Services
Councillor Information
Documents and Information about councillors
Councilor Registration if Interests
Parish council – Hockwold Parish Council
All Parish Councillors are required by law to complete a Register of Interests form to register their Disclosable Pecuniary Interests and the Disclosable Pecuniary Interests of their spouses or civil partners or persons with whom they live in that capacity.
The link below will direct you to the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk website where a list of Interests can be found by Parish.
http://www.west-norfolk.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=26769
What is a Council Clerk?
The clerk is the council’s chief officer, working for a local council serving a local community. The health and wellbeing of the local community is at the heart of everything a clerk does and the clerk is a vital asset to the council.
Clerk:
- Advises the council on legal matters
- Administers the council’s finances
- Organises the council’s procedures
- Sometimes gathers information to help the council make decisions
- Raises the profile of the council in the local community
- Guides the council as it engages with its residents
- Negotiates with other organisations
- Implements the council’s decisions
- Manages the council’s projects
It is a professional role requiring specialist knowledge and a range of skills. The clerk is employed by the council to manage its activities and provide administrative assistance and sound advice.
The clerk is normally the ‘proper officer’ – a legal term meaning the appropriate officer for a specific function. The council must appoint the officers it needs to do its work. The council must also appoint a Responsible Financial Officer (RFO) to manage its finances. The clerk and RFO are often the same person – but not always.
What does a Parish Councillor do:
Parish councillors play a vital role in local governance. Here are some key responsibilities and duties associated with being a parish councillor:
- Representing the Community:
- Advocacy: Parish councillors represent the views and concerns of residents within the parish. They act as a bridge between the community and the local council.
- Listening and Understanding: Councillors need to be well-informed about diverse local views, including those of different groups within the community (such as young and older people) 1.
- Engaging with Residents:
- Listening and Talking: Councillors spend time listening to residents’ concerns and discussing issues affecting the parish.
- Helping Individual Residents: They assist individual residents with specific issues .
- Involvement in Decision-Making:
- Planning Applications and Proposals: Councillors provide views on behalf of the community regarding planning applications and other proposals that impact the parish.
- Alerting Authorities: They notify relevant authorities about problems or necessary work within the parish.
- Budget and Precept:
- Budget Development: Councillors contribute to developing the budget for the parish council.
- Setting the Precept Charge: They help set the annual precept charge for the council .
Remember that while individual councillors do not have decision-making powers on behalf of the parish council, their role is crucial in representing the community and ensuring effective communication between residents and local authorities. If you’re considering becoming a parish councillor, these responsibilities provide an overview of what you can expect in this important role.