Town Clerk
Salary range £58,583 to £65,803 (NJC pay spine points 50 to 54 depending on experience, pending review).
Abingdon Town Council is a large town council in Oxfordshire that offers services and wide support to the local community. We are seeking to appoint a new Town Clerk whose role will be to help Councillors to address current challenges and embrace the many future changes.
The Town Clerk is the Council’s chief officer and principal adviser, assisting in the formation of policies and responsible for the effective management of all its business, resources, staff and operations.
We seek a forward thinking and proactive Town Clerk to take responsibility for all aspects of the council’s operation, and hope to attract individuals with the knowledge, experience, and energy to help us achieve our goals while keeping the business and mechanisms of the council on the right path.
This role does NOT include ‘s.151’ Responsible Finance Officer duties, as this is currently part of the Deputy Town Clerk’s function.
Applicants must demonstrate significant managerial experience and ideally will have relevant knowledge of local government law and procedures having worked as a Clerk and hold (or must obtain) one of the qualifications prescribed to allow the Council to exercise the General Power of Competence.
Closing date for applications will be Friday 13 October 2023 at 1700hrs and applicants selected for interview will be offered an interview on either Thursday 26 October 2023 or Friday 27 October 2023.
Details of the role including the Job Pack and how to apply can be found here.
Should you require more information or wish to have an informal chat regarding the role please contact the Interim Town Clerk, Paula Lopez, on 07540 155621 or by email on townclerk@abingdon.gov.uk.
Outdoor Services Operative
An exciting opportunity has arisen in the Town Council’s busy Outdoor Services Team for an Outdoor Services Operative offering a varied range of jobs within the town.
You will be a member of a small team assisting with grave digging and other cemetery work. You will undertake a wide variety of other tasks relating to the maintenance and development of facilities in the town including open spaces, playgrounds, street furniture and some public buildings. Flexibility will be needed together with a willingness to be involved in tasks as diverse as weed control, watering the town’s floral displays, litter picking and in assisting at civic and community events. The Town Council’s activities are many and varied.
You will need to be physically fit for digging and lifting. You must have a positive and sensitive attitude to the public at all times. Candidates should have previous experience in grounds maintenance / horticulture, and it is essential that you have a current clean driving licence. It would also be desirable to have previous ground care machinery experience.
The successful candidate will have excellent communication and organisational skills as well as awareness of the relevant health and safety protocols. You should also be able to work as a member of a team and be a confident lone worker.
The Outdoor Services Team works a 36.5 hour week and you will be entitled to 23 days annual leave per year on NJC scales 7-11 and 24 days annual leave upon reaching NJC scale 12, plus public holidays and extra statutory days. You will also be awarded an additional 5 days for long service, granted after 5 years of employment with the council.
The successful candidate will commence at NJC scale points 7, which is currently an annual salary of £22,369. However, there is potential, subject to satisfactory performance, to earn up to NJC scale point 12 (£24,496). You will also be eligible to join the Local Government Pension Scheme. The Town Council is a keen investor in people and personal development and training will be offered.
The closing date for applications is 5.00 pm on Friday 20 October 2023