On Local Council Clerks Week 2026, we asked our Clerk Michelle to explain more about what her role involves. Almost everything, as it turns out! This is what she told us:
On the Clerk’s Role
The role of the Clerk is to provide independent, objective and professional advice and support to the council. This can involve researching a new project, providing employment advice, exploring new legislation, or collecting external advice or explaining what legislation permits the council to do.
A Clerk is often required to share information in meetings. Councillors use the information to consider each agenda item and decision, before it votes on and agrees the council's decision.
On the Day-to-Day
No day is the same, to be honest! One minute you are at the desk checking emails, preparing an agenda, writing reports for an upcoming meeting, or drafting policies or risk assessments, the next you are on your feet to meet a potential venue hirer or to set up a room for a meeting. Then a member of staff might have a question, or something needs cleaning.
This week, I have been painting goal posts, arranging a meeting with a local landowner, fielding questions about allotments and working with colleagues to produce our Annual Governance and Accountability Return, which the Council will review later this month.
On Challenges
I often find myself involved with things far from my official job description! I’ve had to manage traffic whilst contract work was being done, looked after lost dogs (and lost people), done first aid, helped lorries get ‘unstuck’ from narrow roads, delivered newsletters, cleared out drains and planted spring bulbs.
The hardest aspect of my work has been, from a management perspective, having to dismiss members of staff. On a personal level, studying alongside a full-time job with a busy family at home (and a dog) is definitely a challenge.
On Study
To become a Clerk, you really need a good level of English and Maths, and good communication skills. To better understand the sector, it’s worth obtaining the Certificate in Local Council Administration (CiLCA), which I completed in 2018 soon after starting my first Clerk role.
In addition, I have also completed the Level 4 in Community Governance and hope to complete my Level 5 later this year/early 2027, before looking at starting Level 6. These qualifications explore topics that the Parish Council Officer team and I come across on a regular basis and help us to deliver more for the community.
On Job Satisfaction
The best part of this job is people! Having a mix of interests and skills across the staff and councillor team, all working hard for the community makes all those late evenings worth it.