Clerk substitution

Question

Our Clerk is away and we have had an extra ordinary meeting called. I understand that a Councillor can act as a temporary Proper Officer without payment. What I am not clear about is whether that Councillor can then vote or take the role of Councillor. I was hoping that the answer would be in our Standing Orders.

Thank you in anticipation.

Answer 1

A councillor who is acting as proper officer retains the full role of councillor. That is one reason why it is not an ideal situation, although it may be helpful as a means of filling a gap. It is difficult to take part in dicussions and votes at the same time as recording minutes and monitoring proper observance of the law.

Remember that the councillor must be properly appointed by a council decision, and the councillor may not be involved in the discussion or vote, since the clerk is a position held for reward, even in the case of a councillor who does not in fact receive any pay.