Caroline has received assurance in parliament that the borough council must engage with her after the authority said it would not answer her casework letters during the local election campaign period.
It is the first time ever Caroline has received such a response from the council which said it was relying on pre-election guidance from 2014 it has never previously used to insist it could not talk to the MP over casework – some of which is likely to be urgent in nature.
Caroline was so concerned she raised the matter yesterday in the House of Commons.
She asked Levelling Up, Housing and Communities minister Lee Rowley: “Local elections are fast approaching, but my local council has said that, from now until 4 May, I can continue to send in casework but it cannot reply.
“I will not know whether the council has lifted eviction orders or responded to dangerous damp conditions - the list goes on.
“I champion my constituents’ situations, but that will compromise what I can do to support them.
“Does the Minister agree that the council’s ruling is wholly disproportionate?”
In reply, the minister said: “Yes. Eastbourne council is wrong. The pre-election period does not stop councils from responding to Members of Parliament, and they should do so.”
Speaking afterwards Caroline added: “I am very concerned why the council has acted in this disproportionate way to the detriment of the residents it serves.
“It cannot be in anyone’s interest for an MP to be denied a response from any council using such a sudden and it appears to be a completely arbitrary interpretation of guidance from nearly ten years ago.
“I hope the council acknowledges the minister’s comments and replies to myself and my team in the normal way during this period as it should.”
