BOSSES at Somerset County Council’s offices in County Hall have been branded ‘Scrooges’ after sending out strict rules to staff about Christmas decorations.

Council business manager Deborah Urch, has written to staff telling them ‘smart office’ users cannot put up decorations in team zones because of a “need to maintain the clear, open feel of the office”.

She added: “The workplace co-ordinator will work with teams to identify a suitable communal area for a Christmas tree or festive decorations.”

A staff member said: “We’re used to a ‘bah humbug’ atmosphere from the County Hall Scrooges throughout the year so it continues at Christmas. They talk about smart office – I reckon it should be stark office.”

A council spokesman said: “Smart office staff may bring in non-electrical festive decorations for their desks but at the end of each day these decorations should be stored in the lockers provided for staff.

“The nature of smart office means each day staff members could be sat at a different desk, which is the reason behind this policy. Safety of our staff is paramount, and with less floorspace in smart office there’s no longer room for a Christmas tree in all team zones. However, there are fixed decorated Christmas trees in the communal areas of the smart office.”