The clerk is required to give clear guidance to councillors, before decisions are reached, on the proposed actions and to ensure that statutory and other provisions governing the running of the council are observed.
The clerk is required to produce all the information required by the council for making its decisions.
The clerk is an independent servant of the council who takes instructions from the corporate body recognising that the council is responsible for all decisions.
The clerk has a key role in advising on governance, ethical and procedural matters which are set out in the job description.
The clerk is appointed by the council under section 112 (1) of the Local Government Act 1972 to carry out the functions as required by the Act. The clerk is also the Responsible Financial Officer and responsible for all financial records of the council.