The Lead Member for Environmental Services, (Including Parking, Flooding, Housing and Performance Management) introduced the report that outlined the detailed results from the council’s externally commissioned 2018/19 survey of residents, using Local Government Association best practice.

Cabinet were informed that the survey, conducted independently by DJS research via telephone and in person, asked residents a range of questions spanning three categories; Local Government Association core questions, living in the local area and council services.

The results from the survey showed that the council’s results in the core questions for LGA benchmarking exceed the most recent LGA national satisfaction levels in every case where there was comparable data.  This included an 88% satisfaction rating for satisfaction with your local area, 74% of residents being satisfied with the council, 72% feeling informed by the council, 68% having trust in the council, 66% feeling the council was responsive and 63% feeling the council offered best value for money.  These were above LGA benchmarked ratings.

The results showed that nearly three quarters of residents were satisfied with the way the council runs things, and almost two thirds agree that it provided value for money, two thirds felt that the council acted on the concerns of residents and almost three quarters agreed that the council keeps them informed.

When residents were asked to describe what they liked about their local area, they mentioned parks and green spaces, the picturesque setting and easy access to the town as well as facilities, amenities and services.

Parks and green spaces scored highly, with 87% very satisfied or fairly satisfied with the 60 parks and open spaces across the borough.

The survey results also showed that council services were praised, with the weekly recycling and refuse collection seeing 88% of residents ‘very’ or ‘fairly’ satisfied with the service.

The Lead Member for Culture and Communities reported that she was delighted with the 87% satisfaction rating for parks and open spaces as the team worked very hard and there was huge investment in this area.

The Principal Member for Neighbourhood Planning and Ascot and the Sunnings highlighted the excellent satisfaction rating in the south of the Royal Borough and that residents spoke positively about the Royal Borough. She highlighted the satisfaction in the weekly refuse collection especially when compared to neighbouring authorities.

The Chairman mentioned that the report was important in helping the administration develop policy and budget preparation.  The budget proposals for next year had taken into account the results from the survey with continued investment in roads, weekly waste and recycling collections and parks and open spaces which reflects what we have been told by our residents as being important to them.  Residents had informed that safety, policing and low crime were important to them so there was continued investment in these areas with wardens and cctv.  It was important to also get the message to our residents on areas such as value for money especially as the Royal Borough had the lowest council tax outside of London. 

The Lead Member for Highways, Transport and Windsor informed that 43% of residents cited highways as the thing they most wanted to see improved and therefore he was pleased to be presenting a report tonight proposing further investment in this area.  The Chairman also mentioned that over £10.4 million would be spent this year with a proposed £12 million next year.

The Lead Member for Culture and Communities reported that the report showed that making every contact with the Council matter was an area for continued improvement and she would be working on this area.

Resolved unanimously: that Cabinet notes the report and:

i)          Endorses the detailed survey results report (appendix A) and;

ii)         Delegates authority to relevant Directors / Heads of Service, in conjunction with Lead Members, to use the results in evidenced based decision making to deliver the council’s strategic priorities.