is a clerk mandatory

Question

small council with 200 electors and small precept wishes to know if the chairman can be the RFO and PP and delegate financial matters to a treasurer - assuming the electors agree, without taking on the liability (pay and contract etc) of having a clerk ?

Answer 1

A council member can be the clerk, but cannot be paid (including for a period of 12 months after ceasing to be a councillor).

The clerk can use whatever resources may be available (paid or unpaid) to get the job done.  Although I guess one should be careful to ensure that if reliance is placed on an external person, they somehow have a duty of care in relation to the work.  Also, there's always a risk of someone who does work for the council becoming a de facto employee.  But worrying about that may be ultra cautious.