I have lived in Clanfield since 2006.
I have worked in the local government sector since 1998, moving to the Town and Parish Council sector in 2008. I became a qualified Clerk in 2012.
I advise the council on whether its decisions are lawful and recommend ways in which decisions can be implemented. To help with this, the Clerk can be asked to research topics of concern to the council and provide unbiased information to help the council to make appropriate choices.
The clerk has a wide range of other responsibilities which are set out in his/her job description. It is the Council and not the clerk that is responsible for decisions. The Council must be confident that the clerk is, at all times, independent, objective and professional.
‘Proper officer’ is a title used in statute. It refers to the appropriate officer for the relevant function. In town and parish councils, the proper officer is normally the clerk. In financial matters, the proper officer is known as the Responsible Financial Officer.