To advise the Committee how the range of data provided by the survey might inform its future work.

The Committee were advised of the range of data provided by the Herefordshire Satisfaction Survey.

The Senior Research Officer gave a presentation on the Herefordshire Satisfaction Survey, what it was and what information it provided.

The Council carried out a satisfaction survey annually.  Last year 4,000 questionnaires were sent out of which over 2,000 were returned.  1100 returns were required for accuracy.  The questionnaire focused on four themes, namely:

1.      Quality of life

2.      Services

3.      Communications

4.      People

Once the questionnaire results were received and analysed, focus groups with local residents, through Herefordshire Voice, were held to establish the reasons behind significant trends in the questionnaire responses.

Reports were also produced containing the findings of the survey and national comparisons.

Members were informed of the results on a range of best value performance indicators and the way that different types of information could be combined to inform the work of the Council and the way it delivered it’s services.

The Head of Policy and Performance informed Members that they could use Herefordshire Voice to inform their work.  Due to the cost and time required to set up a Herefordshire Voice meeting it was recommended that it was only used for long term projects.

The Chairman stated that the three big issues for residents were generally: crime, health and congestion.  The Senior Research Officer confirmed that these were regularly important issues.

The Committee were informed that responses to each question could be broken down to identify issues that were relevant to individual wards using postcodes but that the match was not perfect.  A Member recalled the Ward profiles that all members had received upon their election to the Council.

In response to a question the Senior Research Officer reported that the findings of the Survey were circulated amongst the Council and its Partners.

A Member asked what Herefordshire Voice was and how it was formulated.  The Committee were informed that 1200 people had been randomly asked to join Herefordshire Voice which should ideally be a representative sample of the local population.  However, the group was currently over represented by older people but steps were being taken to address this.  Questionnaires were sent out 2/3 times a year to the members of Herefordshire Voice to inform the work of the Council.

It was acknowledged as being difficult to recruit younger people into Herefordshire Voice.  Adverts were placed in local cinema magazines and at local colleges.  It was not possible to offer incentives to young people to complete questionnaires for the statutory surveys.  Members felt that if incentives were available then this might encourage young people to participate in Herefordshire Voice and other Council surveys.

The Head of Economic and Community Services informed Members that a teenage lifestyles survey was undertaken annually and a youth service survey every other year.

Members felt that a summary of the research undertaken by the Council would be useful as it would enable them to be informed of what data was available to inform their work.  The Head of Policy and Performance confirmed that this could be provided.

RESOLVED:

That: (a) a summary report of completed research and survey reports be made available for all Members;

and;

 (b) the report be noted as a source to inform future scrutiny work and assist in choosing topics for scrutiny that were of importance to the public.