A member of a town council in North Rhine-Westphalia may have a personal stake in a decision. It may bring a direct advantage or disadvantage to the member, to a relative or to a person the member represents. In that case the member darf weder beratend noch entscheidend mitwirken, may take part neither in the discussion nor in the decision. The member must declare this without being asked and den Sitzungsraum verlassen, leave the meeting room. In a public session, the member may sit with the public.