Ban for councillor whose complaints cost £160,000

A PARISH councillor who wasted an estimated £160,000 of taxpayers' money by making 177 complaints against colleagues has been banned from holding public office for 18 months.

By The Newsroom

Published 15th Jan 2010, 08:42 BST

Updated 15th Jan 2010, 08:42 BST

Chris Byrne triggered costly investigations after making complaints against members of the four parish councils on which he sat. They ranged from allegations of misusing money to claims he was discriminated against on grounds of his homosexuality and dyslexia.

Officials from Sedgemoor District Council in Bridgwater, Somerset, investigated but none of the complaints was upheld.

The Adjudication Panel for England banned Mr Byrne from holding public office for 18 months after finding he had breached the code of conduct for councillors.

Mr Byrne is the custodian of the estate of the late comedian Frankie Howerd and lives at his former home at Wavering Down, Somerset.

Somerset