MAYOR of Malmesbury Charles Vernon has denied there is a crisis at the town hall despite both the town clerk and his deputy going off on extended sick leave.

Clerk Edward Ferguson has been off since last Monday and deputy clerk Sue Webb went off sick three days ago.

Their reasons for absence remain a mystery.

Mrs Webb refused to comment from her home yesterday and Deputy Mayor Patrick Goldstone said it was a case of the sniffles.

But a sick note for at least one of the clerks gave stress as the reason for the absence.

It has also been suggested that Mr Ferguson, who is due for retirement this summer, had cleared his desk this week.

The clerk and deputy clerk have the role of running the day-to-day administration of the council and ensuring the council's policies are carried out. They also respond to queries from the public.

Coun Vernon said the council was functioning as normal despite the loss of their most senior officers.

He said: "There is no drama, there is no crisis. Yes, they are off sick, however the excellent services offered by the town council will carry on with the excellent staff we have at the town hall. I have spoken to every member of the staff in the town hall and they said they will be doing their best.

"Some of the town councillors will also be helping out when necessary. There is sufficient staff in the town hall to carry out the day-to-day functions of the town.

"We have given both Mr Ferguson and Mrs Webb the support they needed. We would love them to come back as soon as they are fit."

It is no secret among people involved with the town council that Mr Ferguson and Coun Vernon have not always seen eye to eye.

Mr Ferguson has been town clerk for 18 years while Mrs Webb has served for 16 years.

By comparison Coun Vernon is a newcomer to Malmesbury, moving to the town only eight years ago, after taking early retirement from his job in insurance. He has been a councillor for five years.

He has made it clear from the start of his mayoral year that he intended to do things in his own way and not to be too bound by tradition.

He said: "There are a great number of things in this town that would not get done if newcomers did not take a lead."

But Malmesbury prides itself on its tradition and has a group known as Malmesbury Freemen which is veiled in a certain amount of secrecy.

There has been no official notification circulated to councillors explaining the absences.

However the deputy mayor also pledged the council would continue functioning as normal.

Coun Goldstone said: "We have got fantastic support in the town hall. We miss them both but with the help of all the staff we are covering really well."

But there were concerns over the absence of senior members of the council with major issues such as the redevelopment of the town hall at a critical stage.

County councillor John Thomson said: "I am concerned, particularly because the biggest issue at the moment is the town hall. We could have done with a more a coherent and effective town council than it is now."

The council has had a difficult year since it was returned unelected at last May's elections.

Its handling of important issues in the town has led to a review of the way it runs its business.

Mr Ferguson came under fire last year after he called the council an 'exclusive club' and for the way the co-option of new members to council was handled.

The procedure was dubbed a farce and a shambles by some of the five people standing for the vacant three seats after last year's elections.

The Citizen's Advice Bureau, which has been in the town 16 years, threatened to stop its weekly advice sessions at the town hall because its confidentiality had been undermined by new entrance procedures, after the hall's front doors were shut.

The council later opened the front doors to the hall during the hours CAB operates.

The introduction of Malmesbury Sunday Market also ended in a mire of bitter dispute between the council, traders and market operators Landmark Markets.

The event was stopped in November after just two months, despite initial popularity with shoppers, because High Street businesses said it was hitting trade badly.

The council had to pay out £4,000 to former part-time administration employee Dick Jowitt after he claimed unfair dismissal.

Mr Jowitt took the town council to an employment tribunal last year and the sum appeared in the town council's accounts last October.

A committee has been set up headed by Coun Judy Jones to create a policy defining the roles and functions of the council.

Ms Jones said it had a positive first meeting on Saturday.

She said: "It was very constructive. It was great we got so much input from the public. I had a letter from James Gray to say he is interested to hear we are having review and any help he will be able to give would be very helpful."