Kitty held  62 surgeries across the borough last year.

The number of issues being raised with Burnley's local MP, Kitty Ussher, is rising steadily it was revealed today, following the release of her fourth and final 2006 quarterly constituency casework figures, and the total for the year.

In 2006 as a whole, Kitty took on 1521 cases from constituents and held 62 surgeries across the borough.

The most recent data shows that in the last three months of 2006 Kitty received enquiries from 431 constituents with a wide variety of problems, which is an 8% increase on the previous quarter and represents an average of 36 constituents every week. The number of issues raised regarding Highways has increased in the winter months compared to last quarter. Litter and bins remain the top local issue.

Since September Kitty has seen around 100 constituents at the regular surgeries she holds across the Borough with other cases picked up on the doorstep or by letter, email, on line and telephone calls direct to her Burnley office.

Kitty said:

“I keep records of the number and types of cases we receive so that we can monitor trends across the borough. It also acts as an early warning system that something is wrong if the number of cases involving a specific issue or agency suddenly rises. In recent months we have seen an increase in complaints involving Highways which I believe is due to winter weather conditions highlighting problem areas and street lighting problems emphasised by fewer daylight hours.

"As you'd expect from your representative to national government, the largest category is people getting in touch with questions or problems that relate to central government and its agencies. However in the last 3 months of 2006 over a quarter of cases related to Burnley council and a further 11 per cent each to Lancashire county council and policing issues."

"I will continue to provide this information to the public every quarter throughout 2007, and would like to thank my hard-working staff for the efforts they make to chase up every case on behalf of local people"

Kitty’s Quarterly Casework League Table: Oct - Dec 2006

% of total

National government issues                                   41%

of which:

              Health                                                                           8

              Tax pensions & benefits                              

             12

              Immigration                                                                 4

              General government policy                                   17

Burnley Council issues                                          26%

  of which:

              Litter & Bins                                                                9

              Planning and Development                                   6

              Other                                                                            11

Lancashire County issues                                      11%

  of which:

              Roads & Transport                                                   8

              Education                                                                   3

Crime & Anti Social Behaviour                                 11%

Housing                                                                  6%

Utilities                                                                   1%

Other                                                                      4%

TOTAL                                                                                        100 %

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