A long-serving Cowbridge town councillor stormed out of last night's town council meeting last night amid an argument over using a microphone.

As the Council discussed replacing the boiler in the town hall, Cllr Marion Arnold passionately questioned if the expense could be afforded within the budget, when the funds were needed elsewhere.

She then stood to speak, as was traditionally done in the chamber.

But deputy mayor John Andrew, who was chairing the meeting, reminded her that standing has been suspended so that the microphones pick up sound for those joining the meeting virtually.

"Are you suspending everything we have done in the past?" asked Cllr Arnold.

"Then there's no point me saying anything. It's getting to the point where everything is being dumbed down."

As the council moved to discuss the finance and governance minutes next item on the agenda, Cllr Arnold began to speak but was reminded to turn her microphone on by the assistant town clerk and the deputy mayor.

"You need to move the microphone close to your face," said Cllr Andrew.

"It doesn't help, I'm not that stupid," replied Cllr Arnold, who then suggested all councillors should be present in the chamber.

As Cllr Andrews stated that by law the town council is required to hold hybrid meetings, which cater for in-person and virtually attendance, Cllr Arnold packed up her belongings to leave.

"Thank you very much, but Cllr Arnold is going home," she said.

"Enough is enough. I am not being shouted at for not having my say any more. I am leaving this meeting."

Cllr Andrew then said he was sorry that Cllr Arnold felt the need to leave.

But Cllr Arnold said that her exit was a build-up of frustration at council proceedings in the last year, and that last night was "the straw that broke the camel's back".

"In all the years I have been on the council, which is 27 years, I have never known a deputy mayor in a council meeting suspend standing orders. I found that frustrating," she said.

"But I have been frustrated all the time since the last election.

"Councillors must remember that it's the people of Cowbridge who have got the power, and I don't think we are serving them very well.

"I walked out because I couldn't stand it a minute longer. It was absolutely torturous. There was no other word for it. I'm not resigning, but I could not proceed in that chamber."

Cllr Andrew told Nub News he was sad that Cllr Arnold left the meeting.

"That's certainly not what I wanted, and I would have much preferred that she stayed," he said.

At the start of this year, the the Council argued over whether the Mayor should have taken part in a co-option vote.

Nub News exclusively spoke to Jackie Weaver about her petition calling for harsher sanctions on unruly councillors.