A typical council has councillors with a wide range of skills. The Clerk provides advice on law and procedure and administrative support and also takes action to implement council decisions and policy.

The job of the council is to represent the interests of the whole community. Discovering the needs of different groups in the community, such as the young and elderly, is an important part of a councillor’s work.  Parish councils can: give views on planning applications and other proposals that affect the parish; undertake projects that benefit local residents; work in partnership with others to benefit the parish; advise relevant authorities of problems or action that is needed; and help the other tiers of local government to engage with, and understand their local communities.