POWYS County Council staff could be given March 1 off as an unofficial bank holiday to celebrate St David’s Day.

At Friday’s (July 22) council meeting a motion by Plaid Cymru group leader Cllr Elwyn Vaughan for this to happen, will be discussed by councillors.

If councillors were to vote in favour, the council would be following the lead of Gwynedd Council, which earlier this year agreed to give staff a holiday on March 1.

Patron saints in both Scotland and Northern Ireland are celebrated with bank holidays, after the power to do this was devolved to their respective parliament and assembly.

St Andrew’s Day in Scotland is on November 30 and St Patrick’s Day in Northern Ireland is on March 17.

County Times: Cllr Elwyn Vaughan.Cllr Elwyn Vaughan.

But for Wales, power to decide on bank holidays remains a UK Government reserved matter.

Cllr Vaughan's motion also asks that the council call on the UK Government to devolve the power to create bank holidays for Wales to the Welsh Government.

In her assessment of the proposal, head of finance, Jane Thomas warned the extra holiday would hit the council’s “productivity”.

Ms Thomas said: “As an example, the recent bank holiday to celebrate Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee on Friday, June 3 resulted in all employees being entitled to a holiday with normal day’s pay on the additional bank holiday.

County Times: Jane Thomas.Jane Thomas.

“The council did however have to ensure that essential services were maintained, with employees working that day being eligible for enhanced  payments or a day off in lieu.”

Ms Thomas explained that roughly this cost around £700,000 – and more detailed work would be needed to calculate an accurate figure as well as needing to wait for further expense claims due to the bank holidays to be lodged by staff.

Ms Thomas said: “In addition, care staff in our supported tenancies, home care and Children’s homes are entitled to enhanced pay for that day.

“The estimated additional cost for that is £72,000.”

But, Ms Thomas said that sending a letter to the UK Government asking for the power to create bank holidays to be handed over to the Welsh Government would have a “minimal impact on budgets.”