Huntingdon Town Council is looking for a new town clerk – and is offering a salary of up to £81,000-a-year to the right candidate.  

Philip Peacock, who currently holds the position, is retiring and a specialist public sector recruiter is helping with the search to find his replacement.   

Job postings state the salary offered is between £67,756 and £81,069 inclusive, depending on experience.  

St Neots Town Council stated a salary of between £55,000 and £62,000 when it advertised for a town clerk in 2021. 

But Huntingdon Town Council has explained the compensation it is offering is consistent with a nationally-recognised salary structure and the market rate for town councils of a similar size. 

It also manages services that other councils, like St Neots, do not have such as a crematorium. 

In a statement, the council said: “Huntingdon Town Council is seeking to appoint an innovative, forward thinking, and proactive town clerk to take over from the highly respected retiring clerk and continue to drive the council forward.  

“The town council represents the first tier of local government in Huntingdon which is closest to its electors.  

“Employing just over 35 staff in total, the town council consists of 19 councillors elected for a four-year term to represent constituents in the town’s eight wards.” 

Huntingdon is reportedly the most expensive place in Cambridgeshire for council tax this year.  

The precept raises £1.65m for the town council and councillors agreed a weekly increase of £0.49p on a Band D property.

The town council says its overall budget is close to £2.5m.  

The spokesperson added: “The town clerk will have responsibility for ensuring that the instructions of the council are carried out and will work actively with elected members to help develop existing services.  

“The town clerk will have a significant role in maintaining the town council’s civic traditions along with implementing the corporate plan and its impact on operations and staffing.  

“The post holder will be the proper officer of the council, with all the responsibilities that go with that critical role.” 

The deadline for applications is September 18.