Visionary leader wanted to play key role in St Helens

The vacancy for the chair of the St Helens Town Deal Board is being advertised by the local authority.

The role is unpaid and has been vacant since John Tabern stepped down from the position last year.

The council says it is looking for a "passionate individual looking to make a difference to where you live, work, or visit".

St Helens was selected by Government to have a Town Deal in September 2019, and was given the opportunity to bid for up to £25m, to support the delivery of regeneration plans.  

A Town Deal Board was established and successfully secured the full £25m to deliver eight projects. 

The projects include:

Cannington Shaw Bottle Shop  : Bringing a scheduled monument back to life 

Town Centre Regeneration and Living : To deliver Phase 1 of the Town Centre Masterplan 

Connected Places : Creating a sustainable transport hub and links 

Heritage World: The World of Glass : Renew the museum to celebrate past and future 

Digital Connectivity  Detail: Ensuring superfast connectivity for all 

Youth Zone : Providing young people with space to be inspired 

Health Innovation Hub : Tackling health inequalities and a skilled workforce 

Glass Futures 2 : Securing a Medical Glass Centre of Excellence in the borough 

The Town Deal Board meets on a quarterly basis and its existing members come from a broad range of specialisms, representing business, housing, skills, and economy at national, regional, and local levels.

John Tabern stepped down last year (Image: Bernard Platt)

Explaining the Town Deal Board, which the chair would be at the helm of, St Helens Council said in a statement advertising the role: "All the partners on the Town Deal Board are passionate and committed to improving the borough of St Helens. 

"To fully represent the town and our residents, it is essential that our board membership has a wide range of skills and is diverse to truly represent the people of the borough."

The council adds that after the previous chair's "very successful tenure" it is seeking an "ambitious chair who is a locally invested business leader with has a strong track record of leading organisations through change and can play an active role in the governance of the Town Deal, making key decisions that ensure a successful future for our much-loved town". 

The skills required

In addition, the new chair must have a demonstrable ability to: 

- Understand the public, private, voluntary and community sectors. 

- Run an effective, diverse, and inclusive board and manage relationships with both shareholders and stakeholders. 

- Influence, persuade and communicate with others towards achieving the purpose and ambition of the Board. 

- Competently manage conflicts that may arise through competing/conflicting interests of the Board members and key stakeholders. 

- Ensure that the business is discussed in line with the agenda and ensure that everyone’s views are heard and discussed, clear decisions are reached, accepted and follow-up. 

- Demonstrate a passion and commitment to the development of the town’s future. 

- Express a commitment of time and resources into local social and economic infrastructure. 

- Engage with the local authority and Town Deal Board, abiding by the Terms of Reference of the Town Deal Fund Board and its Code of Conduct and Decision-making processes. 

- Be a passionate and active ambassador for St Helens and work with the Town Deal Board as a whole, to realise the town’s longer-term development and prosperity. 

- Understand the diverse town and the needs of residents.  

- Engage with the community, stakeholders, and partners to help ensure successful delivery of the agreed Town Investment Plan. 

Those interested should send details to Rachael Buckley (Partnerships Officer) via RachaelBuckley@sthelens.gov.uk by Friday, February 2, 2024. 

For more information visit the St Helens Council website here.