Four Inverclyde councillors have not held a single surgery in over a year

The Tele has obtained figures from the council listing the number of formal face-to-face surgeries elected members have had in the 12 months since their election in May 2017.

Gourock is the worst affected area, with none of the town's three councillors holding a single surgery between them.

The town is represented by SNP leader Chris Mr McEleny and independents Ronnie Ahlfeld and Lynne Quinn.

Port Glasgow councillor Drew McKenzie joins them at the bottom of the surgery league table, with zero held in the 12 months up to May 4.

At the other end of the scale, Conservative Graeme Brooks topped the list with 18, followed by the SNP's Chris Curley on 13 and Depute Provost David Wilson on 11.

Surgery-shy Mr McEleny today blamed local authority budget cuts and changing social behaviour for his lack of formal face-to-face meetings with constituents and insists he is 'accessible in the community'.

Councillor McEleny said: "Inverclyde Council removed the funding to advertise surgeries in the Greenock Telegraph so it doesn't make much sense to attend events that are not fully, publicly advertised.

"I believe that most councillors who still have the old-fashioned 'surgery' sit in a room alone for an hour on most occasions.

"I prefer to be accessible in the community and the world has moved on with almost all people now preferring to communicate via email and social media, forums which generate thousands of interactions each year."

Mr McEleny's dad and fellow SNP councillor, Jim, is among those who held most surgeries, arranging nine in the last year.

Gourock councillor Lynne Quinn says her decision to snub surgeries is in response to feedback from constituents and evolving modes of communication.

Fellow independent Mr Ahlfeld was unavailable for comment.

Councillor Quinn said: "When I was elected last year I decided that I would carry out this role on a full-time basis.

"I also decided that I would try and do things differently not just follow the perceived norm.

"A large number of my constituents contact me via email or social media.

"This is usually in the evenings which appears the most convenient time for them.

"Living in Gourock, I find that being an active part of my community helps with being accessible to many and engaging in this informal way helps me keep up to date with what's going on in my ward.

"I like to be pro-active, I regularly attend a variety of community meetings, including community councils, parent councils and community groups.

"A lot of issues are discussed at these meetings and I have found that the members appreciate me taking the time to come to them.

"In May, I consulted on the need for surgeries via my social media page and the response I received confirmed that the overwhelming majority of folk would choose an alternative way of contacting me."

Mr McKenzie says he meets with constituents every day at his Robert Alexander butcher's shop in the Port and that he is contacted regularly by phone and email.

The independent councillor said: "Last year, I was elected because I was well-known and active within the communities of Port Glasgow and Greenock East.

"Having a busy butcher's shop in Port Glasgow town centre certainly helps and allows me on a daily basis to talk to everyone about what is happening in the Port and within Inverclyde in general.

"People know where to find me and I often have people coming in asking if they can have a word.

"I am always happy to do so."

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SURGERIES HELD BY COUNCILLORS IN INVERCLYDE MAY 2017-MAY 2018

Graeme Brooks - 18

Chris Curley - 13

David Wilson - 11

Colin Jackson - 10

Stephen McCabe - 10

Gerry Dorrian - 9

Jim McEleny - 9

Robert Moran - 9

Ciano Rebecchi - 9

Jim Clocherty - 8

Innes Nelson - 8

Tommy McVey - 8

Jim MacLeod - 6

Michael McCormick - 6

Elizabeth Robertson - 6

Martin Brennan - 4

Natasha Murphy - 4

John Crowther - 2

Ronnie Ahlfeld - 0

Chris McEleny - 0

Drew McKenzie - 0

Lynne Quinn - 0