Thomas Collingham
Clerk of Thurcroft Parish Council
The Parish Clerk is employed by the Council (under section 112 (1) of the Local Government Act 1972) to provide administrative support for the Council’s activities. The Clerk’s primary responsibility is to advise the Council on whether its decisions are lawful and to recommend ways in which decisions can be implemented. To help with this, the Clerk can be asked to research topics of concern to the Council and provide unbiased information to help the Council to make appropriate choices. The Clerk has a wide range of other responsibilities which are set out in his/her job description. The Clerk must recognize that the Council is responsible for all decisions and that he/she takes instructions from the Council as a body. The Parish Clerk prepares the Agenda for each Parish Council Meeting, takes the Minutes and offers legal advice to the Councillors, if required.
The Parish Clerk is also the legal Responsible Financial Officer (RFO) employed under S151 of the Local Government Act 1972. The RFO ensures that the records and accounts of the council are prepared in accordance with specified ‘’proper practices” and kept up to date. Councillors continue to be accountable for ensuring that the council does not spend beyond its means, but the RFO designs and implements the accounting arrangements to assure members that finances are being properly managed.