"The clerk's overall responsibility is to carry out the policy decisions of the council" (Local Council Clerk's Guide, 2004, p3), within a framework of procedures framed by legislation and good practice. The Local Government Act 1972 (LGA72) section 112(1) empowers a Council to appoint such officers as they see fit to carry out the work of the council, and typically small Council's will use this power to appoint a Clerk. Many duties are conferred by legislation on an unspecified Proper Officer and it is typical for this role in small councils to be bestowed upon the Clerk, often the sole employee.

The Clerk will organise the business of council and ensure through guidance the Council only acts in accordance with the powers it has been given through legislation. The Clerk may offer guidance to council, however it is the lawful decisions of council the Clerk must enact.

The Council may delegate under LGA72s111 certain powers and duties to the Clerk to help with the smooth running of a council's affairs. The Clerk as Proper Officer is responsible for:-

• Calling of ordinary meetings of Council, to include issuing the public Notice of Meeting and legal summons to councillors to attend signed by the Clerk (LGA72 Sch12 s10(2)(b)).
• The preparation of an agenda clearly detailing nature of the business to be transaction (LGA72 Sch12 s10(2)(a)).
• Minuting (LGA72s41(1)) and implementing the decisions of Council.

Unlike the Parish Councillors, the Parish Clerk is paid a renumeration for their work.