The Role of a Councillor
A councillor is a member of the council and is normally
elected for a term of four years.
People of any political or religious persuasion are eligible to become a councillor, although their personal views should not extend into their parish council work. A councillor is an unpaid elected role.
They are elected to represent the interests of the local community as a whole and promote a harmonious local environment. The number of elected councillors depends on the size of the area.
In Fincham, we are able to have 8 councillors.
Local councils are the first tier of governance and are the first point of contact for anyone concerned with a community issue. They are democratically elected local authorities and exist in England, Wales and Scotland. The term ‘local council’ is synonymous with ‘parish council’, ‘town council’ and ‘community council’.
Becoming a Councillor
Are you interested in joining the Parish Council?
Becoming a parish councillor is a rewarding and valued form of public service.
All councillors contribute to the work of the Parish Council by: -
- Having a say about the things they care about
- Putting forward ideas for better services
- Responding to the needs and views of parishioners
- Seeking the best outcome for local issues
- Getting involved in decision-making
- Helping to make Fincham a better place to live!
We normally meet on the last WEDNESDAY of every other month (Check dates of meetings)
Meetings commence at 7.30 pm, lasting around 2 hours, and are held at the Fincham Memorial Hall. Councillors are expected to attend meetings on a regular basis.
The Role of a Parish Clerk / RFO
The Clerk is the ‘Proper Officer’ of the Council who is responsible for the smooth running of the Council’s business.
He/she is the first point of contact for the Council and all correspondence comes to the Clerk. Responsibility for implementing the decisions of the Council rests with the Clerk along with giving professional guidance where necessary whilst remaining neutral and discrete.
The Clerk is also responsible for financial management.
The Clerk prepares, circulates and displays agendas in public places.
He/she signs notices and summonses with a list of business to be transacted but does not have the power to fix the meetings of the Council.
The Clerk is required to attend meetings, take minutes, keep Council minutes in a book and hold other documents.
A member of the Council may be appointed as Clerk without remuneration but nowadays it is more usual to appoint someone who is not a councillor to be paid for the work they undertake.