Community Action Northumberland

Vacancy for part time Parish Clerk

Glanton Parish Council has a vacancy for a parish clerk. We are a very small parish, we meet every two months (usually on the last Monday at 7.30pm) and have a low number of financial transactions.

The main duties will be keeping minutes, financial records and dealing with correspondence from the County.

Hours and pay negotiable depending on the applicant.

Contact the chairman Jon Radgick by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by phone on 01665 578222

The PSMA will help your council to provide a professional, cost effective and efficient service to your local area.

What is the PSMA?
The Public Sector Mapping Agreement (PSMA) provides the public sector in England and Wales with access to a set of core Ordnance Survey mapping and data products. The PSMA is a centrally funded agreement allowing town, parish and community councils to join the agreement for free. This brings the benefits of high quality, expertly managed and maintained geographic information (GI) into the reach of thousands of organisations, regardless of their size or resources.

What the PSMA offers?
The 10-year agreement provides access to mapping of Great Britain and includes a variety of datasets of different scales and functions – from a small scale overview down to single-building detail. The PSMA provides you with a licence to use Ordnance Survey mapping data to support you in the provision of all public services. This means you can share information with other members and organisations outside the agreement, such as infrastructure bodies.

What are the benefits?
Access to professional, high quality Ordnance Survey digital mapping which can assist with decision-making, deliver local services and asset management. Ability to share digital information with other PSMA members, such as local authorities, to realise efficiency savings. Engage with the PSMA community to share smart ways of working, best practice and new ideas to enhance the value in what you do. Pass mapping to organisations working on your behalf to bring about time and cost savings.

Real life examples
West Bletchley Council finds digital mapping brings significant improvements to planning their annual carnival. Using digital mapping to plan the parade route and layout of the main site has enhanced the enjoyment and safety of the local public and people attending.
See how
http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/docs/case-studies/west-bletchley-council-plans-carnival-usinggis.pdf

Hythe and Dibden Parish Council make savings to their land and asset management. Sharing of public sector information has enabled the parish council to distribute the cost and realise tangible improvements to the management of their land and assets.
See how
http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/docs/case-studies/hythe-and-dibden-parish-council-access-todistrict-council-gis.pdf

What do members think?
'There are huge economies to be made (with Ordnance Survey data and a GIS). It must have saved us hundreds of hours consulting with utility companies, receiving paper maps, transcribing their information onto our plans and digging over the site to find exactly where things are buried.' Jim Griffiths, Town Clerk, Aberystwyth Town Council

How to join?
Complete the registration form at: https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/psmaapply/application.do

For further information about the PSMA visit: www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/psma

also:

http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/public-sector/town-and-parish-councils/index.html

Alternatively, email the helpdesk: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call: 08453 757 595

The following is guidance which has been issued by parish councils' insurers Came and Co, to ensure that parish council-run events for the Diamond Jubilee can be covered by their insurance policy. Local councils which have other insurance cover should consult their own insurers.

If the Parish Council is the sole organiser of the Event, or if the committee is a sub-committee of the Parish Council, the policy will provide cover subject to:-

• A Risk Assessment being carried out in writing prior to the event and kept on Parish Council records.

• The location is suitable for the event.

• A First Aider must be in attendance and they must have means to call the Emergency Services.

• All Third Parties must have their own Public Liability insurance, for example: catering vans, fair rides, pony rides, bands and stalls that are not organised by the Parish Council.

• We would highlight that Bouncy Castles are excluded. These should be hired from someone with their own Public Liability insurance in place, and be operated by them at all times.

• All Permits and Licenses must be in place, and if required, the Police and Fire Brigade must be notified.

• There must be sufficient Marshalls for the number of people attending (guidelines dictate a minimum of 1 Marshall per 100 people).

• If the Parish Council is responsible for a BBQ, then it must be sited in a position where people cannot walk into it, fire-fighting equipment must be in place (sand/water) and the food must be kept chilled until it is cooked.

• If the Parish Council is organising a Tug-of-War they must ensure that all competitors are wearing suitable clothing and footwear, and use the correct type of rope.

• If the Parish Council is participating in the lighting of a bonfire/beacon then we will need to be notified (on behalf of your Insurers) a minimum of 14 days prior to the event, and receive a copy of the risk assessment. Aviva state that the Parish Council must ensure the public are kept a safe distance from the beacon. If the beacon is less than 75 metres from any property the Parish Council does not own, then we must (on Aviva's behalf) be notified. If the beacon is on a pole, your Insurer will require a risk assessment to be carried out and the public to be kept a safe distance.

• Due to the nature of some organised events, Aviva have confirmed that it may be necessary to charge a small 'one off' additional premium in order that sufficient temporary cover is arranged.

The email address of Came and Co is: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

PAYE and National Insurance for Parish Clerks – Update – November 2011

Earlier this year, HMRC removed a concession which enabled low-paid local council clerks to pay any income tax arising from their earnings via an end-of-year, self-assessment tax return. Because of uncertainties about how the ruling would apply in practice to low-paid and to unpaid clerks, last March we sought written clarification from HMRC. Following reminders, and eventually securing the help of local MP Alan Beith, we have now received a response from HMRC HQ in London.

Regrettably, HMRC is taking a tough line, and we have reluctantly concluded that we will not make any further progress in trying to address this head-on with the civil servants in London. It appears inescapable that every local council must now register as an employer with the local HMRC tax office, even if the clerk is an unpaid councillor. What happens after registration appears to depend on the advice given by the local tax office, and so we can only advise you to follow what they tell you.