Council officer
Proper Officer and Responsible Financial Officer
The Town Clerk is the Council’s senior professional officer. The Clerk is not an elected councillor, but advises the Council, administers meetings, manages official records and finances, and carries out Council decisions.
Governance and records
Organises meetings, prepares agendas, publishes minutes, maintains official records and supports lawful Council procedure.
Finance and audit
Manages budgets, accounts, payments, VAT, audit papers, financial reports and the Council’s financial administration.
Correspondence and signposting
Acts as the main administrative contact for Council business, public enquiries, documents, notices and official correspondence.
Delegated authority
Authority to act
The law allows some Council functions to be carried out by an officer, and the Clerk also holds statutory officer responsibilities as Proper Officer and Responsible Financial Officer. Delegated authority is controlled by law, Council resolutions, Standing Orders, Financial Regulations and the Council’s Scheme of Delegated Authority.
Proper Officer duties
The Clerk undertakes statutory and administrative functions required for the Council to operate lawfully, including meeting administration, records, notices and official correspondence.
Responsible Financial Officer
As RFO, the Clerk is responsible for maintaining proper financial records, preparing reports and supporting the Council’s financial control and audit arrangements.
Scheme of Delegated Authority
The Scheme explains which decisions or actions may be taken by the Clerk without waiting for a further Council meeting, and which matters must return to councillors.
View Scheme of Delegated AuthorityRole boundaries
What the Clerk can help with
The Clerk can help residents find the right Council information, submit correspondence and understand Council processes. Some matters sit with councillors collectively or with other public bodies.
The Clerk can help with
- Finding agendas, minutes, policies and published documents.
- Submitting correspondence to the Council.
- Grant, form and public notice enquiries.
- Understanding meeting procedures and public attendance.
- Signposting matters to the right authority where possible.
The Clerk cannot
- Make Council decisions alone.
- Override decisions made by Full Council.
- Act for individual councillors outside the Council’s agreed processes.
- Resolve matters that belong to Pembrokeshire County Council or another authority.
- Provide legal advice to residents.
Enquiries
How enquiries are handled
Many enquiries can be answered directly or signposted. Some matters need to be reported to a committee or Full Council before a decision can be made.
Contact received
The Clerk receives the enquiry and identifies whether it is Council business.
Checked or signposted
The matter may be answered, logged, redirected or added to a future report.
Council decision if needed
Items needing a Council decision are placed before members through the proper meeting process.
Action or response
The Clerk follows up in line with Council decisions, delegated authority and available resources.
Useful links
Find the right information
Use these pages to find meeting records, Council documents, public notices and related information.
Council office
Write to the Council
c/o Narberth Community Library
3 Town Moor Mews
Narberth
Pembrokeshire
SA67 7DF