Birżebbuġa local council is continuing to work behind closed doors, although a secretary has been sent to the council to enable it to issue cheques and pay its employees, the locality's mayor said.

The council closed its doors yesterday in protest over delays by the Office of the Prime Minister to authorise the engagement of a new executive secretary.

The OPM said in a statement on Friday that the Local Councils Department was still awaiting a letter of reference to confirm that a person nominated by the council was suitably qualified, in terms of the law. The council insists it sent such a letter two months ago, and the department approved the nomination and passed it on to the OPM.

Mayor Joseph Farrugia said this morning the council had been allocated a temporary secretary so that cheques could be signed and workers could be paid, but it appeared that the appointment of the council’s executive secretary would take some time because Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said are away.

Mr Farrugia said residents needing the council’s services should contact him or one of the councillors.