Winterbourne Abbas & Winterbourne Steepleton Parish Council

The Clerk to the Parish Council

Job Description, Contract of Employment & Annual Salary

Job Description: The clerk (also known as the Responsible Financial Officer) shall undertake all administration and financial duties relating to the parish council ensuring all meetings and decisions are legally compliant. 

The agendas and minutes of parish council meetings are to be prepared and displayed on the parish notice boards (in each bus shelter) and on the parish council website. The clerk shall also maintain the parish council’s website, domain name and gov.uk email system. The clerk distributes emails and correspondence received to the councillors and sends replies as agreed by the councillors.

The Clerk shall conform with the aims of Councillor's Code of Conduct 

Contract of Employment: This contains the main terms and conditions of the clerk’s employment with Winterbourne Abbas & Winterbourne Steepleton Parish Council.

THE EMPLOYER: Winterbourne Abbas & Winterbourne Steepleton Parish Council.

THE EMPLOYEE: Richard Crumbleholme

Address: Old Manor Cottage, Winterbourne Steepleton, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 9LG

Mobile: 07443 533484 (no landline)

DATE OF ISSUE: January 2023. 

ANNUAL REVIEW: At the first (May) parish council meeting of each year. 

JOB TITLE: Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer to the parish council.

Commencement Date: The employment commenced on January 2023 and as the existing clerk had to retire. As Richard Crumbleholme was already retired, no period of employment before this date counts as part of the period of continuous employment.

Place of Work: The clerk will usually work at his home address and the chosen venue for the parish council’s meetings and at any other location to be mutually agreed.

Annual Salary:   As Richard Crumbleholme had been the Chairman of the Parish Council, he was not permitted to be paid a salary for the first year of his employment. (ie until January 2024)

At the parish council meeting held on 20th November 2023, it was agreed by the councillors that from January 2024, the clerk’s salary would be £3888.00 (before PAYE deduction) based on being paid £13.50 per hour (NALC pay rate 11 as at 11/11/2023) for 24 hours per month.

The clerk will not pay NI or a pension contribution as he is already retired. The parish council’s accountant will calculate salary and PAYE tax deductions on a monthly basis. The council will thus not be subject to employers NI contributions. (all as per the parish council meeting of 20th November 2023 (minute item - 7g).

At the Parish Council meeting held on 11th May 2026, the clerk agreed to keeping his salary at the above 2024 amount. (Minute item 9a)

Expenses: These to be paid in March at the end of the council’s year. A list of expenses shall be submitted to the council by the clerk to include printing costs (ie print ink & paper), postage and any travelling exceeding 5 miles (paid at 45p/mile)

Updated May 2026: