West Cheshire Together
Working in partnership for local people
Home Page » Our Community survey results
As customer-focused organisations and partners, it is vitally important that we understand the views and priorities of our local community. Central Government currently requires all local authorities to undertake the “Place Survey” every two years - the last survey was conducted in 2008 before local government re-organisation. Many indicators from our Local Area Agreement (LAA) and other Council and partner plans are based on this survey and, as the LAA needs to be monitored annually, the Council’s Research, Intelligence and Consultation team were asked to undertake an interim survey during January and February 2010 called “Our Community”.
The survey asked a random sample of local residents about a range of issues affecting their local area and quality of life, including their views on:
• The local area • The environment • Community safety and anti-social behaviour • Respect and consideration • Information and decision-making • Being involved and participation in activities • Health and wellbeing
The findings of this survey will be used as evidence for future financial policies currently being developed by the Council, for example the Capital Vision and future Budget and spending plans. In addition, a wide range of important future strategies will draw upon the local information gathered, including the new Ageing Strategy, the Local Transport Plan, Community Cohesion Strategy, Affordable Warmth, Volunteering Strategy as well as ‘living’ plans such as the new Sustainable Community Strategy “Together we can Aim High”.
In relation to West Cheshire Together, this work will enable us to:
• monitor key LAA indicators, which are based on the ‘Place Survey’, on an annual basis; • blend this with other partnership work to ‘paint a picture’ of our local communities and improve quality of life; • support partner organisations in their plans and policies; • flag up any areas of under-performance early, so that measures can be put in place as soon as possible; and • understand more about the reasons for any under-performance, to inform the development of partnership plans and policies to address key issues.
A short “key findings” report is available, giving a brief overview of the results as well as a table showing performance against the national indicators collected through the survey. A full report is also available, which shows the results for:-
• All respondents • Area Partnership Boards • Age groups • Males and females
It also contains a series of short ‘spotlights’ highlighting key issues for our Black and Minority Ethnic Community; our Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual community; our Disabled Community; and our disadvantaged community (areas in the top 20% most deprived in England according to the Indices of Deprivation).
The results can be viewed at: http://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/community/research_and_intelligence/publications_information.aspx
For further information, contact Beverley Wilson, Research, Intelligence and Consultation Manager, on 01244 972176 or e-mail: beverley.wilson@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk