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Chief Executive Officer Role

The Chief Executive Officer 

The Chief Executive Officer is employed by the Council, under section 112 (1) of the Local Government Act 1972, to provide administrative support for the Council's activities. Any other staff, although employed by the Council, answer to the Chief Executive Officer who is their manager and is responsible for their performance.

Roles and Responsibilities of the Chief Executive Officer 

The Chief Executive Officer has a wide range of other responsibilities which are set out in their job description. The Chief Executive Officer recognises that the Council is responsible for decisions and that he/she takes instructions from the Council as a body. The Chief Executive Officer is not answerable to any individual councillor - not even the Chair.

The Chief Executive Officer is the 'engine' of an effective Parish Council. He or she is the principal executive and adviser, and is also the Responsible Financial Officer who is responsible for all financial records of the Council and the careful administration of its finances.

The Chief Executive Officer is required to give clear guidance to Councillors, including the Chair, before decisions are reached, even when that guidance may be unpalatable. The Chief Executive Officer has a key role in advising the council, and Councillors, on governance, ethical and procedural matters. They must also liaise with the Monitoring Officer at the district/unitary council on ethical issues and the Councillors' Register of Interests.

Aylesham Parish Council employs a range of administration and support staff. The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for advising the Council on staffing provision and managing the recruitment process.

The Chief Executive Officer is the Proper Officer of the Council and as such is under a statutory duty to carry out all the functions, and in particular to serve or issue all the notifications required by law of a local authority's Proper Officer. The Chief Executive Officer will be responsible for ensuring that the instructions of the Council in connection with its function as a Local Authority are carried out.

The Chief Executive Officer’s role is wide-ranging:

  • Office Manager
  • Legal Officer
  • Chief Financial Officer
  • Property/Venue Manager
  • Project Manager
  • Webmaster/IT Manager
  • Liaison Officer with other Authorities and Bodies

A Council should not consider the Chief Executive Officer to be "simply" secretary but instead a hands-on multi-skilled manager.