AN upper dale woman who helps run four parish councils has been named new clerk of the year.
The Society of Local Council Clerks (SLCC) made the award to Judith Mashiter, of Snaisgill, during its national conference. The SLCC represents more than 10,000 council clerks in England and Wales.
Mrs Mashiter was nominated for the award by a councillor from each of the parish councils she represents in Middleton-in-Teesdale, Cotherstone, Startforth and Staindrop. She said: “I am quite chuffed about it. It’s a lonely job in that you have no work colleagues, so it is nice to feel rewarded and recognised for my work.”
She shone out particularly during the coronavirus lockdown and she was the first in Teesdale to ensure that the parish councils she serves were able to meet online.
Rules were changed to allow for councils to have virtual meetings on April 4, and by the following Wednesday Cotherstone Parish Council held its first meeting using the Zoom conferencing app.
She said she felt particularly proud of Staindrop’s first meeting, which was called to discuss a planning application for a major housing development in the village – some 20 residents joined the online meeting.
Many parish councils in the dale still have not met since Covid-19 restrictions began in March.
Mrs Mashiter said: “The councillors very largely have taken to it and now don’t fear the technology and have their full focus on the meeting.”
The SLCC’s conference was also held online and the award presentation was made in “virtual reality” .
Mr Mashiter said: “I was sitting at my desk in social isolation – that is the nature of the situation today.”
The award is made to the top parish clerk in England and Wales who started in the role after October 2016.
Mrs Mashiter joined Middleton-in-Teesdale and Newbiggin Parish Council in 2017, and later became clerk to Cotherstone, Startforth and Staindrop parish councils respectively.
Rob Smith, chief executive of SLCC, said: “”On behalf of the SLCC, I would like to offer our warmest congratulations on the well-deserved recognition which Judith has received as New Clerk of the Year. As a clerk to multiple councils Judith demonstrates an outstanding level of commitment to the communities she serves and is an excellent proponent of the work of local council clerks.
“Judith’s efforts are typical of the excellent work being undertaken behind the scenes by parish and town council clerks across England and Wales to support their elected councillors in effectively representing and serving their local communities, especially during the difficult and challenging times of the pandemic.”
