Clerk of the Year 2007

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) would like to congratulate Ray Smythe on winning the Aon/NALC Clerk of the Year 2007. Mr Smythe was presented his award at the NALC National Conference and Exhibition on 6 October 2007.

Mr Smythe has been recognised for his work as the clerk to Heath Hayes and Wimblebury Parish Council, Staffordshire. The runners up prize went to Susan Tubey, clerk to Yate Town Council, Avon. Whilst the third place went to Alan Tawse, clerk to Yeovil Town Council, Somerset.

Ray Smythe, clerk of Heath Hayes and Wimblebury Parish Council, said: "I am exceptionally pleased and honoured to have won the Clerk of the Year award. My council is ambitious and public-spirited, eagerly accepting the challenge of achieving Quality Status. The trust and support I receive is invaluable. I would like to thank all the Heath Hayes and Wimblebury councillors that I have had the pleasure to serve."

Chris Rolley, president of the Society of Local Council Clerks, a judge on the panel, said: "The judges believe that Mr Smythe should be clerk of the year because of his all round contribution to Heath Hayes and Wimblebury Parish Council. He achieved consistently high standard and clearly fulfilled the award criteria over the past 12 months. The panel were particularly impressed with his drive and determination to take this council forward, with the limited resources available to him."

Peter Lawrence, associate director, Aon said: "Aon Limited have worked together with the first tier of local government to provide for their insurance in a partnership which goes back more than 40 years. This year we are pleased to be able to give a paid two-night break."

Notes for Editors

1. The National Association of Local Councils is the national representative body for 10,000 community, parish and town councils throughout England and Wales. In all, there are over 100,000 community, parish and town councillors throughout England and Wales. These councillors, who serve electorates ranging from small rural communities to major cities, are all independently elected. The councils have powers to raise their own funds through council tax. Community, parish and town councils provide employment for over 25,000 staff while their annual expenditure exceeds £400 million. Together, they can be identified as the nation's single most influential grouping of grassroots opinion-formers. Over 15 million people live in communities served by 10,000 community, parish and town councils nationally - this represents up to 30% of the population. Over 150 new community, parish and town councils have been created since 1997.

For more information contact Alan Jones on 020 7290 0316 or alan.jones@nalc.gov.uk 

2. Aon has worked with NALC to provide insurance for parish, town and community councils in England and Wales for over forty years. The present scheme, which is underwritten by Cornhill Insurance, comprises a broad package of covers specially designed to meet the particular needs of Local Councils. More than 6,000 local councils currently use the scheme. Aon is a world leader in risk management, insurance broking, reinsurance and human resources consulting services. For further details about the NALC scheme contact Peter Lawrence at Aon, Redhill (0845 753 7070).

3. The NALC/Aon awards were launched to recognise outstanding achievements in first tier local government. The winners received their awards at the conference dinner in Bournemouth.