About Us

Nick Randle, Chief Executive

The enduring characteristic of the Clerks profession is that Clerks are independent professionals whose business is serving the community. Their roles now have wide responsibilities whether working for large or small organisations. They work with council and community but often alone as the sole officer of the Council. The role requires increasing levels of skill and judgement from people who can have a significant impact on the communities which they serve. The Clerk’s role has grown and continues to grow as Local Government itself develops. The job which was once primarily administrative has now become essentially managerial with a wide ranging remit and significant responsibility even in the smallest Parishes, while Clerks to Larger Parishes are Chief Executives of substantial organisations.

The Society was founded in 1974 at a side meeting held during a National Association of Local Councils Conference. Originally there were just under 50 member Clerks working as a self support group. The role of the Town, Parish and Community Council has changed out of all recognition in the intervening years. In the period up to 2001 membership rose to 2200 and the Society negotiated a basic terms and conditions agreement with the National Association, published editions of The Clerks Manual, provided a quarterly Journal for members and an early version of the Working With Your Council the distance learning course pack.

Since 2001 the Society has developed and grown rapidly following the National Executive Council’s decision to appoint professional officers and to invest in new services. Membership has increased to the point where members now serve over 4000 councils and revenues have increased five fold. A new modern terms and conditions agreement was negotiated and a whole range of new services established.

Today the Society is a vibrant and purposeful place which helps Local Council Officers not only to survive, but to develop and grow and to achieve significant recognition for their work. Future plans include the formation of an Institute of Local Council Management and the building of a comprehensive Continuous Professional Development Structure which will further raise the profile, standing and terms and conditions of a profession which may double in size in the next decade.

If you would like to join the Society, please contact:

The Society of Local Council Clerks
8 The Crescent
Taunton
Somerset
TA1 4EA


Email: membership@slcc.co.uk