8 - 12 June 2026

Author: Sharon Long, Senior Advisory Services Manager at Northamptonshire County Association of Local Councils

Date: 2 June 2026

Celebrating Local Council Clerks: Resilience, Wellbeing and Leadership at the Heart of Our Communities

As we mark the Society of Local Council Clerks’ (SLCC) Local Council Clerk Week between 8 to 12 June 2026, it is an important moment to recognise and celebrate the vital role that clerks play in supporting grassroots democracy and delivering services that matter most to communities.

Clerks are the backbone of local councils. They are not only administrators but also trusted advisers, governance experts and community enablers. Their work ensures that councils operate lawfully, transparently and effectively, often under significant pressure and in increasingly complex environments. At a time when the expectations placed upon local councils continue to grow, so too does the responsibility carried by clerks.

Central to this conversation is clerk wellbeing. The demands of the role have intensified in recent years, with clerks frequently balancing multiple priorities: managing council business, advising councillors, responding to residents, navigating regulatory requirements and leading projects that enhance local life. Many clerks work alone or in small teams meaning the pressure can be both professional and personal.

This is where resilience becomes critical. Clerks must continually adapt, problem-solve and lead with professionalism, often in the face of competing expectations and limited resources. However, resilience should not be interpreted as an expectation to simply “cope.” Instead, it highlights the importance of proper support structures, including:

  • Appropriate staffing levels

  •       Access to training and professional development

  •       Clear governance frameworks

  •       Realistic workloads

  •       Supportive working relationships with councillors

Local Council Clerk Week provides an important reminder that investing in clerk wellbeing is not optional, it is essential for the sustainability of local councils themselves.

The importance of the clerk’s advisory role is particularly evident in the current policy landscape. With ongoing local government reorganisation and devolution, principal authorities are under increasing pressure to deliver efficiencies and cost savings. As a result, there is a growing recognition of the role that parish and town councils can play in delivering hyper-local services, i.e. those tailored closely to the needs of individual communities.

While this shift presents opportunities for more responsive and locally driven services, it also places additional responsibility on clerks. They are often at the forefront of assessing feasibility, advising councils on governance implications, managing service delivery transitions and ensuring compliance with legal and financial frameworks.

This evolving landscape may necessitate a re-evaluation of the clerk’s role in many councils. As responsibilities expand, it is crucial that:

  •       Job descriptions are reviewed and updated

  •       Salaries reflect the level of responsibility

  •       Terms and conditions are fair and sustainable

  •       Councils recognise the professional expertise required

Failure to do so risks not only burnout but also the loss of skilled professionals who are essential to the effective functioning of local government.

Despite these challenges, clerks continue to demonstrate remarkable dedication and commitment. Their work enables councils to deliver services that are visible, valued and deeply connected to the communities they serve—from maintaining local spaces to supporting vulnerable residents and driving local initiatives.

Local Council Clerk Week is therefore not just a celebration, it is a call to action. A call for councils, partners and the wider sector to:

  •      Champion clerk wellbeing

  •      Recognise and respect professional expertise

  •      Invest in capacity and capability

  •      Support resilience through meaningful change

By doing so, we ensure that clerks can continue to thrive in their roles—and that local councils remain strong, responsive and effective at the very heart of our communities.

This week, we thank clerks for the indispensable role they play, and reaffirm our commitment to supporting them, now and in the future.