necessary, will be provided. Travel costs are paid.

How to apply:

Applications for the position can be made by email, detail your reasons for applying and include a CV with your contact details and the names & addresses of two referees for yourself.

Please apply initially to Howard Bellis, Chair of Ainstable Parish Council;  

chair@ainstable-pc.gov.uk  by 20^h October 2024.

Our next meeting is Tuesday 26th November 2024 in Ainstable Church Institute at 19:30.

This document describes the changes being introduced in law from The Representation of the People (Postal and Proxy Voting etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2023, which will begin to take effect from 31 October 2023.

These leaflets may be of interest to residents:

• Cold to Cosy – free help and advice about heating homes
• Christmas Savings – Account from the Pennine Community Credit Union
• Credit Union Cumbria Flyer

In response to residents’ concerns that the old noticeboard was not in a safe location, Ainstable Parish Council has purchased a new board, made from low-maintenance recycled plastic. The board will be used for parish council notices as well as being freely available to the community.

We would like to thank the Vicar, Rev. Butterfield, and the PCC of Croglin with Renwick parish, and the Diocese of Carlisle for permission to site the board at the edge of the churchyard. We would also like to thank Calor Rural Community Fund, which awarded a grant of £500 towards the cost of the board, and the team behind The Helm project.

Ainstable Parish Council has achieved national recognition by being awarded the Foundation Level of the Local Council Award Scheme. This is an accreditation scheme for all parish and town councils run by the National Association of Local Councils whereby the achievements of the council are peer reviewed by a highly qualified panel. 

The Chief Officer of Cumbria Association of Local Councils, Samantha Bagshaw, was delighted to present the certificate to the Chairman of Ainstable Parish Council, Councillor Nigel Vear, and the Parish Clerk, Kimberley Lawson, on Wednesday 11^th August 2021.  Standing in front of one of the several new cast-iron finger posts installed by the Parish Council, Cllr Vear said.

Ainstable is an ambitious and forward-looking parish council serving the villages of Ainstable, Croglin, Newbiggin, and Ruckcroft, the communities of Dale and Longdales, and the surrounding farms and houses. The parish council is dedicated to working with and serving our communities to the very best of our ability. Achieving this award is a welcome recognition of the dedication and hard work of the parish clerk and the parish councillors.

By achieving the Foundation Level Award, Ainstable Parish Council has shown that it is performing at a national standard of professionalism, being forward thinking and proactive, listening to its residents and working for the benefit of its community.

The Local Council Award Scheme has been designed to celebrate the successes of the very best parish and town councils, and to provide a framework to support all such councils to improve and develop to meet their full potential.  The scheme offers councils the opportunity to show that they meet the standards set by the sector, assessed by their peers, and to put in place the conditions for continued improvement. 

For more information on the LCAS scheme, please contact Cumbria Association of Local Councils on office@calc.org.uk