Foreword for Members

This employment website has been specially compiled and published for local councils (town, parish and community councils).

The local council as a corporate body is a legal entity and day to day issues will be dealt with by the Clerk who has a multiple role as an employee, a staff manager and has to protect his/her own position.

The law relating to employment applies to local councils just as it applies to any other employer in the United Kingdom and any council that does not take due notice of the extensive and ever changing requirements can quickly find themselves with problems.

At worst this can lead to an Employment Tribunal hearing and all the costs and time involved in dealing with a case: it is better by far to be a responsible employer.

This site will help address the main issues at the right time, and assist local councils in taking appropriate action when necessary.

Employment law is an increasingly complex subject and successive Governments have introduced more and more requirements that must be met; this being led in part by the European Union. Employment Law for Local Councils will be updated from time to time and regular news items will also appear.

Local councils have a disproportionate level of cases before the Employment Tribunals and if this website can prevent that and lead to a more harmonious working relationship between councillors and staff then it will have achieved its aim.

Vic Quayle
Managing Editor
Guildford 2009