This week, 10-14 June, is Local Council Clerk Week, a celebratory week to raise the profile of the role of the clerk and recognise the work they do for their community!

Local Council Clerk Week aims to help raise the profile of this important profession and explain the the work clerks do on behalf of town, parish and community councils. Clerking is an important role, and clerks are often at the heart of their councils and communities, carrying out a number of roles to support their councils. Whether councils have a large staff team, or only have one employee, the clerk is critical to a range of tasks and ensuring they get done. This might include:

This shows what a wide range of responsibilities a clerk has, and what a varied role it can be. Learning how to manage of all of this, while staying up to date with changes to legislation, and current issues, can be very hard work. Devon is lucky to have so many clerks working so hard for their councils!

The SLCC have created a video to summarise the Local Council Clerk Week campaign, which you can share to celebrate the work of clerks!

A networking opportunity for clerks!

We look forward to our Clerks Summer Socials all year, which provide a chance for clerks across Devon to come together for a cream tea and a chat. Organised in partnership with the SLCC Devon Branch, we have four events taking place throughout the summer and across the county providing an ideal opportunity to meet nearby clerks as well as your officers from DALC and the SLCC.

Read more about the Clerks Summer Socials here, and book your place!

Interested in the professional qualification for clerks?

The Certificate in Local Council Administration (CiLCA) is the professional qualification for clerks. While CiLCA is administered by the SLCC, DALC has Recognised CiLCA Trainers. Have a look here for details of our CiLCA Support Programme and how it can support a clerk getting qualified!

Time for our Clerks Summer Socials! An opportunity to join DALC and the Devon branch of the Society for Local Council Clerks to socialise, network and enjoy a free cream tea

The Clerks Summer Socials are free events which we host every summer in partnership with the Devon branch of the SLCC.

The summer socials are some of our favourite events of the year, and we are so excited to see everyone again this year! The Summer Socials are a perfect networking opportunity for clerks, offering the chance to relax with a cream tea while enjoying a chat with other clerks. Your DALC officers will be there too for a chat, as well as officers from the SLCC Devon branch, so it’s a great chance to catch up with us all.

Feedback in previous years has reflected the enormous value of these events for clerks as they can meet other clerks in their area, build a supportive network and develop friendships. We know a clerk’s time is precious with lots to do and not enough time to do it in, but we would strongly suggest taking this chance to join us for a social afternoon.

Last year, following popular demand, we added a fourth event in West Devon. That event was very successful, so we’re delighted to be able to offer four events again this year so clerks across the county can join us:

• • 18 July, Lifton Farm Shop, Lifton
  • 30 July, Padbrook Park Hotel, Cullompton
  • 20 August, Cedars Inn, Barnstaple
  • 28 August, Passage House Hotel, Kingsteignton

We’d love to see you all there so just book your place through the links above, or email us to let us know you’ll be coming and which event you’ll be attending. You’re very welcome to attend whichever event suits you best, and encourage others to come along as well. If you have any queries about the events, then please just let us know; we’re looking forward to seeing you all there!

This week is the 2023 Local Councils Clerks Week, aiming to celebrate the work of clerks and raise the profile of this important profession.

This week marks Local Council Clerks’ Week and we’d like to take a moment to say thank you to all the clerks across Devon working so tirelessly to benefit your councils and communities. Clerks do so much, often unseen. Clerks are professionals and serve around 10,000 councils across England and Wales. The role has changed enormously over time, but whatever your council is delivering for your community, your clerk is likely at the heart of getting it done. Local Council Clerks Week aims to help raise the profile of this important profession, explaining the work clerks do for their councils.

It can be a difficult role, with many different skills to master.  Clerks perform administrative tasks for your council such as writing agendas, taking minutes and handling correspondence. However, as the council’s Proper Officer they are also expected to advise their council (even when that advice may not be what you want to hear!). The clerk’s position as an impartial officer allows them to offer guidance on what may be a prudent course of action, financially, legally, and procedurally. Clerks may also be the council’s Responsible Financial Officer, keeping the council’s accounts and presenting them for the council to monitor.

Clerks will also, variously, act as a line manager to other staff, manage volunteers or contractors, handle the council’s PR and marketing, act as a bookings clerk for any venues you may have, manage any projects the council is implementing, build relationships with other local authorities and partnership bodies, and much much more. They are the ones writing to MPs, liaising with principal authorities about potholes or bins, applying for grants, researching planning issues, managing buildings and events. They are also critical in a crisis which we saw when they helped coordinate community efforts during the pandemic; in many communities, parish councils and their clerks were the first to respond.

Understanding your clerk’s role on the council, and your own, can be critical to building a good relationship with your clerk that allows the council to function effectively as a team to best serve your community. The Civility and Respect Project Roles and Responsibilities Guidance may be helpful to understanding the different roles and responsibilities of people on the council.

Watch the video to learn more!

The video opposite, produced by the Society for Local Council Clerks, provides more information about what clerks do, what they bring to the council and its community, and the role they play.

Supporting your clerk!

Since clerks cannot be self-employed, councils act as an employer to their clerk and as with all employees, have a duty of care towards them. If you’re unsure about your role as an employer, you may find The Good Councillor’s Guide to Employment helpful or check out our range of employment training.

The Civility and Respect Project is doing a lot of work in how councils can demonstrate that they are committed to standing up to poor behaviour across the sector and driving through positive changes. This includes a range of policies, guidance, podcasts and more to help your council develop a councillor-officer protocol, put in place a dignity at work policy, and make a strong statement on bullying and harassment.

As with any employment role, investment in training and development is essential to achieve high standards of performance, and support the council to operate effectively. We have a range of training available for clerks or staff at various points in their clerking journey including those who might be interested in taking the professional qualification, the Certificate in Local Council Administration (CiLCA). Any clerks interested in the CiLCA may want to contact us for more information about upcoming courses.

Celebrate your clerk!

If you have a particularly fantastic clerk (and we think all clerks are!), then why not nominate them for Clerk of Year in the Star Council Awards? This is your opportunity to celebrate your clerk and the difference they have made in your community!

The importance of networking

Being a Clerk can often feel an isolated role, especially for those working in smaller councils, often on their own.  It is therefore important for Clerks to be part of a network and able to access peer support when needed.  The Society of Local Council Clerks provides just that, and a local Devon branch meets several times a year.

This summer, DALC is working in partnership with the SLCC Devon Branch to host our Summer Socials; four events taking place across Devon.  These free events are a perfect opportunity to network with other clerks around the county, to build relationships, access support, and meet officers from DALC and SLCC.