Town Council Appointing Mayor as "temporary" Proper Officer & RFO

Question

A quite high profile large Town Council whose clerk has been "suspended" for nearly a year recently resolved to appoint the current Mayor as "temporary" (adding that word to revised agenda initially without it) Proper Officer & RFO. From afar it got me wondering is it normal for locum clerks (understand they are paying one a quite considerable sum) to not take on the role? Is it normal for Mayor in such large council to take on role and how do they seperate distinctly different roles trying to do both?

Answer 1

I know the council you are referring to and nothing there is run as it should be, from what I can see.  I cannot see how in any way shape or form it is appropriate for the Mayor to also be the proper officer.  I know that they are on their 3rd locum and the locum already has a full time clerking job and so is probably only able to act on an advisory capacity.  It is a real farce.

Comments

It’s just so depressing how quickly a council can disintegrate following scheduled (all bet it uncontested elections). I see they removed all trace of the Town Clerk now as well. I use to follow council purely because of the best practise and how good meeting papers were.