Can a parish clerk appoint other staff

Question

Our Council has always adopted the policy that staff appointments are made by the personnel committee,the decision being ratified by full council.Following an interview involving a panel of councillors the clerk announced and progressed two appointments claiming he had delegated authority to do so, Is this valid or are appointments always a power reserved for Full Council.

Answer 1

If your clerk has delegated authority (and they may well have) then ask him/her for a copy of the council minute where the delegation was agreed.

Answer 2

If you have, as you state, a “policy” and someone / anyone unilaterally deviates from that “policy” they would need to justify or explain why they have deviated from the “policy.”

Do you actually have a “policy” or is it your understanding / interpretation of custom and practice?