Chris Geeson BA CPFA FILCM

Town Clerk and Reponsible Financial Officer

Local Government Finance Officer since 1957.

Member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and  Accountancy (CIPFA). and Fellow of the Institute of Local Council Managers (FILCM)

Held senior appointments with Normanton, Skipton and Dearne Urban District District Councils prior to Local Government reorganisation in 1974.

Following the reorganisation he spent I9 years with  Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council before taking up a full time appointment with Hemsworth Town Council where he was responsible for formulating the financial plan for the Hemsworth Water Park and Sports' Stadium.

Became Town Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer to South Kirkby and Moorthorpe Town Council in 1996

He considers the Town Council to be a "flagship" local council that is now receiving considerable benefit from the decision to provide local services direct instead of having them transferred to Wakefield.

Having an asset base in excess of £2 million and a budget in excess of £600,000 the Town Council is now in the top 100 local councils in England.

He advised the Town Council on attracting funding for the replacement of St Peter's and St Paul's Community Hall (formerly known as the "Green Hut"). Funding in excess of £250,000 was received from the National Lottery for the re-building of the hall to coincide with the Millennium celebrations . Other successful initiatives have resulted in some £500,000 being received from various funders since 1998 to help finance the expanding services undertaken by the Town Council.  

Chris is currently the regional trainer for the Society of Local Council Clerks and until recently was the national chair of the society. He is a partner on the Yorkshire and Humber County Training Partnership.  

In October 2006 Chris was awarded an 'Outstanding Contribution Award' by the Society of Local Council Clerks. The award is in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the progress of the Society and to the Clerks' Profession.

Chris also gained his Certificate in Local Council Administration (with distinction) in November 2006. This qualification is a pre-requisite if the Town Council pursues Quality Status.