A: You are entitled to ask the Council for this information under the Freedom of Information Act. The Clerk is a paid employee of the Parish Council which is an employer; as such, it must abide by employment law and should apply good employment practice.

Historically, Clerks to Parish and Town Councils have been poorly paid. There is now a nationally agreed salary scale for Clerks who are statutory Proper Officers which means they have a duty to advise the Parish Council and administer its affairs. A good Parish Clerk is a treasure to the community and as such represents very good value for money. The Council, as employer, is responsible for measuring objectively the performance of the Clerk in relation to the job description imposed by the Council.