Dear Hadleigh Nub News

I feel I must contact you about my concerns regarding the behaviour of the town clerk .

It has been bought to Councilors attention that the Council agreed to pay the Clerk an undisclosed amount for holiday not taken at the end of this financial year .

When the suggestion was put to council for approval a question was raised about the legality of the payment . 

The staffing sub commitee asked the Clerk to seek legal advice (so the clerk was left to seek advice on a subject that would benefit herself financially )?

 The Clerk sought advice and advised that the payment was ok because she (the clerk ) had not been able to take annual leave due to staff shortages and her having to attend every meeting .

It now appears that the information that the clerk gave to the legal advisor was misleading.

Earlier in this last financial year she (the clerk ) booked and then cancelled annual leave on more than one occasion, so she had been able to take annual leave but chose not to too.

It also appears that she(the clerk) had two members of staff who's job descriptions included covering for her in her absence. 

In my experience of the work place this payment could and should be considered unlawful.

Jay Burns

Address in Hadleigh  

Editors note: Hadleigh town councillors were contacted for comment and an opportunity to explain but failed to respond.