Reform boss denies press ban applied to councillors

The article discusses a controversy surrounding Mick Barton, the head of the local government reform project in Nottingham, who banned the Nottingham Post newspaper from attending council meetings. Barton claims that the press ban did not apply to councilors, but rather was limited to the Nottingham Post specifically. The disagreement stemmed from a news story the Nottingham Post published about local government reorganization, which Barton deemed inaccurate. He subsequently barred the newspaper from attending council meetings, sparking concerns about press freedom and transparency in the local government process. Barton has defended his actions, stating that the ban was not a blanket restriction on the press, but rather a targeted response to the Nottingham Post's reporting. However, the incident has raised questions about the appropriate boundaries between local officials and the media, and the importance of maintaining an open and accountable system of government.