Agenda item
Annual Residents' Survey Results 2010/11
Minutes:
Ms Laura Spence (Research Officer, Chief Executive’s Directorate) presented the results of the Annual Residents’ Survey for 2010/11. Ms Spence explained the methodology based on face to face interviews considering the views of 1,150 local residents about the Council’s services and the local area. The fieldwork was completed in January and February 2011 before the implementation of the government’s strategy which should be borne in mind when reading the results. (A copy of the presentation was subsequently sent to Committee Members).
Overall, the Survey presented a positive picture of continuous improvement but there were areas that still needed to be addressed.
In summary the top concerns identified included:
- Economic issues reflecting current downturn. Worries over lack of jobs rising prices and inflation.
- Crime and Anti Social Behaviour (ASB). Fear of which was still a major concern for residents, however perceptions were improving.
- Cleanliness in the public realm.
- Lack of affordable housing.
- Lack of provision for young people.
Other issues considered were:
- Council Housing and Benefits Service: Experiences of this were relatively positive with the majority of respondents rating services as satisfactory.
- Education: Satisfaction ratings with nursery and primary provision were relatively high but with secondary provision less so. In general approval for education was on a par with the London average.
- Image of Council: Strongly improving and now beginning to move ahead of other Councils.
- Tower Hamlets as a good place to live: Figure down slightly from last year but majority of those surveyed remain satisfied with local area.
- Benefits of 2012 Olympic Games: Views about the benefits have become less positive.
It was noted that the Committee’s suggestions for improving the questionnaire would be taken on board.
Accordingly, Members were invited to define what exactly they would like to see looked at for to identify the most appropriate survey method.
It was also recommended that the results be read in conjunction with other contextual surveys.
The Committee should also use the findings in scrutinising Council performance.
A question and answer session then following covering the following points:
Concern was expressed at categorising ‘teenagers hanging around’ as ASB. It was felt that this in itself was not a problem. However in the event that this was seen as a problem, the specific reasons why it was should be defined, for example foul language, bad behaviour etc and then be renamed to reflect this rather than merely teenagers hanging around.
In response, it was noted that certain questions were national indicators. Care should be taken in changing these in the interests of continuity. There would be opportunities to review the indicators and the questionnaire at the consultation stage.
It was also felt that the questions should be made more specific to identify where people felt the fault lies – with the Council or at a national level. Was it a national or a local problem?
Assurances were also sought and secured regarding satisfaction with children’s centres down by 10%. In response, it was considered that the sample for this were very small. Therefore it was not considered to represent a substantial change. No other London Boroughs had this as an indicator and therefore there were no comparative data. Should the Committee wish to monitor this area, it may be necessary to measure the indicator over a number of years to identify any problems.
Members welcomed the London wide comparisons. In reply, Ms Spence referred to the existence of a much fuller version of the survey including comparisons with other London areas for most measures.
In terms of the next stage in the process, the results would be submitted to the Directorates for close examination.
RESOLVED.
That Overview and Scrutiny Committee note the Annual Residents’ Survey results and use it to inform planning for the 2011-12 work programme.
Supporting documents:
- 7.3_Annual Residents Survey OS Cover Sheet, item 7.3 PDF 49 KB
- 7.3a_Annual Residents Survey Results 2010-11 OS 5 July 2011, item 7.3 PDF 136 KB