Course Description

This focused morning session is designed specifically for Clerks who need a clear, practical understanding of Assertion 10, without committing to a full-day course.

Bringing together the core content of Assertion 10 Parts 1 and 2, the session concentrates on what must exist, what must be evidenced, and where the risk sits from a Clerk’s perspective. It is particularly suited to part-time Clerks, Clerks with other professional roles, and those seeking reassurance that their council’s arrangements are proportionate, defensible, and audit-ready.

The emphasis is on operational compliance, information governance, and professional boundaries, with clear signposting on when matters should be escalated or supported by councillor-focused training delivered separately.

This is not about adding workload — it is about clarity, confidence, and protection.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the session, participants will be able to:

• Explain the purpose of Assertion 10 and how it applies in practice to parish and town councils

• Identify the core governance, data protection, and information management arrangements that must be in place to demonstrate compliance

• Distinguish between councillor responsibility and Clerk responsibility, and understand where professional risk does – and does not – sit

• Apply a proportionate approach to evidence and audit readiness, avoiding unnecessary complexity

• Understand the practical handling of data protection, FOI and SARs in a Clerk-led operational environment

• Recognise common failure points that place councils – and Clerks – at risk under Assertion 10

• Know when and how to escalate issues, seek advice, and protect themselves through good records and professional boundaries