Helston town centre manager's assistant leaves post (From Falmouth Packet)

Helston town centre manager's assistant leaves post

12:00pm Thursday 17th January 2013 in News

The assistant to Helston’s town centre manager has left her post after less than a year in the job.

Tanya Allen-Jeffery became Jonathan Birkett’s assistant in May last year, taking on an administrative role on a part-time basis.

Since then she has been involved in a range of projects in the town, including the four weeks of Midsummer Markets last August. Her reason for leaving has not been made public.

Mr Birkett said this week: “I am extremely sorry to see Tanya leave. She has been an incredibly valuable and popular member of the team.

“She made a real impact in the short time she worked here and she will be sorely missed.

“I do, however, understand her decision to leave and wish her well for the future. I have revised the job description and job specifications and we will shortly begin to recruit for her replacement.”

Following Tanya’s departure Helston Town Council’s policy, finances and resources committee, which oversees the role, has decided to make the assistant post full-time. The role has been renamed as “town centre manager project assistant” with an amended job description. Recruiting for the job begins this week.

In his report to the town council, due to be given tomorrow (Thursday), Mr Birkett has said: “Following the departure of Mrs Allen-Jeffery recruitment of her replacement will commence this month, along with that of the two apprentices.

“With all the planned activity the support will be essential and finding the right candidates quickly is a priority.”

The council has agreed for two apprentices to be employed for 12 months, with £5,000 for each apprentice coming from the section 106 money set aside for town projects. There is also £1,500 of government funding to invest in apprentices.

One apprentice will start in the first quarter of 2013, with the second later in the year and the option of a third if the scheme is judged to be successful.

One will be in charge of the website, while the other will be responsible for boosting the town’s markets.