We must not be complacent and redouble our efforts to ensure that we are always striving to provide efficient and effective services for the people of Warwickshire.
Councillor Alan Farnell
Nearly 1,500 Warwickshire residents have told Warwickshire County Council precisely what they think about the council’s services and policies by taking part in its annual ‘Best Value User Satisfaction Survey’.
The survey is posted out to a random sample of 4,000 Warwickshire residents each autumn. This is the seventh year that the survey has taken place, with the aim of gauging levels of satisfaction with the council, its services and whether residents use them or not.
Initial results from the survey have now been published and reveal that 55.4% of residents are satisfied overall with how the local authority runs things – an improvement from the last major survey, which took place in 2003.
According to the Satisfaction Survey, 78% of respondents were happy with their local area as a place to live. 77% of people were satisfied with their local tip or household waste recycling centre, an improvement from the 2003 results, while satisfaction with libraries in the county is up at 79%.
However, the survey does highlight some areas for improvement. Only 23% of respondents were happy with the opportunities available to ‘have a say’ in how county council policies and services are developed, and just 31% felt well informed about how they can get involved in local decision making.
The results of the questionnaires are used to report changes in satisfaction with the council and its services to county councillors, who are responsible for agreeing the annual budget and for approving the council's policy framework.
Every three years, all councils in the country are required by the Government to carry out a satisfaction survey, the results of which are compared.
Councillor Alan Farnell, Leader of Warwickshire County Council, said: “This is really good news and a pat on the back for all Warwickshire County Council staff. However we must not be complacent and redouble our efforts to ensure that we are always striving to provide efficient and effective services for the people of Warwickshire.”
Councillor June Tandy, Leader of the Labour Group, said: “It is pleasing that the residents of Warwickshire have confidence in their County Council and we must strive for further improvements year by year.”
Councillor Jerry Roodhouse, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, said: “I welcome the results of this survey. We need to ensure that we take this information and use it effectively to help deliver effective and efficient services.”
To find out more about Warwickshire County Council’s public consultations and tell the council how YOU feel about their services, follow the link below, where you can complete an interactive Public Satisfaction Survey.
Full results from the survey will be posted on the website in February.