The Roles of the Officers within Street Parish Council
The Clerk
The Clerk is qualified, holding a Certificate in Local Council Administration (CILCA).
The Clerk ensures that the Council provides independent, objective and professional advice and support for the Parish’s residents.
The Clerk to the Council is the Proper Officer of the Council and is under a statutory duty to carry out all the functions, and in particular to serve or issue all the notifications required by law of a local authority’s Proper Officer. The Clerk will be responsible for ensuring that the instructions of the Council in connection with its function as a Local Authority are carried out. The Clerk is expected to advise the Council on, and assist in the formation of, overall policies to be followed in respect of the Authority’s activities and in particular to produce all the information required for making effective decisions and to implement constructively such decisions.
Responsibilities include ensuring that statutory and other provisions governing or affecting the running of the Council are observed.
The Clerk also monitors the work of the Responsible Financial Officer and together with all Officers ensures that the Council’s obligations for Risk Assessment are properly met.
Unless otherwise delegated to other Officers, the Clerk prepares, in consultation with appropriate members, agendas and minutes for meetings of the Council and Committees.
The Clerk receives correspondence and documents on behalf of the Council and brings such items to the attention of the Council.
The Clerk, together with the Responsible Financial Officer, monitors implemented policies of the Council to ensure they are achieving the desired result and where appropriate suggest modifications
The Clerk draws up reports, on their own initiative and as a result of suggestions by Councillors, for consideration by the Council and advises on practicability and likely effects of specific courses of action.
The Clerk, via the Staffing Committee, undertakes HR functions as delegated and supervises any other members of staff as their line manager in keeping with the policies of the Council to undertake all necessary activities in connection with the management of salaries, conditions of employment and work of other staff.
The Clerk also attends the Conference of the National Association of Local Councils, Society of Local Council Clerks, and other relevant bodies, as a representative of the Council as required.
Deputy Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer
The Deputy Clerk & Responsible Financial Officer (DCRO), has gained her Certificate in Local Council Administration (CILCA).
The Deputy Clerk reports to the Clerk, and deputises for the Clerk where required.
The Deputy Clerk is accountable to the Council for the effective delivery of objectives and management of resources, providing all reasonable protection and promotion of its interests and reporting to the Council as necessary.
The role of Deputy Clerk, includes attending Policy & Finance Meetings and Highways Advisory Meetings, preparing agendas and minute taking for these meetings together with carrying out research with specialists in particular fields in relation to Agenda items; one example of this is liaising with Somerset Council’s Traffic Management team with regard to obtaining permission to instal Speed Indicator Devices within the Village and also adding 20mph zones within the Village.
The Deputy Clerk also carries out duties in relation to salaries and conditions of employment, ensuring that the Council is updated with legal changes.
The Deputy Clerk’s duties include keeping and maintaining the Council’s financial records in accordance with adopted Financial Regulations to the standard expected by the Council’s auditors.
Assistant Clerk and Community Engagement Officer
The Assistant Clerk & Community Events Officer (ACCE) has gained her Certificate in Local Council Administration (CILCA).
The Assistant Clerk reports to the Clerk and also works closely with the Deputy Clerk.
A large part of the Assistant Clerk’s role focuses on community engagement and planning and supporting the delivery of events for Street Parish Council. The Assistant Clerk provides Clerking support to both the Planning Committee and Culture and Events Committee.
The Culture and Events Committee meetings are held to plan and deliver an ambitious programme of events, including Remembrance, Street Festive Market and Discover Your Community Events.
The Planning Committee meet on a monthly basis to consider Planning Applications and associated matters. The Parish Council are statutory consultees for Planning Applications and the Planning Advisory Committee make a recommendation to Somerset Council based on a set of ‘material considerations’. Somerset Council and their Planning Officers are the decision makers for Planning matters within Street.
The Assistant Clerk also manages social media for Street Parish Council.
Administration Officer
The role of the Administration Officer is to be the first point of contact for all public enquiries, by telephone and in person, to the Council from members of the public, local organisations and the Councillors.
The Administration Officer also supports the day-to-day operations and Office Management of the Parish Rooms, providing a full range of administrative services to the Parish Clerk, the Deputy Clerk & Responsible Finance Officer and the Assistant Clerk & Community Engagement Officer and members of the Council.
One key aspects of this role is reporting, logging and chasing issues with Somerset Council.
Our Administrative Officer has a key role in ensuring that resolutions are delivered by the team.
Market Officers
Street Parish Council have recently employed two part time Market Officers to deliver the weekly Street Market.