Three Isle of Wight Parish Clerks have recently gained their certificate in Local Council Administration.  Val Gallard, clerk at Totland Parish Council for nearly three years passed at her first attempt with fourteen distinctions. 

Other clerks to gain certificates include Pat Phillips, clerk at Arreton Parish Council gaining eleven distinctions, and Roger Hendey, clerk at Cowes Town Council with thirteen distinctions.

Val said:

“I had a 100 percent support throughout my training. I began in June and completed around 41 hours of training and the County Training Partnership team at County Hall were brilliant.” Pat and Roger also commended the team for their support.

A qualified clerk is one of a number of “tests” which a parish council has to pass before they can become an accredited Quality Council. The Isle of Wight Council is actively supporting parishes to gain quality status by helping to remove barriers such as election costs and the cost of training clerks.

Councillor Jilly Wood Isle of Wight Council’s cabinet member for customers and parish empowerment said:

“I congratulate Val, Roger and Pat who have completed the course and gained their qualification. Their hard work and commitment means that their parishes are able to serve their communities on a professional basis to the benefit of all residents.”

In April, the Isle of Wight Council was cited in a major Government report as leading the country for its innovative work with Parish Councils; which focuses on an ambitious programme to help all 29 of the Island’s parish councils gain “Quality” status.

The Island currently holds the national record for the highest percentage of Quality Councils with a staggering 22%. Council managers are confident that the whole Island will have parish councils by April 2008 and that all parish councils will achieve “Quality” status by 2010.

A comprehensive training programme, provided by the Island’s Association of Local Council’s County Training Partnership, is heavily supported both financially, and with staff resources to deliver the training, by the Isle of Wight Council.

This partnership approach will enable training to be offered to both parish clerks and councillors free of charge. Courses scheduled include qualification courses for clerks and Effective Councillor and Chairmanship skills for parish councillors.

There are also opportunities being offered for continuing professional development courses in specialist areas such as Town and Country Planning, Employment Law, Bid Writing and Project Planning and Management which will be offered on a cost-neutral basis.