To consider and comment on the Council’s latest market research exercise with residents on various aspects of community life and service experience.

The Assistant Director Service Development introduced a presentation that outlined the results of the bi-annual residents survey.  Generally, the data compared favourably with national statistics and previous surveys.  The top issues that residents perceived were important in their area included roads, pavements, the level of crime and anti-social behaviour along with lack of police visibility.

In light of the report, a Members queried:-

·         What steps would be taken to tackle and monitor the survey results.  In response, the Assistant Director advised the results would feed into the performance framework and officers would renew efforts to improve services.

·         Concern that the Council’s responsiveness to residents who contact us by telephone was not achieved.  The Executive Member for Adult Social Care advised much had been done to ensure a full complement of contact centre staff was available. However, there was a drive towards on-line communications wherever possible and appealed to Members to recommend this method of communication to residents.

·         How the Council would help to dispel residents’ fear of crime and disorder when this is the role of the Police Force?  In response, the Director of Community Services advised much was being done in partnership to build community resilience in these matters.  The Executive Member for  Assets also advised that Police representatives had attended Councillor Surgeries in the Dunstable area and this had proved successful and helped those residents with concerns.

The Chairman asked that all Members of the Council receive the residents survey and sought assurances that residents can expect the Council to act positively to improve community cohesion in Central Bedfordshire.

RECOMMENDED

1.    That the residents survey be circulated to all Members of the Council.

2.    That the Committee’s concerns on the Council’s responsiveness to residents be referred to the Director of Social Care Health and Housing.

3.    That a report detailing the Council’s response to the residents’ survey be included on the work programme and considered in 6 months.

4.    That following consideration of this report, individual aspects of the survey be submitted to the appropriate Overview and Scrutiny Committee.