About us
Founded in 1972, SLCC has gone from strength to strength, starting with just 50 members and now representing clerks to over 5,000 local councils in England and Wales.
As the professional body for local council clerks and senior council employees, we ensure that our members are equipped with the necessary knowledge, training and skills to thrive within their role and best support their council and community.
Many councils understand the benefit of having a clerk who is trained, fully briefed on current issues within the sector and able to access accurate advice quickly. As such, 97% of our members’ councils pay for their clerks’ annual subscription, as encouraged by the Local Government Act 1972 s 143 (1) (b), ‘a local Authority may pay reasonable subscriptions, whether annually or otherwise, to the funds of any association of officers or members of local authorities which was so formed.’
Whether you seek expert advice, to develop your professional career or simply build relationships with your fellow clerks, we can offer you the support and recognition you deserve.
Our vision
Inspiring Professionals; Empowering Councils and Communities
Chief Executive
Rob has been SLCC’s Chief Executive since 2017 before which he held senior management roles in the cruise and rail industries in Britain and North America spanning both public and private sectors.
As a senior leader, Rob, who holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration, has an impressive track record of leading cultural and organisational change in a wide variety of business contexts.
Under the direction of the Board of Directors and supported by a team of Heads of Service, Rob has successfully guided SLCC through a period of considerable challenge and change to become the open, modern, forward-thinking and, above all, member-led, professional body it is today.
Chair
Adam Keppel-Green FSLCC has been Town Clerk at Knutsford Town Council since 2014, having started as Deputy Town Clerk, and has overseen significant growth at the council as it has taken on assets and developed its role within the local community. Adam is also the Clerk to Gawsworth Parish Council.
Adam is currently completing his final year of the Community Governance degree programme, with a dissertation looking at the effects of unitary authority creation on local councils. In 2021, Adam won Clerk of the Year in the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) Star Council’s Awards.
Adam was elected to the NEC and served on the Presidents Commission which developed the governance changes which led to the creation of the Board of Directors in 2017 on which he has served since its inception. Adam also helped to re-establish the Cheshire Branch in 2014 and currently serves as Training Officer, delivering CiLCA training for clerks and organising an annual branch conference.
President 2024/25
Gina Lopes PSLCC has been a clerk for over 20 years in Norfolk and the Eastern region.
Gina started her working life as an Executive Assistant at the BBC in London and then spent several years working for large international companies in and around London and Gatwick.
Gina started a family and moved to Norfolk whilst her children were still young. To enable flexible working around her young family Gina joined a large UK based charity and worked remotely. At this time Gina was also very active in the community in a voluntary capacity serving as Vice-Chair of the governing body at one of her children’s schools and Chair of the Friends Group at another. Gina has always been keen to help and raise funds for charities and support community work. This passion led her to seek a job in the community once her children had all started school. When a position came up at her local parish council Gina felt this was a natural progression and thus entered the world of clerking. This opened a new chapter with multiple challenges and opportunities. Quickly stepping up as Acting Clerk, her first tasks were creating a parish plan and manging a large building project.
In her long service Gina has worked for both large and small councils and has managed sizeable staff teams but also worked alone as the sole employee. Gina also held the post of Parish Support Officer for the Suffolk Association of Local Councils which widened her experience. Gina has completed numerous projects at her different councils ranging from developing new recreation grounds to relocating a Charter Market to building a new community centre.
Gina has been a very active SLCC member both at branch and national level. Gina has served on the Norfolk branch as Branch Secretary and Vice-Chair previously and currently is both Chair and Mentoring Officer having held both posts for several years. Additionally, she is a long serving Board Director and has just been re-elected for a further term. Gina contributes fully to directors’ debates and previously headed up the Standards Working Group, she is committed to raising the profile of clerks. Always willing to make time for these voluntary roles and represent SLCC, Gina attended the Home Office to participate in a workshop on the review of the Code of Conduct and various other events as required.
Away from work, as the proud mother of four grown-up daughters, Gina is always busy but in her spare time loves to travel and see new places and always takes a good book to read.
Gina has chosen to support two charities whilst President. The first is White Ribbon, an organisation whose mission is to prevent violence against women and girls. The second is the SLCC Educational Trust, to advance, for the public benefit, education within the local council sector and to promote, for the public benefit, knowledge of and participation in local government.
Gina would like to extend her thanks to her sponsors: Civic.ly; Creative Play: CDS Group and Michaels Civic Robes, their kind support is much appreciated.
Gina’s email address is [email protected]
The president elect is Lance Allan FSLCC.
The President's Charities
White Ribbon
White Ribbon is the UK’s leading charity engaging men and boys to end violence against women and girls. Their aim is to prevent violence against women and girls by addressing its root causes. They work with men and boys to change long-established, and harmful, attitudes, systems and behaviours around rigid gender norms and masculinity that perpetuate inequality and violence.
Their work is preventative; to stop violence before it starts.
SLCC Educational Trust
The SLCC Educational Trust was launched by the Society of Local Council Clerks (SLCC) to increase access to education within the town and parish council sector and to raise public awareness of local government and how people can make change in their communities. They aspire to be registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and are currently compiling an application.
The objects of the SLCC Educational Trust are to advance, for the public benefit, education within the local council sector and to promote, for the public benefit, knowledge of and participation in local government.
Presidential Sponsors
Meet the team
Our team has a wealth of experience and are committed to providing outstanding customer service. Our Head Office is located in Taunton, Somerset with the team positioned across England and Wales.
The local government sector
Local government touches the lives of everybody, every single day. It is responsible for a varied and wide range of local services vital for people, businesses and communities.
The structure of local government varies from area to area, and region to region but many parts of England have 3 tiers of local government.
Click here to read more about the role of a clerk.
Important dates in SLCC history
1972The beginning of SLCC
1973December – 510 members
19751st National Conference
1989A new look
2001National Executive Councils’ Investment
2006 The start of SLCC Enterprises
2015Increase in member services
2016January – Creation of a separate trade union
2016February – Online Bookings
2017SLCC became a limited company
Today
At SLCC, we curate a comprehensive roster detailing past Presidents, Secretaries, Chief Executives, and Chairs. Click here to view our Virtual Honours Board.
Partners
We are driving excellence in the local council sector and represent our members interests by partnering with a number of other local council sector stakeholders, the key ones of which are available by clicking below.