Councillors and clerk
The number of councillors serving on a council is determined by Shropshire Council. Elections are held every 4 years and normally take place on the first Thursday of May.
The role of councillor
Councillors represent their local area and everyone who lives there. To become a councillor a person must be over 21 years of age and fulfil a number of requirements. Having taken office, a councillor signs a Declaration of Acceptance of Office and abides by the council’s adopted Code of Conduct.
WRPC Code of Conduct February 2022
They must complete and keep up dated a Register of Interests and declare any interests in matters brought before the Council prior to debate. Parish councillors’ Registers of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests can be found by clicking the button below:
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The Council has adopted a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest Dispensation Procedure.
Councillors also have to keep a register of any gifts or hospitality accepted.
Councillor Register of Gifts and Hospitality
Councillors have a responsibility to attend meetings and should advise the Clerk of the reason if unable to for approval by the council. At meetings Councillors should suggest ideas, engage in constructive debate and then vote on business.
Councillors may be appointed to a position of office but they cannot be paid. They may represent the Council in legal proceedings, if appointed, carry out regulatory duties and represent the Council on outside organisations.
The current Councillors are:
| EDSTASTON | |
| Huw Edwards | 07834 252412 |
| Jan Hilditch | 07973 934713 |
| William Minty | 07762 478353 |
| Pete Slack | 01939 236990 |
| Liz Vernon | 01939 234896 |
| NEWTOWN | |
| John Britton | 01948 710846 |
| Julia Goode | 07971 102569 |
| RODEN | |
| Peter Broomhall | 01939 231565 |
| Andrew Matthews | 07929 783456 |
| Denise Morgan | 01939 233906 |
| Jordan Page | 07508 270009 |
| Len Staines | 01939 234415 |
Every Parish Council has a Clerk, often referred to as the Parish Clerk. The common understanding is that the Clerk organises meetings, takes minutes and send letters. Over the years as the role and responsibilities of Parish Councils have changed, so has the role and responsibilities of the Clerk.
The Clerk’s overall responsibility is to carry out the policy decisions of the Council. He is akin to the chief executive of a company, in that he is the person that has overall responsibility for the administration and procedural aspects of the Council. The Clerk is responsible for seeing the business of the Council runs smoothly and efficiently and is conducted in accordance with the law. Normally, too, he is responsible for ensuring the Council’s financial transactions are properly authorised and recorded. Most Clerks, as sole Council employees, also have to perform the clerical tasks without which the Council’s business cannot properly be carried out.
So today, the skills of a Clerk have to be wide and professional – not an easy task!
Wem Rural Parish Council’s Clerk
The Parish Council appointed Helen McCabe as Deputy Clerk on 1 January 2023 and took on the position of Clerk on 1 August 2023. Helen is studying for the The Certificate in Local Council Administration (CiLCA) in order to become a qualified Clerk. Helen has previous experience of working in the community and at for local government and also runs her own small business.
The Parish Council appointed Carole Warner as its Clerk on 1 June 2010. Carole left this position on 1 August 2023 having been in position for 13 years. Carole holds the Certificate in Local Council Administration (CiLCA) and on appointment had previous Parish Clerk experience.