The Local Council Clerk's Guide

This book fills an important gap in the published advice available to the thousands of individuals who act as parish council clerks. It covers all aspects of a clerk's appointment and duties, from the constitutional role of local councils, through the terms of appointment of clerks to their day-to-day responsibilities. Practical advice and guidance is given on such matters as preparing for meetings, supervision of staff (if any!), finances and, most importantly, relationships with councillors. Terms and conditions of employment, qualifications and training are covered, and there is a section on the legal status of local councils. The nine appendices include a specimen job description and contract of employment, and a quick-reference table to the powers of local councils. Statutory and case references are kept to the minimum, but more than a hundred are included, thus illustrating the many sources of law and practice on which local council clerks may need to draw in order to carry out their roles properly.