Friendship Force Cornwall like many clubs are always looking for new members, the ethos of this group is very similar to twinning and indeed this year the group is undertaking trips to Colorado and Hamburg. Next year they are planning trips to Europe and a long-haul trip to Costa Rica or South Korea (tbc).

For further information regarding the Friendship Force please see the international organisation’s website:

https://friendshipforce.org/

 

For a more local flavour there is the Cornwall organisation:

https://www.ffcornwall.org.uk/

 

They would love to meet anyone interested at one of our social gatherings.

We all know that many people are struggling with the cost of living, paying bills and rising prices at the moment. Looe Town Council has been provided with a list of useful resources and sources of help and advice which anyone can access for information about budgetting, claiming benefits, checking entitlements, pension credits, saving money and/or energy, cost of living payments, etc. You can find a list of these links and contact details for a range of organisations at:

Cost of Living Support – Looe Town Council

If you know of other useful sources of help which may benefit people in Looe, please send their details to us to add to this list: enquiries@looetowncouncil.gov.uk

Please be advised of the upcoming rail improvement works as advised by  Great Western Railway some of the changes are limited to specific branch lines, others such as the diversion of trains to London via Bristol from 18 February to 2 March, will impact all long distance services.

Please also refer to their dedicated regularly updated webpage on www.GWR.com/Upgrade.

The work taking place is important for the safety and reliability of rail services, and the investment in the south west is of course welcome, but they understand that the changes will impact customers, and they want them to have as much notice as possible to plan ahead.

Par to Newquay – Friday 27 to Monday 30 January

• Track renewals on the branch line
• No trains will run on the Par to Newquay branch line. Buses will replace trains
• Replacement buses will depart from St Austell instead of Par (except for 0600 Par to Newquay bus on weekdays)

 

South West long-distance services to London Paddington – 18 February – 2 March

Rail improvements will also be taking place in the Newbury area on the following days:

• Saturday 18 February to Thursday 2 March
• Sunday 5 March
• Weekend of 11/12 March
• Friday 7 to Monday 10 April (Easter weekend)
• Sunday 16, 23 April and 14 May

Trains between London Paddington and the south west will be diverted via Swindon on these days, extending journey times. Services may also arrive/depart at different times to normal.

 

Exeter St Davids to Barnstaple/Okehampton – Monday 20 to Friday 24 February

• Track renewals in the Crediton area
• Buses will replace trains between Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple/Okehampton
• A reduced service will run between Exeter St Davids and Exeter Central
• Trains will run as normal between Exmouth and Paignton

 

South Devon area – weekend of 18/19 March

Track renewals between Exeter St Davids and Newton Abbot (extending to Plymouth and Paignton on Sunday until 1630)

• Buses will run between Tiverton Parkway and Plymouth (non-stop) throughout the weekend

Saturday (all day) and Sunday (from 1630)

• Buses will replace trains between Exeter St Davids and Newton Abbot
• Shuttle services will run between Newton Abbot and Plymouth/Paignton

Sunday (until 1630)

• Buses will replace trains between Exeter St Davids and Plymouth
• No trains or replacement buses will run between Newton Abbot and Paignton. Rail tickets will be accepted on Stagecoach local bus 12

Taunton area – Monday 20 to Thursday 23 March

• Track renewals through Taunton station
• A limited direct service will continue to run between London Paddington and the south west, using an alternative route. Most will start/terminate at Plymouth
• Cross-country services will terminate at Bristol Temple Meads (from the north) and Tiverton Parkway (from Plymouth/Penzance)
• Replacement buses will run between Castle Cary/Weston-super-Mare and Exeter St Davids, including fast services between Tiverton Parkway, Taunton and Bristol Parkway
• Trains will continue to run between Tiverton Parkway/Exeter St Davids and Penzance

East Cornwall area – Monday 27 to Thursday 30 March

• Track renewals between Liskeard and Par
• Buses will replace trains between Plymouth and St Austell

Trains will continue to run between Plymouth – Liskeard and Par – Penzance although services will be reduced

Are you looking for a management role at the heart of the local community?
Are you excited by the opportunity to support the community of Looe in Cornwall?
Are you a strong team player and experienced manager?
Sounds like you?  Read on, we have your perfect career opportunity…

Looe is a beautiful and vibrant fishing town that straddles the Looe River valley on the south coast of Cornwall.  Boosted by tourism from spring through to autumn, the town offers excellent local amenities, shops, schools and a thriving cultural sector.

Looe Town Council is now looking for a talented and hardworking individual to lead the Council into the future. The successful candidate will need to build a wide range of positive relationships with Councillors,  volunteers, residents, local groups, and partner organisations. You will also manage all the Town Council’s legal and administrative functions.

In this important role, you will be responsible for looking after the Council’s facilities and services including Council staff, allotments, public spaces, civic events, public conveniences, and Looe Library and Community Hub.  You will also oversee the statutory functions of the Council including commenting on local planning applications.

Looe Town Council has 15 Councillors and an annual revenue budget of £500k.  The Clerk is supported by an excellent team of officers including a deputy clerk and a financial officer, making this the ideal position for somebody with previous management experience.  Strategic delivery is at the core of the role.

Clerks come from a range of backgrounds, but they share an enthusiasm for serving the community. If you come from outside the sector then full support, training and mentoring will be provided.

The salary for this post starts at £39,493. Hours of work are flexible and include some evening and occasional weekend working.  You will receive 23 days annual leave plus bank holidays and 2 extra statutory days.  The Council offers a contributory pension scheme.

If you would like to find out more, please call or email our recruitment consultant at the Local Government Resource Centre – Steve Milton on 07701032010  or email Steve.  A recruitment pack and application form (required for all applicants) can be found on our Careers page at Careers – Looe Town Council

Closing date: 24^th February.  Interviews will be held over the following two weeks.