Row is a 'storm in teacup'

A row over a ban on tea and coffee drinking in a council chamber because of the noisy clinking of china is "a storm in a teacup", according to the council's leader.

The ban was introduced after people sitting in the public gallery at Wyre Forest District Council's offices in Worcestershire complained that debates were being drowned out by the tinkling of china cups and saucers.

Now a notice in the ante-room of the council's debating chamber states that members can bring only glasses of water inside and must remain outside if they want a tea or coffee break.

The ban extends only to full council meetings - held once every six weeks - which attract a public audience, and not committee meetings.

Restore decorum

Pauline Hayward, the Conservative chair of Wyre Forest District Council in Worcestershire, said: "There have been some complaints from councillors wanting to stir it up, but as far as I'm concerned it's a storm in a teacup."

She explained that the decision to ban china from the council chamber was made in part to restore some "decorum" to proceedings.

She said: "When you look down from the public gallery it looks more like a cafe than a council chamber.

"I have been a councillor for 21 years and I have to say that over the last couple of years there has been a lack of decorum, with people bringing cans and bottles into meetings.

"We expect our officers to behave with decorum, so why shouldn't we as councillors?"

James Shaw, leader of the Labour group on the council, said he and his colleagues found the ban "a rather trivial ruling."

He said: "We weren't aware of any complaints and it's not something that has been discussed in previous meetings."