Up for the challenge

A WOMAN who helped win Oldham a major local government award has been appointed clerk to Saddleworth Parish Council.

Pamela Bailey, who was born in Saddleworth, takes over from Tony Marlor who held the post for eight years.

Mrs Bailey, a chartered accountant with seven years’ experience in the private sector, has more than 22 years’ experience in local government at senior level with Oldham Council.

Under her lead, Oldham was the first council in the country to publish its accounts for 2010/11, which was a major factor in receiving the 2012 Local Government Council (LGC) gong for Most Improved Council.

She managed the provision of financial services to most of the council’s directorates and several organisations which the council acted as lead district.

Mrs Bailey (54) was lead finance officer for the council’s Pay and Reward Scheme, which was implemented under a collective agreement with the trade unions, the only national collective agreement.

She said: “The parish faces a number of challenges including the lack of affordable housing and the expense of maintaining local services and infrastructure in a geographically large area. However, these are offset by its largely prosperous, healthy and well-educated population.

“Saddleworth has strong community spirit with voluntary societies, organisations and community festivals including Whit Friday brass band contests, the Rushcart weekend and the Saddleworth Festival of the Arts which returns in June.

“I am extremely proud and delighted to have been offered the post of clerk to the council.

“I am looking forward immensely to working with councillors to continue making Saddleworth a pleasant place for people to live and work and to build on its already strong community spirit.”

Mrs Bailey is a committee member of Scouthead and Austerlands Brass Band Competition and a local charity fund-raising social committee.

She is a keen supporter of amateur operatics and dramatics, she sings with The Oldham Choir, which is currently rehearsing for a concert to mark the 800th Anniversary of St Chad’s, Uppermill.