HEREFORD City Council, a parishlevel authority, is ready to pay a parttime finance officer the equivalent of up to £35,000 a year to control its cash.

The same council has just appointed a new full-time town clerk on about £40,000, with money for both posts found through the parish precept that the city can tag on to the tax rate set by Herefordshire Council as the county authority.

City council leader Councillor Anna Toon said the finance officer’s salary was set at an “externally verified national rate”, the cost of which was coming out of the current precept.

“This is not a new position, this a retirement replacement,” said Coun Toon.

On offer for a pro rata salary ranging between £28,862 and £34,976 a year, the finance officer’s job is pitched as a parttime commitment of 25 hours a week.

What the council wants for its money is an officer to: ■ Maintain proper financial records and procedures.

■Prepare and monitor the council’s budgets.

■ Ensure that the council complies with all internal and external audit requirements.

■ Provides all aspects of insurance and reporting to the council and its committees.

Hereford City Council bills itself as the second biggest parish council in the country and has ambitious ideas to expand its role, outlined in a recently published business plan.

The 18-member council worked to an operating budget of £500,000 over the past financial year. In December, members agreed to raise a precept of £678,850 for 2009/2010.

A parish-level authority since 2000, Hereford City Council maintains civic and ceremonial functions and, through its annual operating budget, helps manage Hereford’s allotments and contributes to the city’s CCTV system, Christmas lights, city centre management and upkeep of parks and open spaces.

Other functions include making grants and donations to city causes and underwriting Hereford in Bloom up to £45,000.