‘A huge success’ - Kate Osborne MP hails the positive impact of holding street surgeries

I am really enjoying my street surgeries and I’m increasing their frequency, meaning you will see me and my office in your local area even more often.

They have been a huge success, with an overwhelming increase in casework, an increase in engagement, and crucially even more successful outcomes for constituents and the feedback is people are really appreciative.

Over the past year alone, my office and I dealt with over 11,000 individual casework and related issues - whilst of course, we are unable to wave a magic wand, we have had some extremely pleasing wins, including financial gains of around £100,000 between around 70 individuals from as little as a £25 rebate to a whopping £33,000 in fines being waved!

One regular issue raised at my Street Surgeries has been the ongoing concerns residents have faced with off-road motorbikes. I have since written to our new Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth to ask what Northumbria Police are doing to combat off-road motorbikes in those hotspots in areas across Jarrow and Gateshead East.

Residents regularly contact me with issues around banding, repairs, rehousing and evictions and I have had many individual case wins on housing issues from tenancy issues, banding issues, and repairs including damp and mould.

One of my favourite parts of the job is getting out and about across our constituency – meeting local businesses, organisations and schools – but also helping people and it is extremely rewarding when a constituent gets in touch to tell you that you’ve made a difference to their lives.

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For example, only a few weeks ago we arrived in a street for the scheduled surgery and a resident had left a present and a note of thanks on their doorstep even though they were not in.

Next week, I will also be launching Ward Surveys across Jarrow and Gateshead East, these surveys are your opportunity to let me know what you want my office to focus on locally and nationally and to tell me the issues that matter most to residents and how I can best support them.

If you can’t wait for me to knock on the door then you can also fill in the form via my website www.kate-osborne.co.uk/ward-community-survey/.

I will keep doing all I can to help people, please do get in touch with me [email protected] or 0191 466 1509.