A district councillor from England is continuing to represent his constituents even though he lives in Thailand.
Steve Hayward moved to Khao Lak in Phangnga in June last year but says Skype and e-mail allow him to keep in touch with events in Oxfordshire, the Oxford Mail reported.
Mr Hayward said earlier that he would resign after moving to Thailand but has since changed his mind.
However, he will not stand for re-election in May this year.
He remains eligible for his councillor's allowance of 4,350 pounds (235,000 baht) a year but has opted to collect just 10% of the sum, a district council spokesman said.
Mr Hayward represents Ducklington on the West Oxfordshire District Council and is a member of three committees. But business in Thailand is keeping him equally occupied these days. He owns a 10% stake in and runs two restaurants and bars in Khao Lak plus a small share in a rice and sugar farm, the Oxford Mail said.
Originally a Conservative, Mr Hayward left the party last year after claiming he was "sacked" from a committee position. He has since sat as an independent.
The former truck driver was first elected as the representative for Ducklington in 1999, but plans to stand down at the elections in May.
Since the end of last June he has attended one meeting and can only vote on West Oxfordshire issues if he attends a meeting in person. He has said he would fly back to the UK if his presence was needed.
"I have kept in contact with council officers, fellow councillors, constituents and others who have contacted me over this time," he told the Oxford Mail.
"Using the telephone, e-mail and Skype, I believe I have an excellent record of replying quickly.
"It has been one of my busiest years and I have been able to quickly deal with four council housing allocations and able to help in several local planning issues, mostly with satisfactory outcomes.
"I have been lucky that fellow councillors have been able to help when immediate action was necessary, much the same as if I was driving my lorry or out of the area."
To seek council election a candidate must – on the day of nomination – be an elector in the local authority area, own land or premises there, have a main place of work there or have lived there for the whole of 12 months before the day of the election. Once elected, a councillor does not have to resign if none of these criteria no longer apply.
West Oxfordshire District Council chief executive David Neudegg said: "The minimum legal requirement is for a councillor to attend at least one council meeting in any six-month period to remain in office.
"A councillor cannot be disqualified by the district council if they move out of the area. It is up to them to decide whether they should continue or resign."