The apparent failure to manage staff has caused unnecessary disruptions to council services to the pubic, according to disgruntled residents.

Mayor Gordon McLeod and staffing sub committee chairman Gavin Talbot were among those council leaders branded 'a joke' and devoid of 'management skills' after the only two full time members of staff doubled up to attend a Rural Transport Conversation on Friday.

Town clerk Wendy Brame and projects officer Alicja Barnes both spent the day at the informal, single agenda meeting in Kesgrave, leaving the office manned by a part-time booking clerk, who is not qualified to carry out council business, and the office was closed from 12.30pm.

The visit came just hours after Mrs Brame complained about not being able to take annual leave due to too many evening meetings.

Hadleigh councillors then voted, by a majority, to suspend three committees until November.

Full story here.

Hadleigh town council - manned part time

Wayne Green contacted Nub News to complain about not being able to speak to an appropriate officer on Friday.

"The lady I spoke to was really pleasant but unable to help," said Mr Green. "I was told they were both on a course, however I subsequently found out that it was not a training course at all but something only one of them needed to go to.

"We have not lived in Hadleigh long and wanted to find something out, so I was astonished to find no-one able to help me during a normal working day.

"I work in business and this is poor organisation, the people in charge of the staff are a joke.

"Surely it doesn't need two people to go to an event like this, one could go and report back to the rest of staff and also councillors and whatever committees are left now.

"It is poor management skills to allow your only two full time members of staff to go off on something like this at the same time."

Mr Green's issue was subsequently dealt with by a councillor, not involved in staffing issues, and was satisfied with the response but angry at the reason he could not speak with the clerk, or projects officer.

Not much sympathy for town clerk

Another resident got in touch after failing to get an answer from the office on Friday and was unable to even leave a message.

She said: "It is unbelievable that the council, that we pay for, or providing such a poor service. I read about the clerk's complaints at having to work her hours and how much she earns and thought - 'poor love'.

"Perhaps if she didn't spend time working for another council she would be able to do the job she signed up for."

Wendy Brame's other council work full story here...

Nub News called the office to check if there was an answering machine, and there is, but it took 90 second to kick in.

A third resident expressed similar concerns and added: "How much in unnecessary expenses has this cost us, the taxpayer?"

Nub News put all those questions to Cllrs McLeod and Talbot - both failed to respond to residents' concerns.

According to their Google information, Hadleigh town council offices based at the Guildhall is no longer open afternoons and closes daily at 12.30pm

Clerk complains about working evening: Full story here.

Wendy Brame's other council work full story here...