stroud district council budget consultation 2010
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Stroud District Council Budget Consultation 2010. Summary of Findings November 2010. Background. Stroud District Council again commissioned research primarily designed to inform the authority’s decisions on Council Tax and budget priority setting for the forthcoming year - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Stroud District CouncilBudget Consultation 2010
Summary of Findings
November 2010
Background
• Stroud District Council again commissioned research primarily designed to inform the authority’s decisions on Council Tax and budget priority setting for the forthcoming year
– this year, with residents and businesses
• The research was carried out by means of a telephone survey– with a random selection of 300 residents
– and with a random selection of 200 local businesses
• The telephone interview contained questions about– perceived performance of the Council and its services – policy priorities– budget priorities }– Council Tax options } only with residents– recycling– environmental health } only with businesses
RESIDENT SURVEY
Perceived performance
General attitudes 1• The majority of residents continue to feel satisfied with the way SDC runs things and believe that the
Council is business-like and efficient
60%63%
48% 49%
73%
-9% -11% -13%-18%
-8%
-40%
-20%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
I believe that StroudDistrict Council is
businesslike & efficient
Overall, I am satisfied withthe way Stroud District
Council runs things
Overall, the servicesprovided by Stroud District
Council have improvedover the last few years
I think that we get valuefor money from Stroud
District Council
Overall, I am satisfied thatStroud District Council isworking to improve the
environment
% disagree (strongly)
% agree (strongly)
General attitudes 2• Although not universal, there have been some very slight improvements this year
60%63%
48% 49%
73%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
I believe that StroudDistrict Council is
businesslike & efficient
Overall, I am satisfiedwith the way StroudDistrict Council runs
things
Overall, the servicesprovided by Stroud
District Council haveimproved over the last
few years
I think that we get valuefor money from Stroud
District Council
Overall, I am satisfiedthat Stroud District
Council is working toimprove the environment
2010 2009 2008
Mandatory services 1• All mandatory services are perceived to perform reasonably well …
-12% -10%-16%
-23%-18%
-28% -32%
-19%
43%47%
49%
68%
76%
57%54% 53%
49% 48%
41%40%
-26%
-8%-15%
-10%
-40%
-20%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Refusecollection
Pest control Licensing Housingbenefit
administration
Food safety,health & safety
Streetcleaning
Pollutioncontrol
Parkingenforcement
SocialHousing
Planning/buildingcontrol
Homeless-ness
Dog warden &animal welfare
(very) good (very) poor
Mandatory services 2• … with improvements in seven of these 12 services
76%
68%
57%
54%
53%
49%
49%
48%
47%
43%
41%
40%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Refuse collection
Pest control
Licensing
Housing benefit administration
Food safety, health & safety
Street cleaning
Pollution control
Parking enforcement
Social Housing
Planning and building control
Homelessness
Dog warden & animal welfare
2010 (very) good
2009 (very) good
2008 (very) good
Discretionary services 1• The top-performing discretionary services perform really well …
-3% -6%-15%
-9% -10%-18%
55%56%
66%
79%
85%
77%74%
71%70%
61%
-11%-6%
-10%-8%
-40%
-20%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Concessionarytravel tokens
Museum Services tocontact the
Council
Dursleyswimming pool
StroudSubscription
Rooms
Councilpublicity
Recycling &composting
Joint-usesports centres
in local schools
Sport andleisure services
Car parks
(very) good (very) poor
Discretionary services 2• … and there are some real signs of improvement in some areas
85%
79%
77%
74%
71%
70%
66%
61%
56%
55%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Concessionary travel tokens (fares)
Museum
Services to contact the Council
Dursley swimming pool
Stroud Subscription Rooms
Council publicity
Recycling & composting
Joint-use sports centres in local schools
Sport and leisure services
Car parks
2010 (very) good
2009 (very) good
2008 (very) good
Discretionary services 3• Those services at the bottom of the scale are not well-perceived at all …
-17%-23%
-35%
-24% -27%
30%
38%
53%54%52%
50%47%
43%
34%
-17%-18% -20%-15%
-40%
-20%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Crimeprevention
Energy advice Stratford parkleisure centre
Neighbourhoodwardens
Grants tovoluntary &community
groups
Tourismpromotion
Publicconveniences
Economicrecovery anddevelopment
Town-centreimprovements
(very) good (very) poor
Discretionary services 4• … although there are some improved perceptions here too
54%
53%
52%
50%
47%
43%
38%
34%
30%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Crime prevention
Energy advice
Stratford park leisure centre
Neighbourhood wardens
Grants to voluntary & community groups
Tourism promotion
Public conveniences
Economic recovery and development
Town-centre improvements
2010 (very) good
2009 (very) good
2008 (very) good
Budget priorities
Spending cuts – mandatory services 1
• Despite the publicity about the Government’s finances, there is no great appetite to see cuts amongst most mandatory services …
53%
73%
77%
48%
40%
48%
74%
67%
81%
93%
68%
83%
36%
21%
11%
35%
43%
45%
19%
28%
11%
5%
18%
14%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Dog warden & animal welfare
Food safety, health & safety
Homelessness
Housing benefit administration
Licensing
Parking enforcement
Pest control
Planning and building control
Pollution control
Refuse collection
Social Housing
Street cleaning
Maintain spending
Spend less
Don't know
Spending cuts – mandatory services 2
• … although the degree of acceptance of cuts is far higher than it was last year
% spend less45%
43%
36%
35%
28%
21%
19%
18%
14%
11%
11%
5%
21%
20%
13%
12%
13%
15%
8%
4%
3%
2%
5%
2%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
Parking enforcement
Licensing
Dog warden & animal welfare
Housing benefit administration
Planning and building control
Food safety, health & safety
Pest control
Social Housing
Street cleaning
Homelessness
Pollution control
Refuse collection
2010
2009
Spending cuts – discretionary services 1• Amongst discretionary services, very few people want any of the services to cease …
12%
10%
10%
8%
7%
6%
5%
5%
3%
3%
3%
3%
2%
2%
2%
2%
2%
1%
1%
0%
0% 10% 20% 30%
Concessionary travel tokens
Council publicity
Energy advice
Neighbourhood wardens
Discretionary BRR to qualifying organisations
Tourism promotion
Car parks
Economic recovery and development
Dursley swimming pool
Grants to voluntary and community groups
Museum
Stratford Park leisure centre
Joint-use sports centres in local schools
Public conveniences
Sports and leisure services
Stroud Subscription Rooms
Town-centre improvements
Crime prevention
Recycling and composting
Services to contact the Council
Spending cuts – discretionary services 2
• … and the appetite to accept spending cuts is quite low too …
70%
62%
38%
89%
58%
66%
67%
45%
57%
76%
61%
57%
84%
90%
74%
69%
67%
55%
51%
72%
21%
22%
49%
6%
21%
11%
16%
41%
31%
16%
27%
26%
11%
7%
21%
26%
18%
24%
34%
23%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Car parks
Concessionary travel tokens
Council publicity
Crime prevention
Discretionary BRR to qualifying organisations
Dursley swimming pool
Economic recovery and development
Energy advice
Grants to voluntary and community groups
Joint-use sports centres in local schools
Museum
Neighbourhood wardens
Public conveniences
Recycling and composting
Services to contact the Council
Sports and leisure services
Stratford Park leisure centre
Stroud Subscription Rooms
Tourism promotion
Town-centre improvements
Maintain spending
Spend less
Spending cuts – discretionary services 3• … although it is far higher than in 2009
% spend less
49%
41%
34%
31%
27%
26%
26%
24%
23%
22%
21%
21%
21%
18%
16%
16%
11%
11%
7%
6%
13%
12%
9%
10%
8%
4%
8%
8%
8%
6%
4%
3%
2%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
Council publicity
Energy advice
Tourism promotion
Grants to voluntary and community groups
Museum
Neighbourhood wardens
Sports and leisure services
Stroud Subscription Rooms
Town-centre improvements
Concessionary travel tokens
Car parks
Discretionary BRR to qualifying organisations
Services to contact the Council
Stratford Park leisure centre
Economic recovery and development
Joint-use sports centres in local schools
Dursley swimming pool
Public conveniences
Recycling and composting
Crime prevention
2010
2009
Other value-for-money areas
With regards to the Dursley Swimming Pool, I think the Council has at its disposal an excellent
facility, but they do not use it as much as they could. They could offer lessons in there, for which they could charge and get the money
If the council don't have any money then they should keep all the money
that they have got instead of spending it on improvements
Recycling - cardboard doesn't get collected and it means people have to travel to get rid
of it. This is the same with garden waste. Lots of people can't manage this, so it should be
recycled at the door.
The council can get rid of departments within the council that are not needed, as
this wastes money which is already limited within the council.
• Where do they believe the Council can deliver improvements with less money?– examples included greater efficiencies internally and generating greater use of
facilities
– but a lot of people just wanted more spending (in their favourite area)
Council Tax and Corporate priorities
Council Tax options
• Given the findings that relate to services, it’s not surprising to see a majority in favour of a small increase in Council Tax
56%
4% 2%
38%
the Government's proposal to freeze Council Tax
a small increase in the level of Council Tax in line with inflation
neither of these
don't know
Last year, 11% wanted a freeze in CT
I believe there should be a reduction in council tax. I
took a 20% pay cut two years ago and since then
council tax has not got any less
A large increase in council tax, I would prefer to pay more for services in order
to keep them going
CDP 2010-14• Of the four CDP priorities, providing value for money is the most important by far
-11%
59%64% 62%
80%
-16%
-3%-10%
-40%
-20%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Helping local people and businessesrecover from the recession and grow the
local economy
Help the community minimise itscarbon footprint, adapt to climate
change, recycle more and send as littlewaste to landfill as possible
Providing affordable and decenthousing
Provide value for money to localtaxpayers and high quality services
% (very) low priority
% (very) high priority
70% in 2009
Other priorities
• When asked what other priorities the Council should be focusing on, the answers were varied and often unhelpful
For the town to attract people to visit there should be adequate car parking,
which there is not at this moment in time
In the case of single young people that are trying to settle down and
rent a small property, maybe a flat or a bedsit, I think the Council
could try and help them with the Council Tax. I do not think it is
fair to expect them to pay the full of amount
The rubbish collection isn't very good at all. Plus her streetlights go on and off during the course of the
night
They should really focus on road maintenance and mending
I think the Council should make sure that the canal is finished and well
maintained, and also try and promote the image of the town in connection
with it
Yes the council should stop wasting money as they have recently spent a lot of money on changing the refuse
collection service so that it was more cost efficient. This did not happen in the end and it ended up costing more
money to change the service back
More promotion of the use of solar panels
Recycling
Recycling 1
• The clear majority of residents believe that they recycle everything they can
63%
34%
2%
I recycle everything that can be recycled
I recycle a lot, but not everything that can be
I recycle sometimes
I do not recycle
don't know
Recycling 2• If the Council were to extend its recycling service, the priorities are seen to be
plastic (trays, tubs, yoghurt pots) and card – only food isn’t a priority for the majority
-7%
-23%
87%
79%
70%
44%
56%
-4%
-33%
-14%
-40%
-20%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Card Plastic Tetra packs Food waste Green/garden waste
% (very) low priority
% (very) high priority
Help to recycle more
• Ideas put forward included– bigger recycling bins– more doorstep collections
(reduces their carbon footprint)– more, and better, information
Provide a collection for cardboard and food waste
Yes, they should take the garden waste and use it for compost, not just for landfill. I used to put the garden waste in the green bag near the landfill waste, but I
stopped doing that after I've seen that they put everything together.
The council should provide a more detailed list of what can and cannot
be recycled as at the moment it is very vague.
The Council should give directives to local supermarkets and not allow them to
sell things packed in plastic, but in cardboard or paper. The issue should be
tackled from the producers.
More to collected at the door instead of having to take stuff like cardboard into Stroud. Also they
don't recycle the plastic trays that tomatoes come in.
BUSINESS SURVEY
Perceived performance
General attitudes 1• As in previous years, businesses are not very positive about SDC across the range of measures …
53%
42%
36%
30%
54%
25%
-11%
-23% -23%
-36%
-17%
-36%
-40%
-20%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Overall, I am satisfiedwith the way StroudDistrict Council runs
things
I believe that StroudDistrict Council isbusinesslike and
efficient
Overall, the servicesprovided by Stroud
District Council haveimproved over the last
few years
I think that we getvalue for money from
Stroud District Council
Overall, I am satisifedthe Stroud District
Council is improvingthe local environment
Overall, I am satisifedthe Stroud District
Council is helping witheconomic recovery
locally
% disagree (strongly)
% agree (strongly)
General attitudes 2• … but whilst there have been some very slight improvements since 2008 …
53%
42%
36%
30%
54%
25%
40% 40% 40%
23%
45%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Overall, I am satisfiedwith the way StroudDistrict Council runs
things
I believe that StroudDistrict Council isbusinesslike and
efficient
Overall, the servicesprovided by Stroud
District Council haveimproved over the last
few years
I think that we getvalue for money from
Stroud District Council
Overall, I am satisifedthe Stroud District
Council is improvingthe local environment
Overall, I am satisifedthe Stroud DistrictCouncil is helping
with economicrecovery locally
% agree (strongly) 2010
% agree (strongly) 2008
General attitudes 3• … it remains the case that businesses are far less positive about the Council
than residents
53%
42%
36%
30%
54%
25%
60%63%
48% 49%
73%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Overall, I am satisfiedwith the way StroudDistrict Council runs
things
I believe that StroudDistrict Council isbusinesslike and
efficient
Overall, the servicesprovided by Stroud
District Council haveimproved over the last
few years
I think that we getvalue for money from
Stroud District Council
Overall, I am satisifedthe Stroud District
Council is improvingthe local environment
Overall, I am satisifedthe Stroud DistrictCouncil is helping
with economicrecovery locally
% agree (strongly) BUSINESS
% agree (strongly) RESIDENT
Mandatory services 1• All mandatory services are perceived to perform reasonably well …
36%
-5%-14%
-19% -20%
-41%
-29% -32% -30%-36%
46%47%
55%
68%
81%
63% 62%59%
56%
51%
44%40%
-19%-12%
-24%-20%
-40%
-20%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Food Safety Licensing Pest control Refusecollection
Health andSafety
Homelessness
Streetcleaning
Pollutioncontrol
Dog wardenand animal
welfare
Planning &buildingcontrol
Parkingenforcement
SocialHousing
Housingbenefit
administration
% (very) good % (very) poor
Mandatory services 2• … with some major perceived improvements in services since 2008
81%
68%
63%
62%
59%
56%
55%
51%
47%
46%
44%
40%
36%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Food Safety
Licensing
Pest control
Refuse collection
Health and Safety
Home lessness
Street cleaning
Pollution control
Dog warden and animal welfare
Planning & building control
Parking enforcement
Social Housing
Housing benefit administration
% (very) good 2010
% (very) good 2008
Note, excludes those who “don’t know”
Discretionary services 1• The top-performing discretionary services perform really well too …
-8%-15% -20%
-28% -26%-18%
56%57%60%
70%
75%
64%62% 62% 61% 59%
-15%-12%
-25%
-11%
-60%
-40%
-20%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Dursleyswimming pool
Services tocontact the
Council
Museum DiscretionaryBRR to
qualifyingorganisations
Joint-usesports centres
in local schools
StroudSubscription
Rooms
Concessionarytravel tokens
Neighbourhoodwardens
Recycling andcomposting
Sport andleisure services
% (very) good % (very) poor
Discretionary services 2• But those services at the bottom of the scale are not well-perceived at all
-21%-32%
-44%-32%
-48% -50%
24%26%
30%
51%55%
47% 47% 47%
33%
27%
-42%
-26%-32%-32%
-60%
-40%
-20%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Stratford Parkleisure centre
Car parks Grants tovoluntary &community
groups
Crimeprevention
Councilpublicity
Publicconveniences
Town-centreimprovements
TourismPromotion
Economicrecovery &
development
Energy advice
% (very) good % (very) poor
Discretionary services 2• But there are some real signs of improvement since 2008
75%
70%
64%
62%
62%
61%
60%
59%
57%
56%
55%
51%
47%
47%
47%
33%
30%
27%
26%
24%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Dursley swimming pool
Services to contact the Council
Museum
Discretionary BRR to qualifying organisations
Joint-use sports centres in local schools
Stroud Subscription Rooms
Concessionary travel tokens
Neighbourhood wardens
Recycling and composting
Sport and leisure services
Stratford Park leisure centre
Car parks
Grants to voluntary & community groups
Crime prevention
Council publicity
Public conveniences
Town-centre improvements
Tourism Promotion
Economic recovery & development
Energy advice
% (very) good 2010
% (very) good 2008
Corporate priorities
-5%
66%
91%
56%
83%
-12%-4%
-16%
-40%
-20%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Helping local people and businessrecover from the recession and grow the
local economy
Helping the community minimise itscarbon footprint, adapt to climate
change, recycle more and send as littlewaste to landfill as possible
Providing affordable and decenthousing
Providing value for money to localtaxpayers and high quality services
% (very) low priority
% (very) high priority
CDP 2010-14 1• Of the four CDP priorities, recessionary recovery is the most important by far …
66% in 2009
CDP 2010-14 2• … very much more so amongst businesses than amongst residents
91%
66%
56%
83%
64%
59%62%
80%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Helping local people andbusiness recover from the
recession and grow the localeconomy
Helping the community minimiseits carbon footprint, adapt to
climate change, recycle more andsend as little waste to landfill as
possible
Providing affordable and decenthousing
Providing value for money tolocal taxpayers and high quality
services
% (very) high priority BUSINESS
% (very) high priority RESIDENT
Economic recovery• The Council could help by
– examining (reducing) business rates– information and advice– internal cost reduction– buying local, etc
They could provide more information about what they do and what services they
offer and how they might help us
Look at the supply chain and make sure they're using local companies
where possible
By keeping all their costs as low as possible. There should be strict
controls for the amount of money that they spend on their staff. They
should not be over-staffed just as we cannot be in industry. And I mean
that right from the top to the bottom.
I don't know if they can; Council staff and their offices have no
idea what running a business is about, they don't look at medium sized businesses, they only have
an awareness of small shops etc., they have no idea about industry.
I know they linked up with Business Link a few years ago as a service and it provided valuable advice and consultation which was really helpful for me as a
business. If I hadn't had got that advice I think I'd have probably gone bankrupt in this recession
By keeping business rates to a minimum and not putting red tape in the way of businesses
Other findings
Environmental health
• One quarter of businesses (26%) have had some form of contact with SDC’s environmental health service
– of these, almost everyone was treated fairly and found the staff helpful
Treated fairly?
98%
2%
yesno
Found the staff helpful
88%
12%
yesno
Waste & recycling 1• There appear to be fewer businesses this year who are aware of their
responsibilities and of local companies that recycle …
% saying 'yes'
94%
92%
98%
97%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
aware of Duty of Careresponsibilities regarding
waste
aware of local commercialcompanies that recycle
waste
yes, 2010yes, 2008
Waste & recycling 2
• … but the number of businesses that do recycle their waste has increased …
88%
85%
12%
15%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
2010
2008
yes
no
Not statistically significant
Waste & recycling 3
• … and there is also greater recycling activity amongst all categories of waste
82%
84%
51%
62%
40%
39%
77%
75%
42%
48%
17%
13%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%
paper
cardboard
glass bottles & jars
plastic
electrical items
other types of waste
2010
2008
Metal (10%), oil (5%) batteries (4%), Print cartridges (3%), wood (3%), etc
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