Association seeks Treasurer to take on Town Hall role

Hebden Bridge Community Association, the registered charity which is to take over management of Hebden Bridge’s landmark Town Hall building from Calderdale, has announced that it is looking for a new treasurer to join the board of trustees.

Derrick Palmer, the Association’s current treasurer, is stepping down shortly because of work commitments in London. “Derrick has been a member of the Town Hall team almost since the start of the project back in 2008, and we’re going to miss him enormously,” says Peter Hirst, the Association’s chair. “We were fortunate in having the benefits of Derrick’s time and ability during the time when the project was developing, and he has overseen our finances to the situation today, where we expect our turnover to be well into six figures.”

Derrick, who lives in Heptonstall, is a former director of finance for a housing association in Bradford and is also a governor of Calder High. He has recently taken up a number of high-profile non-executive directorships with national agencies. He remains committed to the Town Hall project, which he will support in future on a more informal basis.

“We know that there’s somebody in the Hebden Bridge community who will be able to take over from Derrick. We’re looking for someone with strong financial and accountancy skills, and who ideally has experience of overseeing the finances of a charity of our size,” Peter Hirst adds. The Community Association trustees will be following best practice in the charitable sector, and will be asking candidates for the post to apply formally through an application process. Potential candidates are asked to contact Peter on Hebden Bridge 842551 for more details.

The Association has also put in motion the process for appointing its first paid member of staff. Advertisements are appearing in the local press this week for the post of part-time Project Worker. They will work with the volunteer trustees to ensure that the transfer of the Town Hall from Calderdale to the Association’s control operates smoothly and efficiently. Transfer of the building is currently scheduled to take place in April.