A MAN who has been banned from all council buildings has vowed he will keep complaining until ‘they get it right’ after a long-running dispute with Kirklees Council.

Steve Bradbury, 60, initially raised issues regarding provision of council services and the lengthy timescale of planning decisions.

But the dispute escalated when Mr Bradbury attempted to raise issues in public meetings and in person with the council officials – and the council then claimed his behaviour towards staff was unacceptable.

Mr Bradbury of Beaumont Park, said: “They call me a persistent complainer, but I will complain until they get it right.

“I want to go to public meetings to ask questions and that’s being denied to me.

“I now have no means of saying my piece to the officers or elected members.”

On one occasion Mr Bradbury, who is a property landlord, was arrested for public order but later bailed and all charges dropped.

He also refused to pay council tax but agreed to start his direct debits to avoid court.

The latest ban could mean Mr Bradbury will miss a friend’s wedding at Huddersfield Town Hall later this month where he was asked to be a witness.

But a council spokesman said he could put a request in writing for special dispensation.

In the past council officers were left red faced after a Freedom of Information Request revealed derogatory emails had been circulated between senior staff about him.

Under the council’s former chief executive, Rob Vincent, Mr Bradbury says he was told he would be offered a ‘fair hearing’ and was given the help of a legal adviser to assist him to compile a report.

But Mr Bradbury claims months later, despite the report not being finished and repeated requests for the hearing to be delayed, it was put before the Corporate Governance and Audit Committee.

He said: “It still wasn’t finished and they knew this.

“They had it because it was on the legal advisers’ computer.

“I wasn’t there to defend myself and give background information.”

When Mr Bradbury learned of the hearing he went to the council to speak to current chief executive Adrian Lythgo.

“I told him exactly what I thought,’’ said Mr Bradbury. “I did not raise my voice or threaten anyone.”

The next day he was told in a hand delivered letter that he was banned from four council buildings.

He has since pursued the matter by demanding answers in the public questions section of the Corporate Governance meeting but the chairman refused.

His ban has since been extended to include all council buildings and will be reviewed after six months.

A letter to Mr Bradbury from chief executive Adrian Lythgo states: “I remain of the view that your unpredictable behaviour is unacceptable and cannot go on. You may not visit all council buildings including Civic Centre 1, Civic Centre 3, High Street Buildings, Crown Court Buildings and Huddersfield Town Hall. This means that all contact with officers of the council will be by way of written correspondence.”

Mr Bradbury has refused to take the matter to council watchdog the Local Government Ombudsman.

He said: “If I take it to the Ombudsman, which the council wants, then it would only produce a recommendation to the council. The Ombudsman doesn’t have any teeth to enforce anything. My experience also tells me that they have made promises in the past which they have failed to keep.”

A Kirklees Council spokesman said : “This situation has gone on for many years and Mr Bradbury’s approach has exacerbated the situation. In the past the council has apologised to Mr Bradbury, most recently on May 13, 2011, which he has refused to accept.

“In ultimately having to take the decision to ban him from council buildings – to allow council officers to do their jobs without spending excessive amounts of time dealing with Mr Bradbury’s regular representations on matters that have previously been considered – we have stressed he has the opportunity to take his complaints to the Local Government Ombudsman for an independent review, something he has consistently refused to do. The council is also duty bound to consider the health and wellbeing of its own staff.”