Hadleigh Town Council offices will be closed completely over the Christmas and new year period, after councillors voted to give their staff extra days off over the festive break.

Council officers usually work on the non-statutory holiday days between Christmas and New Year's Day but this year they will be given an extra day and half paid leave.

The decision to close at lunchtime on December 24 until 9am January 4, was taken by a majority vote after councillors heard a straw poll by staff members said they did not want to work over that period, although the caretaker and administrative officer would be on standby for any emergencies.

Carol Schleip "It is quiet time of year when a lot of offices and businesses and closed.

"The staff have couple of statutory days off and we are giving a small concession allowing them an extra day and a half.

"Let's be honest, we have all worked in offices over Christmas and not a lot happens between Christmas and the new year period, so it makes a lot of sense to celebrate the good work the staff do and given them a small gesture of additional leave at a traditionally quiet time of year, as long as we can put in place some sensible emergency arrangements."

But Cllr Andrew Knock argued the quiet period would be good opportunity for officers staff to catch up on work, and public money should not be spent on extra days off for staff, as that would not be allowed to happen in the private sector.

He said: "I agree it is a quiet time but it is those quiet times when the public are not there that a lot can get done and you can catch up on things.

"We all know the office is struggling and is behind so that time could be used to catch up.

"We are talking about public money here when the offices are shut when they don't to shut because the staff can use that time to catch up and not be held back by the public.

"Is it for the staff to dictate when the office is going to be open, or is that down to us?"

Cllr Richard Hinton countered he would be allowed extra time off over the festive period by the charity he worked for and said: "It is meant to be the festive season with goodwill to all men. Staff have been working tirelessly throughout the year against the odds doing jobs they didn't necessarily sign up to do, as Chery is doing tonight, and it is few days off over Christmas."

"Yes it is public money, but as responsible and ethical employers we also need to be considering our staff. This is a small gesture for our staff who work incredibly hard."

Admin officer and stand in clerk, Cheryl Tye, said: "The council need to remember that some of the staff are part time and while they might been the office, they would only be there for couple of hours."

Cllr Rolf Beggerow pointed out other tiers of local government would be taking off the Thursday on Christmas Eve until January 4 and didn't see why the town council should be any different.

Meanwhile, adverts are going out to recruit a town clerk and a town manager, as the council looks to differentiate the two roles.

But a couple of councillors were not convinced Hadleigh needed a town manager yet, and getting a clerk to organise the council in terms of its democratic governance and procedures should be the priority.

Cllr Knock said: "I fail to see why we need a town centre manager and a town clerk?

"We should get town clerk first as we are talking about a lot of public money. We should up the money to ensure we cataract a more expericnd, more qualified town clerk. We should get a clerk in, then reassess if we need a town manager."

Cllr Shleip said: "We have the ambition that we want Hadleigh to fly and to do things outside the box but we do need someone to look after procedures and the democratic side.

"We need a steady person looking after democratic side, then an outgoing person to deal with people and things the community wants - they are two distinct roles."

Cllr Beggerow was concerned no suitable candidates had applied as yet and added: "Speaking little great deal of knowledge of how a staff works getting a clerk is priority but there have been no obviously good candidates apply so far.

"If Hadleigh wants a town council just to mind the shop and just be a council dealing with what it has historically dealt with, a council manager is second priority. In terms of immediate needs we need a town clerk with the necessary experience and skills.

"I support the view the council need a manager to come in, not necessarily immediately so we can move on with many projects. That would be someone going outside the office taking with people getting opinions public exercises Hadleigh vision reviews of sports facilities that will need someone to help us engage and move forward."

Cllr Knock pointed out Haldeigh already had a projects manager (Alicja Barnes) who could be taking on those responsibilities.

He added: "Carol talks about the council wanting to fly, we can[t walk yet, let alone fly. If we go back to last town council manager, he said himself and wrote a report saying we should not have employed a town council manager when we needed clerk. We already have a projects manager."

Other councillors also pointed out a town manger should not be expected to do a town clerk's job.

Cllr Lisa Gordon said: "Andy McMillan had said we needed both, hopefully that is what we will do."

While Cllr Hinton added: "Advert has not attracted the right person need to advertise to right places."

It was resolved the town council would place adverts for both positions simultaneously.

To contact Hadleigh Town Council call 01473 823884 or email [email protected] to make an appointment.