NEWS

A vacancy has arisen for an Assistant Clerk to serve this very active Parish Council. The responsibilities of the position will include:

• Preparation of Agendas, detailed reports and associated documents in preparation for meetings
• Attendance at Council and Committee meetings, production of Minutes and implementation of recommendations and resolutions
• Dealing with enquiries and issues raised by the public by telephone, e-mail, letter and face to face
• Deputising for the Clerk as required, including the day-to-day running of the office
• Accurate record keeping and administration
• Ad hoc administrative and project-based duties
• Maintenance of public information sources (notice boards and website)
• Attendance at training courses on the work and role of the Council as required

Successful candidates should be able to demonstrate:

• Administrative and IT skills (particularly Word and Excel)
• Highly effective interpersonal skills
• A flexible approach to hours of work and day to day duties and responsibilities
• They hold a CILCA qualification or would be prepared to undertake training to this level
• Experience of Local Government, or similar, environment (this would be an advantage but is not essential)

The role is for 10 hours a week initially and will be based in the Parish Council Office at the URC Hall in Felsted. Some home working is expected as is attendance at a minimum of 2 evening meetings per month. Salary will be based on the National Scale according to experience.

Closing date Tuesday 6 October 2020.

This is an interesting and varied role and a great opportunity to be involved in the local community.

The application form can be downloaded here.

Guidance notes can be downloaded here.

Our GDPR policy can be downloaded here.

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Congratulations to all those who took part in this year’s art competition.

Thank you again to everyone who took part and see you again next year.

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Essex Police has alerted us to the top 10 scams and frauds related to Covid 19. Beware:

Health Scams

Hand Sanitizer & Face Masks

Victims are also being targeted by fake adverts for Covid-related products and Personal Protective equipment (PPE) that do not exist.

NHS Test and Trace

Criminals are preying on an anxious public by sending phishing emails and cold calls claiming that the recipient has been in contact with someone diagnosed with Covid-19. These are designed to steal personal and financial information.

Contact Tracers will never:

• Ask you to make any form of payment
• Ask for details about your bank account
• Ask you for passwords or PINs
• Ask you to download anything

Covid-19 Financial Support Scams

Fake Government Emails

Criminals are sending emails designed to look like they are from government departments offering grants of up to £7,500. Theses emails contain links which steal personal and financial information.

‘Covid-19 Relief Funds’

Fraudsters have also been sending scam emails which offer access to relief funds, encouraging victims to fill in a form with their personal information.

‘Council Tax Reduction’

Criminals have been targeting people with official-looking emails offering a council tax reduction. These emails, which use government branding, contain links which lead to a fake government website which is used to access personal and financial information.

Universal Credit Applications

Fraudsters are also preying on benefit recipients, offering to help applying for Universal Credit, while taking some of the payment as an advance for their “services”.

Lockdown Scams

TV Subscription Services

Amid a rise in the use of during the lockdown, customers have been targeted by criminals sending convincing emails asking them to update their payment details by clicking on a link which is then used to steal credit card information.

Dating Scams

Fraudsters are also exploiting those using online dating sites and social media by creating fake profiles used to manipulate people into handing over their money. Often criminals will use the identities of real people to strike up relationships with their targets.

Fake Investment Opportunities

Criminals are using social media websites to encourage victims to “take advantage of the financial downturn”. Bitcoin platforms are using emails and adverts on social media platforms to encourage unsuspecting victims invest money into fake companies.

TV Licencing

Criminals are sending fake emails and texts claiming to be from TV Licencing telling people they are eligible for six months of free TV license because of the coronavirus pandemic. Victims are told there has been a problem with their direct debit and are asked to click on a link that takes them to a fake website used to steal personal and financial information.

Remember
Criminals are experts at impersonating trusted organisations and manipulating people into parting with their money or personal information.
Consumers are reminded to stop and take a moment to think before parting with any money or information, in case it’s a scam.
Stop
Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe.
Challenge
Could it be fake? It’s ok to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.
Protect
Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve fallen for a scam and report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or at www.actionfraud.police.uk.

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We are very pleased to advise that the play areas around the Parish are now open.

We have installed Covid related signage to help remind people of the rules we must all follow, along with a few simple, but sensible, precautions we can all take to help keep ourselves and others safe.

During the lockdown period we have undertaken a number of upgrades and improvements to the games areas, including new edging and play bark where needed.

The largest project undertaken was in the Mutli-Use Games Area (MUGA), sited next to the main village playing field.

With the area having been well used since being installed in 2009, we felt it was extremely important to bring this much loved and valuable village asset back up to scratch.

We have installed two brand new sets of recessed/integral 5 aside goals, with new basketball hoops fixed permanently at either end of the MUGA.

The surface has also been professionally repaired and the games lines resprayed.

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ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 – SECTION 14(1)

Temporary Traffic Regulation Order of Stebbing Road, Garnetts Lane, Felsted

Please click on the following link https://one.network/?tm=117724958 to find details of the intended closure of Stebbing Road, Garnetts Lane, due to commence on 14th July 2020 for 10 days. The closure is required for the safety of the public and workforce while Gigaclear Limited undertakes Installation of fibre optic cables in the area for fibre optic broadband.

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Please be aware that  Felsted Parish Council will not be opening our play areas today.

Opening is at the discretion of each Parish Council and, having attended a safety seminar yesterday, we are arranging for safety signs and safety measures to be put in place. We expect safety measures to be ready by Monday 13th July, but will be following Government guidance.

During lockdown we have improved some equipment, with additional work  being undertaken the week after next to replace the Memorial Field play bark and edging, so this area will not be fully open until after the work is completed.

The safety of children is of the highest priority to Felsted Parish Council and we appreciate your support and cooperation.

Graham Harvey

Chair, Felsted Parish Council

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Please see the following press release from Uttlesford regarding their Business and Charity Grant scheme:

Applications are now open for the Uttlesford Discretionary Business Grant scheme.
Uttlesford District Council has been allocated approximately £1 million of government funding to support certain businesses and charities that have been impacted by Covid-19 but were not eligible for either the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund or the Small Business Grant Fund.
The scheme opened today (Friday 5 June) and applications must be made by the closing date of Sunday 21 June.
Grants of up to £10,000 will be available, and in exceptional circumstances a grant of £25,000 could be paid out. As there are limited resources available, the council expects most grants awarded will be under £10,000.
In line with government guidance, the council will prioritise support for small businesses in shared offices or flexible work spaces, regular market traders with fixed building costs, small charity properties, and bed & breakfast establishments which pay council tax instead of business rates.
Applications will also be invited from small local businesses that can demonstrate exceptional hardship relating to ongoing fixed property-related costs and a significant loss of income due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, it should be noted that the grant fund is limited and the council will look to award businesses that meet the national priorities first.
Cllr Neil Hargreaves, Portfolio Holder for Finance and Budget, said: “We know there are businesses in Uttlesford that have not been eligible for any government assistance so far. It is vital we support our small businesses at this very difficult time and so I am pleased the discretionary grant scheme is open for applications.
“I would encourage any small business owner who thinks their business may be eligible for a grant to make an application and access all the help that is available.”
A dedicated page on the council website – www.uttlesford.gov.uk/small-business-discretionary-grant – includes information on the criteria for which priority businesses are eligible to apply, the application process, and FAQs about the grant scheme.
ENDS

NOTES
• For more details on this media release please contact the Communications Team on 01799 510442 or ku.vog.drofselttuobfsctd-92488d@aidem
• Follow us on Twitter @Uttlesford DC
• You can also follow our Business Development Team @UDCBusiness, our Communities Team @UDCCommunities, and our jobs feed @UDCJobs
• Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook/UttlesfordDC

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