Shaftesbury Town Council appoints new Town Clerk

Shaftesbury Town Council is pleased to announce the appointment of Matthew Harrison as the new Town Clerk. Matthew joins the council from Shepton Mallet, where he has served as a Town Councillor for eight years, including as Mayor. He has also completed the Introduction to Local Council Administration qualification and is committed to continuing his professional development in local government.

The appointment follows an extensive national recruitment process designed to attract a wide range of applicants and involved both councillors and council staff in the process.

The role was advertised nationally, and a dedicated brochure was produced to highlight Shaftesbury as a place to live and work. The council received a strong number of applications, with four candidates shortlisted for interview.

Interviews took place on Monday 27th April. Shortlisted candidates first delivered presentations to councillors and staff before formal interviews were held later in the day.

The interview panel included the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and the Interim Town Clerk. Following the interviews, councillors voted at an Extraordinary Full Council meeting to appoint Matthew Harrison as the new Town Clerk.

The Town Clerk is responsible for supporting the work of the council and helping ensure council services, meetings and processes run effectively. The Mayor for 2025/26, Cllr Virginia Edwyn-Jones announced the appointment, saying Matthew stood out because of his understanding of local councils, his clear communication and his enthusiasm for community work. She believes he will bring strong leadership and positive energy to the role.

Matthew will be starting his new role on Monday 29th June.