A STUDY on what residents think about Ellesmere Port and each other will be carried out this autumn.
The Place Satisfaction Survey will also look at people’s perceptions of anti-social behaviour, drunkenness, drugs, respect for others and whether parents should take responsibility for their rowdy children.
The study will cost £16,000 to implement every two years.
It replaces the best value surveys which the borough council has held every three years.
A report to the council’s resources committee says the survey will try to measure, over time, how the lifestyles of residents and the town itself are being improved through the work of local government and its partners. It includes a look at:
Community cohesion: The extent to which people get on and their sense of belonging to their neighbourhood
Civil participation: People’s involvement with their area and the extent to which this can influence a council’s local decisions; their overall satisfaction with their area; how many take part in volunteering and how many residents visit attractions such as museums and art galleries
Crime: perceptions of anti-social behaviour, such as vandalism, nuisance youths, graffiti, noise and litter; the extent to which bad behaviour is dealt with and the extent of local agency understanding; parental responsibility concerning their children’s behaviour; the extent to which people treat each other with respect and consideration; drunken and rowdy behaviour; drug use and drug dealing
People’s awareness of civil protection arrangements
The overall health and wellbeing of residents
Perceptions of those aged over 65 on their health, home and neighbourhood and what support they receive to help them live independent lives
The extent to which local services treat people fairly and equally, with a specific focus on their gender, ethnicity, disability, age, religion and sexual orientation
The report adds: “The Government believes the survey’s worth will be in tracking the changing perceptions of people over time.
“This will then allow the council and its partners to determine whether interventions they have made have led to the right outcomes for local people; ie do they feel happier, healthier and safer.
“The outcomes would then be used to inform future spending decisions; for example whether resources should be targeted in those areas where perceptions of outcome delivery are poor compared to other councils, and/or are deteriorating over time.”
