Agenda item

Naveed Mohammed, LSP Manager, Improvement and Development, outlined a report and presentation to inform the Committee of the results of the Slough Attitude Survey.  It was noted that the survey was based on 1511 face to face interviews conducted between the 8^th and 29^th March, 2010 and the report compared the results with the last attitude survey that was held in 2007.  The Committee noted the background and methodology to the survey and it was highlighted that the survey was now carried out on a bi-annual basis and the next one would be conducted in 2012. 

The Committee was advised that satisfaction with SBC had reduced from 61% in 2007 to 57% in 2010 but the number of people who were neither satisfied or dissatisfied had increased by 4%. There was little change to the question “has the way the Council runs things got better or worse” and residents had indicated 76% satisfaction with “Slough as a place to live”.

The Committee noted the results to other survey questions including aspects that required the most improvement and residents’ views of the most important services.  

The Committee thanked the Officer for the comprehensive presentation.   

In the ensuing debate, Members raised a number of comments/questions including the following (response shown in italics):-

• A Member commented that he would have liked like to have seen the format of the form that was used and also to have details in future of how many individuals were interviewed at ward level. 

• Why was the figure of 1150 people chosen for the survey? 

The figure was set in conjunction with the company who did the research and it was likely that the starting figure was 1500. 

• Who would act on the findings of the survey? 

The results were presented to the Local Strategic Partnership and the sustainable community strategy would be assessed to decide whether it needed reviewing following the results of the survey.

·  Was there any merit in repeating the survey?

The officer responded that this was a matter for Members to decide.

·  It was highlighted that the sample was very small and therefore this did not necessarily give an accurate account. 

·  It was felt that it would have been useful to include responses from the residents and tenants association to provide a more balanced report.

Resolved-

(a)  That both the subject matter of the data provided and the overall response figure be broken-down by Ward and supplied to the Committee.

(b)  That the survey figure of 1511 be broken-down by Ward and supplied to the Committee.

(c)  That the Committee be informed of the extent to which the survey sample influenced the Primary School results which showed that (apparently) the importance attached to schooling is relatively low.