To present the results of the Residents Survey and actions to be take in next 6 – 12 months.

The Leader introduced the report on behalf of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Central Services, he explained 1,000 Thurrock residents were contacted to take part in telephone interviews; the results gave the Council a new insight into what was important to local people.

Cabinet were notified:

·         69% of residents were satisfied with their local area as a place to live;

·         70% felt that they belong to their local area;

·         61% agreed that their local area was a place where people from different backgrounds get on well together;

·         89% felt safe when outside their local area during the day and;

·         70% of residents were satisfied with waste and recycling services.

Councillor Gledhill continued to explain the results of the survey showed that the important issues to residents were being addressed through Clean it, Cut it, Fill it with 9,000 pole holes already being filled across the borough.

It was mentioned the Council were currently below the LGA benchmark for many of the results, however this was to be looked into and targets set to assist with improvement.

Councillor Hebb welcomed the report and commented that by completing the survey allowed the Council to improve the needs of residents. He continued by stating the survey was due to be repeated, which would highlight if residents expectations had been achieved.

During discussions Members commented the report was a good base line for the Council to improve on. It was further commented that those residents who had taken part in the survey were happy to be contacted if they had rated a service or aspect of the Council unsatisfactory, for further information.

The Leader remarked the results of the survey were positive, in that they outlined required improvements from residents. He further commented that results relating to certain aspects such as safety, could be shared with the Council’s partners such as the Safety Partnership and the Police to shape all services.

Councillor Gledhill suggested that recommendation 1.5 be reworded, so that all Overview and Scrutiny Committees receive the report and have the opportunity to comment on the results. This was agreed by all Cabinet Members.  

RESOLVED:

1.    Cabinet consider the headline results from the Residents Survey as set out in Appendix 1;

2.    Cabinet agree the immediate high level actions as set out at 3.7 and request that detailed action plans are developed in consultation with the relevant Cabinet Member;

3.    Cabinet agree that the results are used to inform the key performance indicators (KPIs) for 2017/18;

4.    Cabinet agree to repeat the Residents Survey in September 2017;

5.    Cabinet invite all Overview and Scrutiny Committees to consider the headline results in Appendix 1 and actions at 3.7.

Reason for Decision - as stated in the report

This decision is subject to call-in