Horsington Parish Council has a vacancy for a parish councillor following the resignation of Steve Hawkins.
No previous experience is necessary, but you need to be “community minded” and prepared to attend a monthly meeting. The post is unpaid.
If you would like to put yourself forward, please talk to Jackie Pyne in confidence on 01963 370713.
The Parish Council is also looking to recruit a new Clerk. This is a modestly-paid job, requiring about 15 hours per month.
The Parish Clerk is required to attend and take the minutes of the monthly Parish Council Meetings. Other duties include production and circulation of monthly agendas and minutes, dealing with all correspondence and keeping the accounts up to date and submitting them for the annual audit. Applicants will need to be PC literate. Previous accounts experience would be an advantage.
Again, please talk to Jackie Pyne.
The parish council is an essential part of local democracy and has an important role in shaping the community by:
• giving views, on behalf of the community, on planning applications and other proposals
• undertaking projects and schemes to benefit local residents
• working in partnership with other bodies to benefit residents
• alerting relevant authorities to problems that arise
• and helping the other tiers of local government keep in touch with their local communities.
Parish councils have a wide range of powers which essentially relate to local matters, such as looking after community buildings, open space, allotments, play areas, street lighting, bus shelters, car parks and much more. They also have the power to raise money through taxation, known as the ‘precept’.