After months of unease, my resignation was precipitated by the apparent acceptance of a majority of the council that the clerk should not be “upset” or her “time wasted” by “being questioned all the time“. Whilst not being mentioned specifically, I believe that the clerk was referring to me.

As I stated in my letter of resignation: “It is also impossible for me to accept that the advice/decision of any officer should not be open to challenge. This goes against everything that the scrutiny process holds dear. Councillors at every level have a duty to hold other councillors and officers to account. They would be failing if they did not do so. My opposition to these may well have led to further ‘ill feeling’ which I wish to avoid.”

I went on to state: “I fully support the democratic process even though I do not necessarily always agree with the result. However, if one reaches a stage where the asking of questions or the seeking of clarification is deemed as ‘upsetting’, as ‘wasting time’ and therefore not acceptable, or if one is uneasy with the direction in which the council is heading, then it is time for that person to move on. Resignation would appear to be the sensible thing to do”.

There is one further point I wish to make. Councillors are elected by the community they serve. It is they, or should be they, who determine priorities and the policies to ensure that those priorities are achieved. Councillors are then responsible for ensuring that the capital required to fulfil those policies is available. They do so through the local precept or by other means.

A parish or town clerk is an employee of the council i.e. councillors are the clerk’s employer. Clerks have administrative duties; they also are the financial officer with the responsibility of managing the budget as set by councillors. They also have the duty to ensure that any proposed action by the council is lawful.

Clerks do not have the mandate to, and therefore should not take part in or direct any debate on the decision making process undertaken by councillors.

However, it is their responsibility to offer advice to councillors when such advice is sought, though councillors do not necessarily have to accept that advice.

Of course these days, this long held point of view may well be considered to be incorrect and out of date.

So there is now a vacancy on the town council. It is to be hoped that it will be soon be filled and that come next May, an election for town and district councillors will actually take place. There are some people who appear to be prepared to comment on, offer advice to, or to regularly criticize councils and some councillors. I hope that they will take the opportunity to put themselves forward and seek election as councillors. To do so would enable them to use their expertise to the benefit of the community at large.

In the meantime, I will continue to serve the community as a member of South Kesteven District Council for Bourne East.

WRITTEN SEPTEMBER 2006