Issue - meetings

The Leader of the Council submitted a report that introduced the results of the Residents Survey undertaken in 2015.  This was undertaken every other year in order to seek the views of residents as part of a countywide survey.  The full results of the survey would be used as part of the financial and business planning process and were presented as Essential Reference Paper ‘B’.

Members were provided with a detailed summary of the survey results and were advised that the report provided a useful companion to the results of previous surveys.  Councillor D Andrews commented on whether the survey represented value for money as the results were not fed into decision making processes.

Councillor P Phillips queried whether a shift to online media would give the Authority earlier access to real time data that could be acted upon more quickly and efficiently.  There was general agreement from Members that more could be done with the existing results and future surveys would be better conducted in an online forum or utilising multiple media formats.

The Chief Executive stated that the survey was of its time and it did take a long time to get the results.  She advised that once the public could access more Council services online then it would be easier to get feedback in this manner from customers.

Members received the report and agreed that Officers should explore a channel shift to facilitate a rethink in terms of engagement and consultation to encourage the gathering of more meaningful survey responses.  Officers were also asked to report back to Corporate Business Scrutiny Committee once they had considered a number of more appropriate methods of communication for future resident surveys.

RESOLVED – that (A) the report be received;

(B)   Officers explore a channel shift to facilitate a rethink in terms of engagement and consultation to encourage the gathering of more meaningful survey responses; and

(C)   Officers report back to Corporate Business Scrutiny Committee once they had considered a number of more appropriate methods of communication for future resident surveys.