HR-0045-26
This is a voluntary position.
This is not a West Lancashire Borough Council job vacancy. The successful applicant will not be employed by the Council.
The Independent Chair is appointed jointly by the Council and the local Member of Parliament and will operate independently of the Council.
All correspondence should be directed to:
A significant opportunity for Digmoor
Skelmersdale South East (Digmoor) has secured up to £20 million over ten years through the Government’s Pride in Place programme.
This investment is intended to support long-term change by improving local streets and community spaces, strengthening relationships and giving residents a stronger voice in shaping their area.
The programme is structured around three priorities that link back to the Government's Pride in Place Strategy:
1. Stronger Communities – building relationships, belonging and local leadership
2. Thriving Places – improving high streets, public spaces and neighbourhood amenities
3. Taking Back Control – empowering residents in local decision-making
A Neighbourhood Board will guide this work. We are seeking an Independent Chair to lead that Board and ensure the programme remains open, balanced and genuinely community-led.
This is a rare opportunity to help shape the direction of Digmoor over the next decade. Whilst we have the ability to deliver early interventions, the most meaningful change will depend on sustained leadership, strong governance and broad community participation.
The role
The Independent Chair will lead the Skelmersdale South East (Digmoor) Neighbourhood Board.
This is a strategic, facilitative and stewardship role. The Chair does not manage projects or administer funding. West Lancashire Borough Council will act as the Accountable Body, providing financial, legal and administrative oversight.
The Chair’s responsibility is to ensure that:
4. The Board operates effectively, transparently and in line with national requirements
5. Decisions are evidence-informed, well-considered and clearly recorded
6. Discussion is constructive, inclusive and balanced
7. The programme reflects the long-term interests of the Digmoor community rather than individual or organisational agendas
As an independent presence, you will create the conditions for others to lead, enabling confident participation and ensuring no single voice dominates. You will guide the Board towards collective decisions that command confidence across the community.
You will:
8. Lead the recruitment and convening of the Neighbourhood Board working with the Council and MP
9. Build a Board that reflects the breadth and diversity of the Digmoor area
10. Chair meetings and ensure fair, well-structured and productive discussion
11. Guide preparation of a ten-year neighbourhood plan and four-year investment programme
12. Act as a visible, credible and impartial ambassador for the programme
About the Board
National governance requirements mean the Board must:
13. Have at least eight members
14. Be resident-led, with at least 51% living or working within the neighbourhood
15. Include the local MP
16. Include at least one ward councillor
17. Operate with equal voting rights for all members
18. Publish agendas and minutes in line with transparency requirements
All members must sign and adhere to a Code of Conduct based on the Seven Principles of Public Life.
The Chair must be independent so cannot be an elected representative for either the Borough Council or County Council and cannot be employed in a role directly responsible for delivery of the programme.
Key responsibilities
Leadership and facilitation
19. Lead recruitment and onboarding of Board members (supported by the MP and Council)
20. Establish a culture of openness, respect and accountability
21. Enable inclusive discussion and balanced participation
22. Offer constructive challenge and impartial perspective
23. Maintain focus on long-term community outcomes
Community engagement
24. Prioritise meaningful engagement with residents and local organisations
25. Ensure the Board reflects the whole community and not only established or well-connected voices
26. Create clear pathways for participation so more residents can shape priorities over time
27. Build confidence and leadership capacity within the community over time
Planning and investment
28. Oversee development of a ten-year plan and associated four-year investment programme aligned to the three national priorities
29. Support a balanced programme of physical improvements and community-based activity
30. Ensure proposals align with an agreed neighbourhood boundary and programme rules
31. Support effective monitoring, learning and adaptation as the programme evolves
Governance and stewardship
32. Ensure conflicts of interest are declared and managed
33. Ensure meetings are conducted appropriately and decisions recorded transparently
34. Uphold high standards of integrity, accountability, transparency and fairness
35. Protect the independence and reputation of the Board.
The role will involve navigating differing views and managing disagreement calmly as not every proposal or priority may be funded. The Chair must guide the Board towards collective decisions that are fair, defensible and rooted in community priorities.
The Chair should not
This role is strategic and facilitative and to protect the integrity of the programme, the Chair should not:
36. Act as a gatekeeper or build cliques; the Board should include a wide range of voices, including those who may differ from the Chair’s.
37. Seek to push personal or organisational agendas — the programme must reflect what the community wants.
38. Position themselves as the only decision‑maker or the main expert in the room.
39. Take on day‑to‑day delivery or operational management as this is a strategic convening role.
About you
Previous chairing experience is welcome but not essential. We recognise those that apply may have experience gained from the public, private or voluntary sector. What matters most is whether you can be trusted locally and you can exercise sound, impartial judgement in a visible public role.
You will:
40. Have a strong and credible connection to Digmoor and/or Skelmersdale
41. Be comfortable working with people from a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives
42. Demonstrate fairness, objectivity and the ability to offer constructive challenge
43. Be confident operating in an accountable public environment
44. Have the time, resilience and commitment required over a sustained period
45. Be motivated to build wider participation and future community leadership
Commitment
This is a voluntary position, similar in responsibility to being a school governor or charity trustee.
The Board will meet regularly, particularly during the early planning stages. Following appointment, it will be essential that you make time to meet with relevant stakeholders, work with the Council and the MP to shape the recruitment of the Board itself. The Chair may also undertake community engagement and preparation work between meetings.
As part of this role, you may also need to engage with other regional Pride in Place programmes as well as Participate in the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) ‘Network for Neighbourhoods’ forum.
There is no salary or honorarium attached to this role however reasonable expenses will be reimbursed.
The appointment will also be subject to:
46. An enhanced DBS check
47. Two satisfactory references
How to apply
Please download the application form below and submit a brief statement up to 500 words outlining:
48. Your connection to Digmoor and Skelmersdale
49. Why you wish to take on the role
50. Your approach to recruiting and leading a community Board
51. How you would ensure decisions remain community-led and accountable
52. Two referees
When you have completed the form, please email it to Corin Henderson at subject line "Volunteer Application for Chair of Digmoor Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board"
We welcome applications from residents and others with a strong connection to the area, whether or not you have previous experience of governance roles.
Closing Date: Friday 10th April
Interview Date: TBC
If you require the information in another format or need adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know when applying.