It’s long been a bug bear for us that taxpayers have to fund party political ‘assistants’ for the political groups on councils. What takes the biscuit this week goes a step further. From Hackney Council, we present to you the non-job of the week:
“Members’ Support Office (Frontline Councillor)
Grade P02: £31,350 - £33,777 p.a. inc. (pay award pending)
Hackney is one of the fastest improving local authorities in the country. As part of an ambitious improvement programme, we have re-shaped our Services for Councillors team to enhance the quality of the support we provide to elected members in all their roles.
You will review, invigorate and implement our elected member development programme ensuring that it is challenging, relevant and meets our diverse needs.
A team player, you will have experience of providing quality support to elected members, be politically sensitive and have a track record in achieving results. You will also have good project management, administrative and IT skills, be able to prioritise effectively, and have pride in your work - constantly seeking new and better ways of working.
For an informal discussion, please contact Lorraine Brook, Members Support Manager on 020 8356 3599 or email: [email protected]
For further information and to apply, please visit http://www.hackney.gov.uk/jobs-careers. Alternatively, please call Tribal on 0845 313 3140, quoting reference HC_944 or email: [email protected] including your full contact address and contact number(s).
Closing date: 18 July 2008.
Interviews will be held on 28 - 30 July 2008.
Through the Local Government Pension Scheme, the Council offers a generous and competitive final salary scheme.
Encouraging Diversity and Promoting Talent
Hackney
INVESTOR IN PEOPLE”
Is it the purpose of government to become so all-encompassing, with an officer seemingly for everything from paper clip management to planning, that it has to nanny everyone, even their elected councillors? This non-job tells us that Hackney council feels it needs a shepherd to take councillors by the hand and tell them what to do. Councils already have a Democratic Services department. They already have officers in place to deal with and process applications, policy decisions and the like. Will life go on at Hackney Council if this job didn’t exist – yes. The problem here is that by nannying councillors to do x and y, Hackney Council using taxpayers money to get councillors to do what they should already be doing.