Harpenden welcomes new town clerk

A golf enthusiast with extensive local government experience is taking up the role of Harpenden town council’s new clerk from early July.

Carl Cheevers, currently working with the Local Government Association (LGA) Independent Group as its head of group office, is replacing John Bagshaw, who is retiring.

The council agreed earlier this year to spend up to £8,500 advertising the post, with the job attracting a salary ranging from £66,188 to £71,329 along with a £1,239 car allowance and outer London fringe payment of £573.

Outgoing Town Mayor, Cllr Brian Ellis, welcomed Carl’s appointment, saying that he “was from a local government background”, having worked previously for St Albans district council with its head of community services Richard Shwe, and had also had a stint at Brent council.

The LGA is the ‘national voice’ of local government, representing over 400 authorities across England and Wales, with the Independent Group office providing support and advice to independent councillors and to those from smaller political parties.

Cllr Ellis said that Harpenden town council had gone through a “long process” to replace John Bagshaw, as 45 people had applied to be the new town clerk. The applicants were short-listed to eight, before being whittled down to a final four.

Carl, who describes himself on his Twitter account as a “golf addict”, told the Herts Advertiser that he was not surprised about the number of people applying for the job as “it’s an ambitious, forward-thinking council”.

The 34 year old has worked for six different authorities, including two in London.

Carl, who lives near Knebworth, said that he was excited about becoming Harpenden’s town clerk, as “the council punches above its weight, and I’m looking forward to building on the successes that John has overseen.

“Harpenden has an active community, and a lot of strengths and I want to take the town’s assets and skills further.”