IT’S not just individuals who spend January counting the cost of their Christmas celebrations – officials at Endeavour House also have to work out how much the authority has spent on festivities.

But if the pattern of recent years is followed, the total bill for this Christmas will be down as the county’s austerity drive stretches to the festive season.

Between 2007 and 2010 the amount the county spent on chairman’s functions over Christmas fell from �2,807 to �1,180.

Over those four Christmases, �666 was spent on official Christmas cards, and �75 on decorations in its council offices.

A Suffolk council spokesman pointed out the cost of Christmas functions had more than halved over recent years. He added: “We are one of the largest councils in the East of England and work in partnership with organisations in the public, private and voluntary sector each and every year.

“It is important to us to demonstrate our appreciation of the dedication and hard work that is done by these groups.

“However, we always endeavour to keep costs relating to events to a minimum. None of this expenditure relates to staff Christmas parties.”

The total cost of Christmas functions between 2007 and 2010 was �6,242.

The figures were revealed in freedom of information release by the county council.

District councils in Suffolk spent much less – Waveney and Suffolk Coastal spent nothing on Christmas celebrations while Forest Heath council saw the amount it spent fall dramatically – from �890 to just �36 between 2009 and 2010.