Local councils are not new – these first-tier local authorities were introduced in 1894 to give a democratic voice to local people. But they have changed enormously in that time, especially over the last 20 – 30 years.

They are real place shapers and, today, many manage and maintain parks, sports facilities, skateparks and recreation grounds, play areas, allotments, community and youth centres, car parks, public toilets, cemeteries, street cleaning, events and much more. They’re good in a crisis too and helped coordinate local efforts during the pandemic.

So, who runs them? Working with their councillors, local council clerks get things done, often responsible for bringing everything together. From lobbying local MPs, working with unitary, district or county councils for changes to speed limits and car parking charges, reporting potholes, running the finances, applying for grants for a new play area, leading local climate change initiatives, running coronation celebrations and respectful remembrance parades or researching complex planning applications – it’s a clerk at the heart of it.

Clerks are professionals, they’re usually trained and qualified in community governance and council administration. Juggling a range of skills from finance and accounting, staff management and HR to understanding and interpreting relevant and ever-changing legislation. They’re advisers to their councillors making sure that what councils do is done properly, then they roll up their sleeves ready to lead volunteers to clean rivers, collect litter or fundraise for local projects.