Democratic Services Officer - 04743

West Berkshire Council; Newbury; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Hybrid working 40% in office

Training opportunities

Local government pension

Family friendly policies

Local discounts

Wellbeing programme

Annual leave 28 days + 5 after 5 years

Job summary

West Berkshire Council is seeking a Democratic Services Officer to join our busy Democratic Services team, reporting to the Principal Democratic Services Officer. You will provide administrative support to the democratic processes of the Council, helping ensure smooth local governance and effective decision-making.

The role requires experience in democratic services within a local authority, strong organisational and written communication skills, and the ability to build relationships with

Qualifications

• Experience in a democratic services role within a local authority.
• Knowledge of Local Government Act and Freedom of Information Act.
• Excellent organisational and time-management skills.
• Strong written communication for minutes and reports.
• Interpersonal skills to work with elected members and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Organise and administer Council meetings, including agenda and minute-taking.
• Advise elected members on democratic procedures and processes.
• Handle public inquiries and provide appropriate responses.
• Maintain records and databases (registers of interests, attendance).
• Contribute to development and implementation of democratic services policies.

Skills

Democratic processes knowledge

Local authority experience

Organisational skills

Written communication

Interpersonal skills

Job description

Are you an organised and motivated professional with a passion for supporting democratic processes? West Berkshire Council is seeking a Democratic Services Officer to join our busy and dedicated Democratic Services team, reporting to the Principal Democratic Services Officer. This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to the smooth operation of local governance and work alongside elected members to facilitate effective decision-making.

The Role

Responsibilities

As a Democratic Services Officer, you will play a key role in providing comprehensive administrative support to the democratic processes of the Council. Your responsibilities will include:

• Assisting with the organisation and administration of Council meetings, including scheduling, agenda preparation, and minute-taking.
• Supporting elected members by providing advice and guidance on democratic procedures and processes.
• Managing enquiries from the public and ensuring appropriate responses are provided.
• Maintaining accurate records and databases, such as registers of interests and attendance.
• Contributing to the development and implementation of democratic services policies and procedures

The Ideal Candidate

• Experience working in a democratic services or similar role within a local authority.
• Knowledge of local government legislation, including the Local Government Act and Freedom of Information Act.
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Strong written communication skills, with the ability to produce accurate and concise minutes and reports.
• Interpersonal skills, with the ability to build positive working relationships with elected members, colleagues, and external stakeholders.

Why Work for West Berkshire Council?

West Berkshire Council Offer Excellent Employment Benefits Such As

• Flexible working wherever possible between the hours of 07.00-21:00
• Hybrid working wherever possible working 40% in the office
• Access to a wide range of training and development opportunities
• Generous Local Government pension scheme
• Family friendly policies
• A range of local discounts
• Wellbeing Programme including Employee Assistance Programme and employee benefits
• You will also be entitled to a generous annual leave entitlement starting at 28days per annum (plus public holidays) Rising by an additional 5 days after 5 years’ service.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Sadie Owen (email [e-mail] )

Equal Opportunities

The Council supports Equal Opportunity of employment and positively encourages applications from people who fall within any of the nine protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010.

This role has been identified as public facing in accordance with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016; the requirement to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence in English applies.

This post is a Sensitive Post for the purpose of the Local Government Housing Act 1989 and the post-holder is therefore restricted from engaging in any prescribed political activities. In summary, this means that you are prohibited from holding political office and from involvement in any political activity within or outside the workplace. Full details of the restrictions can be found in the Council’s Policy and Guidance on Politically Restricted Posts.

This privacy notice applies to job applicants applying for vacancies with West Berkshire Council https://info.westberks.gov.uk/pnapplications

AI in Applications

We recognise that candidates may choose to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support the preparation of their job applications. When used appropriately, AI can be a helpful aid in structuring responses, checking clarity, and improving presentation.

However, applications must reflect your own skills, experience and understanding. If an application appears to rely excessively on AI-generated content, it may not meet the required standard and could be rejected.

We encourage all applicants to ensure their submissions are authentic, tailored to the role, and clearly demonstrate their own knowledge, experience and suitability