SADDLEWORTH is searching for two streetwise and dedicated caretakers to bring an extra sparkle to the villages.
The Parish Council is investing in the new roles to ensure the area will be kept clean and tidy.
Until last October, a ‘dandy-man’ working for Oldham Council was responsible for ensuring the community remained well-kept and in good order.
But after the employment ended, parish councillors voted to install two part-time caretakers to undertake routine inspections and maintenance work on local highways and assets.
Their key tasks will include a patrol in Uppermill, monitoring the cemetery and performing maintenance tasks across villages, including cleaning seats and historic telephone boxes.
They will also assist Oldham Council with litter picking and snow clearing, as well as reporting blocked gullies and ditches, pot holes and collapsed walls to the local authority and Unity Partnership.
Cllr Mike Buckley commented: “These Parish Caretakers will be ambassadors for the Parish Council and liaise with the public and Street Scene.
“It is very important this should support Oldham Council’s services so we are not duplicating anything but supplementing work already undertaken.”
Cllr Derek Heffernan added: “If we are successful with this, which I believe we will be, then other parts of the borough will be calling for the same services as Saddleworth.”
After a cost benefits analysis by Cllr Rob Knotts, a total estimated cost of £23,600 has been included in the 2014-15 Parish Council budget to cover pay, equipment and hiring of a van.
The level of the precept has not increased and the services will be funded from existing resources and without seeking to increase the precept.
Cllr John Hudson, the current Mayor of Oldham, said: “We want residents to know their money is being spent on additional services to benefit them and the area. We are trying to do something at a local level to help our community.”
The two part-time Parish Caretaker roles, totalling an average of 37 hours per week including weekends, are open to the public.
Anyone interested in applying should ask for a full job description and person specification by contacting Saddleworth Parish Council’s clerk Tony Marlor: 01457 876665 or email: tony@saddleworthparishcouncil.org.uk
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