The Daily Mail reports a row on Tunbridge Wells Council over whether or not Sean Holden, a Conservative councillor should have been allowed to vote at a planning meeting after leaving for an estimated 25 seconds to get a cup of tea. He was cleared of misconduct after demanding he be allowed to vote anyway.
On my Council we have a tea urn at the back of the room so that we can gain refreshment without missing proceedings. Some may feel this is an extravagant perk for councillors at the expense of the downtrodden of the Council Taxpayer. But given the experience in Tunbridge Wells it suddenly seems rather good value.