Cash-strapped council staff sent taxis to collect tea

Staff at a local council were forced to take drastic action after belt-tightening measures left them with a uniquely British problem. Cornwall Council's decision to axe the canteen at one of its offices meant its employees faced the grim prospect of getting through the working say without a cup of tea.

Faced with a situation no Englishman should have to endure, bosses paid to have supplies chauffeured to the office by council vans and private taxis from the canteen at the nearby County Hall. The drinks run was sanctioned for a number of meetings early this year while arrangements were made for new tea and coffee making facilities to be installed at the Carrick House office.


Image from here.

A council spokesman said the drinks were to cater for large meetings and that boiling a kettle on site was impractical. The cost of the arrangement to the public purse was negligible, but councillors admitted the move had made the organisation "look ridiculous".

Independent councillor Andrew Wallis said: "This is another spectacular own goal. On the one hand we are cutting back on public services but on the other we can afford to have tea and coffee chauffeured around. The amount of money may have been small, but it is the principle that is completely wrong. It makes us, as an authority, look ridiculous and does nothing for the public's perception of the council."