Councillor hounded by Essex County Council

Barry Aspinell
Councillor hounded by Essex County Council 'Brentwood Yellow Advertiser' Thursday 20 October 2005 by Pat Jones 'A FORMER County Councillor claims he is being hounded by Essex County Council' Since Barry Aspinell stepped in to help a vulnerable Brentwood couple prevent their children being compulsorily adopted he has - he says - become a target of the authority he served on till recently. "The County Council does not like me asking questions, calling for facts or talking to the press. But all I am doing is helping constituents which is what I was elected for. "I feel hunted and I am very angry because of the concern it is causing my family and friends," he said. Mr Aspinell, who lost his County Council seat this year but is still a member of Brentwood Borough Council, was hauled into Chelmsford County Court by the County Council in May. He fought off a gagging injunction, and Judge Gypps, who dismissed the application, told him he was free to continue his investigations to aid constituents. Since then he has been the subject of two failed complaints to the local government watchdog - either of which could have seen him barred from public office for five years. The first complaint made to the Standards Board by ( Councillor ) Tracey Chapman, County Council profile holder for Children and Families in June alleged Mr Aspinell divulged confidential information to the media. This was fully investigated, then rejected. The board will release the full terms of its decision shortly. The second complaint, also made by Mrs Tracey Chapman, claimed Mr Aspinell had "peddled lies" to a national newspaper and caused "deep offence to officers". This time the board said "it could not justify a publicly funded investigation" into the allegations. "I am pleased to be cleared, but there is no way any of this is going to stop me fighting for that couple - and any of the others who have appealed to me for help since," he added. Please also read: UK: Councillor risks jail to aid adoption-fight parents Fighting for Families - a fight we must win for all our sakes My name is Barry Aspinell. I am currently a local Borough Councillor and, until recently, have also served as a County Councillor.
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