I AM risking censure once again by returning to the subject of parish councils, specifically the title of parish clerk and I must make it clear that I am expressing a personal opinion. The appointment is as the recording officer of a parish and is in itself self-explanatory.
The current clerk to Newland Parish Council is very competent and I mean no criticism of him whatsoever in the execution of his duties, but apparently he feels under-valued and that a change of title to executive officer would go some way to redressing this. The suggestion was an item on the agenda at the April meeting of the parish council and, to their credit, councillors expressed some unease.
One pointed out that the designation 'parish clerk' has traditional associations and that we are in danger of travelling down the road that leads to the rat-catcher being re-named 'rodent exterminator'. Another advised that although the pay rates for parish clerks are statutory, there is no rate for executive officers. At the moment. This situation could change.
I have written before that it already costs Newland parish more in administration than the sum distributed and we do not wish this to increase. Parish council work is paid for from the precept which is directly reflected in the council tax as part of it.
It should be borne in mind that the title of the position applied for was parish clerk and that the only people authorised to change this are the employers, the councillors who represent us. If the clerk feels over-worked, for which I have some sympathy, there is an alternative and that is to reduce the workload. This could be done in two ways: by individual councillors taking some of the burden and by cutting out what is unnecessary in the clerk's job.
Taking the councillors' duties first, they should attend organisations' meetings in person and not expect the clerk to do it for them. Likewise, instead of asking the clerk to investigate some suggestion, why not do it themselves?
Looking at the agendas for the past few months I calculate that at least half of what is listed is of no benefit to the parish and is the result of 'mission creep'. Cutting out the unnecessary items could reduce the clerk's work considerably with no loss to the parish. What should be uppermost in councillors' minds when they compose any agenda is, 'what good will this do to the parish'?
One of the reasons for the inflation of the clerk's job has been the introduction of the 'Quality Parish Council' for which the parish appears to receive no benefit at all. Another aspect to be considered is that innovations should be the result of clamour from parishioners and not foisted on the parish by councillors, i.e. bottom-up and not top-down.
Whatever government is elected, the next two years are bound to be a difficult time financially, so let us have a return to common-sense and resist unnecessary expense in the lowest tier of government, the parish council.
If you are concerned about these matters (and I know plenty of parishioners who are), then come to the Annual Parish Meeting at Redbrook Village Hall on 25 May at 6.30 pm. This is your opportunity, once a year, to let your parish councillors know what you think by telling them in person.
Daphne Pearson (Dr), Tinman's Green, Redbrook.