Is anyone on here a Parish Clerk?

Eliza_2

Is anyone on here a Parish Clerk? I've been one for a while and am thinking on taking on another in a neighbouring county. Has anyone else done this and if so, has it worked out ok? is there any conflict of interest? do you get the paperwork muddled up or go to the wrong meeting on the wrong day? (that's the most likely for me!!)

I find it's quite an solitary job, so would be interested in hearing from anyone else who does it.

Thanks

Liz

Agapanthus

Well, I'm not a parish clerk, but I've been a parish councillor since 1982 and have worked with several clerks. Ours is a large parish and for the last six years we've had three part time staff operating out of a busy office, so it doesn't always have to be solitary.

Have you talked to your county association for Parish Councils? I can't imagine that there would be a conflict of interest - especially if they're in different counties (though I think it might be easier if they're in the same county as you get to know the right people to contact).

As to going to the right meetings on the right day - well the clerk gets to draw up the calendar! Use the technology - Outlook, Thunderbird, or Gmail let you run a calendar which will send you reminders when something's coming up. It's the only thing that gets me where I should be at the right time!

Eliza_2

Agapanthus wrote: »

Have you talked to your county association for Parish Councils? I can't imagine that there would be a conflict of interest - especially if they're in different counties (though I think it might be easier if they're in the same county as you get to know the right people to contact).

As to going to the right meetings on the right day - well the clerk gets to draw up the calendar! Use the technology - Outlook, Thunderbird, or Gmail let you run a calendar which will send you reminders when something's coming up. It's the only thing that gets me where I should be at the right time!

Many thanks for your reply, yes I have contacted the association but they don't seem particularly active and I'm tempted to set up some sort of network myself - a yahoo group or something - although even the Clerks who advertise their email addresses rarely seem to use them so it's a bit frustrating, maybe it's just because I'm quite new at it that I'm finding it so. There are often just little things that I'd like to share ideas with others about.

As for organising myself - having used Outlook for years and synchronising it with my smartphone etc, I've gone back to a portable paper diary! So maybe I can't complain at other Clerks not using the technology!! I don't really think I'll get the dates wrong, that was a bit tongue in cheek really - I'm reasonably organised - I think you have to to do this job.

Thanks for your ideas.

Liz