Introduction to the Role of the Clerk

This online course is designed for clerks, or other staff members, who want to understand the basics of the role of the Clerk. Learn at your own pace from home using the various sections as guides for each aspect of the clerk’s role and help you navigate the first few weeks. This is a prelude to the essential Clerk’s training course ‘What you need to know’

What you will discover

Duties and roles of the Clerk and/or the Responsible Financial Officer
Day to day administrative tasks
Information on meetings, agendas and minutes
The governance and duties and powers of a parish council
A brief overview of finance

Suitable Audience

This course is ideal for newly appointed clerks and/or responsible financial officers, or any other members of staff or councillors who are having to take on the Proper Officer role.

Topics include:

The roles of clerks, responsible financial officers, councillors and the Chairman
Statutory duties of the clerk and council
How meetings are called, what Agendas should contain and taking minutes
Regular and annual accounting tasks
The clerk’s employment
How councils respond to planning applications as a formal consultee
Parish and Town Council elections and casual vacancies

Benefits

By the end you should have an initial understanding of the clerk’s role, and how the council operates, which will assist in navigating the first few weeks prior to undertaking new clerks training