Rochford Life has an interview here with Kelly Holland, the Parish Clerk for both Ashingdon and Canewdon Parish Councils.
Here’s some extracts:
RL: How would you sum up the purpose or role of the Clerk?
Kelly: It?s so difficult to define the role because there is so much that we do. We are minute takers, we do the finances, we instruct contractors, we get grants, we get consultations from government that we have to put into normal terms for the Parish Council to comment upon. There is just so much. In Canewdon we do the allotments, we have the street lights, we?ve got benches; basically it is managing the Parish Council.
_
RL: You are essentially the executive arm of the Council?
Kelly: Yes we are, but in so many people?s eyes we?re just secretaries. Writing letters is about 1% of the job; a lot of it is around the law and all the things that are coming in from the Government like the Localism Bill. We have to know exactly what they are talking about and then inform the Parish Council accordingly……
…….RL: Do you see being a Clerk something that will just go on, perhaps as part of your lifestyle now?
Kelly: Yes, it?s very fulfilling; no two days are the same so it?s not a job you get bored with. It?s a profession even though it is not seen as a profession, and now I have the two it?s full-time hours so it?s what I hope to continue to do.