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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Kevin Dyson

Scots councillor 'more accessible than ever' despite scrapping traditional surgeries

The depute leader of East Ayrshire Council says he will no longer hold traditional drop-in surgeries.

Councillor Jim McMahon insists technology means he is more accessible to constituents than ever before.

The Cumnock and New Cumnock SNP councillor said: “I deal with multiple constituent enquiries daily through phone calls and digital technology methods, as opposed to maybe one enquiry at a surgery on the night or, on several occasions, no one turns up.”

These surgeries incur costs such as booking local halls, paying keyholders to allow access to premises and energy costs at a time when resources are tight.

While most people get in touch by phone or email, Cllr McMahon said he was always available to speak face-to-face if residents contact him in advance.

Cllr McMahon, who is the council’s cabinet spokesperson for housing, welfare and poverty and social care, mental wellbeing and addiction and recovery, said: “After some careful thought and consideration, I will no longer hold surgeries in the manner that I did pre-Covid.

“I have pre-booked local halls for constituents to come and see both myself and my colleague and, on the majority of occasions, we would have no one for the duration of our visit.

“We would incur hall let charges and other expenses.”

One of the arguments given for retaining traditional surgeries is that older people prefer to speak to a councillor in person.

But Cllr McMahon, who is also the council’s older people’s champion, said his approach would be a benefit to that part of the community.

He said: “Through a simple phone call to me, I would arrange a place of their convenience to meet face-to-face.”

This, he added, would allow a meeting to be arranged at the earliest opportunity and ‘not have them wait, potentially, for three weeks or more' for the next scheduled surgery.

The councillor went on: “Using my time to maximum benefit to assist any of my constituents is key to achieving quick responsive results for them.”

“There are clear benefit to our older population not having to make journeys to a councillor’s surgery from rural locations during the cold, dark winter months with frost and icy pavements potential hazards for them.”

The death of David Amess, the Conservative MP for Southend who was stabbed to death a year ago at his own surgery, and broader concerns about safety have also spurred the move.,

When the pandemic hit in 2020, councillor surgeries were put on hold, requiring an alternative approach from members.

Cllr McMahon said: “During the Covid pandemic, we learned to work in new ways as the digital interaction world progressed.

“I can also be contacted through Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp for text messaging, or if preferred a virtual face-to-face.”

While his regular surgery will be scrapped, he said he would continue to hold occasional joint-surgeries with Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley SNP MSP and former councillor Elena Whitham, and others with police.

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