Should I invite the Clerk to an informal meeting?

Question

One of our County Councillors has spoken to the Town Council about the empty shops in our town, in particular how some of the owners have allowed them to become dirty and unkempt looking.  She invited any interested councillors to hold a meeting to discuss this issue and any possible remedies with her. I have  list of those who are an have set up an informal meeting with us all. I did not invite the clerk. There is only one issue to be discussed. There's no need of an agenda or formal minutes. All Town Councillors are aware that this is a 'brainstorming session' and no decisions can be made. Any ideas that could be implemented will go to full council.
I did not invite the clerk because I am aware that a clerk must (or should!) remain impartial during discussions by councillors and she is not needed in her clerk role.

She knows about the meeting and has now asked me about an invite. have I made the right decision in not inviting her??

Answer 1

The meeting and invitations were to your councillors from the county councillor not you, so why are you concerned that you didn't invite the clerk. The clerk is not a councillor. If your clerk wishes an invitation then they must solicit it from the county councillor. If the meeting is for councillors only then that is an end to it. One has to ask of course why your clerk feels that they should attend in the first place as on such occasions the chair represents the council?

Comments

Thank you Mentorman. I am now happier with my decision. In answer to your last question, our clerk has what I can only describe as control issues. She was for a few years left pretty much to her own devices. The then Council rarely questioned anything a just plodded along doing things as they always had. So in a way it's understandable   I am slowly trying to address this but without upsetting her too much. I must admit I am getting a little fed up of walking on eggshells!