SATISFACTION WITH COUNCIL SERVICES

Results released today in the latest annual residents’ survey indicate more Island residents are satisfied with the way the council is running things than they did a year ago.

The findings are an encouraging sign that residents are seeing improvements, but other areas of the survey underline the need for the council to continue to deliver its ambitious change programme.

The survey, which took place between April and May this year among a representative sample of 800 residents, revealed that 10% more residents were satisfied with the way the council is running things and those dissatisfied with the council had decreased by –5% (leading to a net satisfaction up from +9 to +26) compared to 2006.  The survey also showed that residents’ opinion of the council had improved with slightly more likely to speak highly of the council (+2%) and slightly less likely to be critical of the council (-8%).  Indications reveal that this was due to perceptions of an improved management style and the fact that residents were being communicated and consulted with and felt generally better informed about the council’s plans for the future.

Also encouraging were signs that council staff were less likely to be critical of the council (down by 32%), with nearly a quarter stating that management, communications and consultation are good.

However, whilst the survey also indicates that a third of residents feel council services have got better over the last 12 months, nearly half of all residents feel services are unchanged and that the council needs to focus in particular on road maintenance, rubbish collection and recycling, tackling crime, education and public amenities.

Recognition of the council’s One Island programme was also good with nearly half of all Island residents aware of the programme despite the fact that the survey was carried out just 2 months after it’s launch.  Issues of respect, pride and value for money still remain critical issues for residents but the council’s efforts to tackle speeding motorists, noisy neighbours and parents taking responsibility for their children were all seen to be having a positive effect.  However, issues of respect remain a concern, particularly vandalism and graffiti, drugs, people being drunk or rowdy in public places and teenagers hanging around on the streets.

In spite of this, it did not appear to dampen residents’ opinion that the Island is a good place to work and to invest in, or their confidence that council services will get better over the next year (41%) and the council would continue its strong leadership role (up 4% to 52%).

Council leader Andy Sutton said, “This is a welcome sign that the work we are doing to change our services on the Island for local residents is starting to take effect.  However, we cannot afford to be complacent and there are still too many residents, who believe we have a long way to go to meet their expectations.  We are determined over the next year to meet those needs and to deliver our promises and I look forward to seeing the results of our progress and evidence of this in next year’s survey.”

Chief Executive, Joe Duckworth said, “The findings of this year’s survey are promising, especially given there has only been a nine month gap since the last time we surveyed residents, but there is a clear message that we need to continue to deliver improvements to services.  It is too soon to see the full impact of our One Island programme and I would hope that residents will start to see over the coming weeks and months where we are delivering genuine change and improvement to our services and to Island life.”

A full copy of the report is available at the following link:
http://www.iwight.com/home/residents_survey/default1.asp