§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements exist to prevent(a) a chair of a parish council and (b) a parish councillor, also holding the post of clerk to the same council; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyBy section 80(1)(a) of the Local Government Act 1972, anyone holding a paid office (other than chairman or vice-chairman) under a local authority is disqualified for membership of that authority. Neither the chairman nor a member of a parish council may therefore be a paid clerk of the council. By section 112(5) of that Act, however, any member of a parish council may be appointed as an unpaid officer of the council. A chairman or member of a parish council may thus be an honorary clerk to the council.