by Trevor Bevins, Local Democracy Reporter.
Weymouth Town Council assistant town clerk, Charmaine Denny, is expected to take over the top job at Dorchester Town Council later this year.
She was named as the successor to the current town clerk, Steve Newman, at the March full town council meeting.
Town councillors heard that she was appointed following what was described as a rigorous two-stage interview process.
It is expected that she will take up the position in the summer.
The position was advertised with a salary of between £64,370 and £72,300 for a 37-hour week with some weekend and evening commitments.
Said the council description of the position: “As Town Clerk, you will be the Council’s most senior officer and its Proper Officer, providing strategic leadership, strong governance and clear professional advice to councillors. You will guide delivery of the Corporate Plan, support effective decision‑making and ensure the Council operates with integrity, transparency and sound financial management.
“You will lead a committed team delivering a wide range of services including parks, open spaces, cemeteries, allotments, markets, community buildings, events and civic and ceremonial functions and promote the town’s heritage. Working closely with the Responsible Financial Officer, you will oversee budgets, reserves, contracts and long‑term financial planning. You will also act as a visible ambassador for Dorchester, building strong relationships with residents, partners and regional bodies.”
Dorchester Town Council, which is almost entirely made up of Lib Dem councillors, is one of the few larger town councils in Dorset to agree a below inflation increase in its share of the council tax this year, adding 2per cent to a Band D property’s annual bill, an increase of £4.29 to £218.83.
The council’s total income per year from council tax is around £1.9 million.
