KENDAL TOWN COUNCIL
JOB DESCRIPTION
TOWN HANDYPERSON
Overall Responsibilities
The Handyperson will be responsible for dealing with day to day activities resulting from Kendal Town
Council’s responsibility for management of allotments, Christmas lights and Kendal in Bloom. The
Handyperson will also be responsible for maintenance of Town Council owned lighting, seating and bus
shelters.
Specific Responsibilities
1. To undertake general maintenance on the 17 Kendal allotment sites to include the cutting of grass pathways,
repair of pathways, pruning of hedges and trees, maintenance and repair of walls and boundaries, clearing of
litter and keeping vacant plots tidy.
2. To liaise with allotment tenants to include showing allotment sites to prospective tenants as advised by the
Assistant to the Town Clerk, assisting new tenants to settle in, monitoring tenant’s performance, liaising with
any site reps and where possible resolving tenants problems.
3. To undertake site visits weekly on rotation around the three allotment site areas and every two months to
undertake site visits with the Assistant to the Town Clerk.
4. To manage the clearance of any overgrown plots or the development of newly acquired land to provide
workable allotment plots.
5. To report to the Administrative Officer all complaints, disputes and reports of vermin received.
6. To keep a register of tools held and to provide an annual list to the Assistant to the Town Clerk.
7. To arrange for skip hire and removal as required at the garage and disposal of waste via authorised routes in
conjunction with the Assistant to the Town Clerk.
8. To inspect Kendal Town Council owned seating, lighting, boundary signs and bus shelters regularly.
9. To undertake the repair and general maintenance such as cleaning and painting of Kendal Town Council
owned seating, lighting, boundary signs and bus shelters.
10. To notify the Town Clerk of any major faults with Kendal Town Council owned seating, boundary signs
and bus shelters.
11. With direction from the Assistant to the Town Clerk, to liaise with the appointed contractor for the
provision of Christmas lights to ensure the erection and removal of the lights and Christmas tree.
12. To undertake minor repairs to the Christmas lights and to report to the Assistant to the Town Clerk any
faults.
13. To participate as directed by the Assistant to the Town Clerk in the Christmas Lights Switch-On event.
14. To undertake the siting and removal of Kendal in Bloom floral display fountains, baskets and troughs.
15. To manage the planting of the Kendal in Bloom floral displays in liaison with the Assistant to the Town
Clerk, appointed contractor and SLDC officers.
16. To maintain the Kendal in Bloom floral displays including the dead heading of flowers, feeding and
removal of litter.
17. To routinely water the displays during the summer bloom period.
18. To assist with the Cumbria in Bloom and Britain in Bloom competitions including advising on possible
routes and assisting with showing judges the town.
19. To maintain the Council van as necessary to ensure it is clean and tidy and mechanically fit for purpose.
20. To undertake any minor repairs and odd jobs in Council Chamber, Mayor’s Parlour and offices as
requested by the Town Clerk.
21. To manage the day to day operation of the Kendal Town Council leased garage and storage unit and
maintain it in good condition.
22. To meet weekly with the Assistant to the Town Clerk to discuss any issues relating to allotments, Kendal in
Bloom and Christmas lights.
23. To once a year wash the Kendal tourist signs and to check the signs periodically for vandalism and report to
SLDC.
24. To assist with the gritting of pavements and paths during inclement conditions as directed by SLDC.
25. To assist with the annual review of the risk assessments for duties undertaken by the Handyperson.
26. To attend Council Committee meetings of the Kendal in Bloom and Allotments Committees and if required
Christmas Lights & Festivals Committee.
27. To fulfil any other reasonable duties required.
The Town Handyperson will be line-managed by the Assistant to the Town Clerk.
Additional Notes to Applicants:
(a) The position will require evening working to attend meetings of the Kendal in Bloom and
Allotments Committees (on average 1 per month).
(b) The position involves use of a Council van. Therefore applicants are required to have a clean current
driving licence.
(c) The position requires the watering of Kendal blooms during the summer period (expected JuneSept). This will be weather dependant and may involve a max of 15 hours per week in dry
conditions. Where extra hours are required overtime can be paid with prior agreement or hours
banked for use in the slower winter period. It should be noted that watering will need to be
undertaken in either early morning or early evening so as to minimise causing a hazard to traffic and
pedestrians. Therefore the applicant must be prepared to work at these times during the summer
period. As a result of the above, leave during the summer period will only be authorised by the Town
Clerk if alternative cover can be arranged.