The Local Council, the Local Area and Quality of Life
When was the survey carried out?
February 2013
What was the purpose of this consultation?
To consult the residents of Wrexham on their perceptions of Wrexham County Borough
Council, their local area and quality of life.
Did you provide feedback to participants?
Feedback was given to members of the Peoples Voice panel.
How was the consultation publicised?
The consultation was carried out through the Peoples Voice.
How many responses did the consultation receive?
314urveys were completed yielding a response rate of 56%
How did WCBC use the results and what, if any, changes will be made following this
consultation?
The results show that accessing Council services has become easier for customers over the past
few years and since both the Council One Stop Shop and Contact Centre has been developed.
We will continue to extend the services available through these Centres. We will also look to
expand the services on our website with the aim of further increasing ease of access.
Your Local Council
• Around two thirds (66%) of residents are satisfied with the way WCBC runs things,
whereas only 15% are dissatisfied
Very dissatisfied
2%
Very satisfied
Fairy dissatisfied
7%
13%
Neither satisfied
nor dissatisfied
19%
Fairy satisfied
59%
• A similar proportion (65%) of residents agree that the Council provides good quality
services; 13% disagree.
Tend to
disagree
11%
Strongly
disagree
2%
Strongly agree
6%
Neither agree
nor disagree
21%
Tend to agree
60%
• Panel members were asked which, if any, of the services provided by WCBC they
thought were particularly good. The most frequently given responses include waste and
recycling services and libraries.
• Panel members were also asked which, if any, of the services provided by WCBC they
thought were particularly poor. Frequently given responses include maintenance of
roads and highways, planning and street cleaning.
•
Two fifths (40%) of residents agree that the Council is good at letting people know how
well it is performing, and a quarter (25%) disagree that this is the case. However, around
three fifths (61%) of residents agree that they would like more information on how well
the Council is performing; less than a fifth (15%) disagree with this.
The Council is good at letting local people
know how w ell its performing (307)
5
I w ould like more information on how w ell
the Council is performing (297)
35
19
0%
Strongly agree
35
21
42
20%
Tend to agree
23
40%
Neither agree nor disagree
4
13
60%
80%
Tend to disagree
Strongly disagree
• Almost a third (31%) of residents are satisfied with the opportunities currently provided
by Wrexham County Borough Council to take part in local decision making. However, a
slightly greater proportion of residents (33%) are dissatisfied with the opportunities
currently provided.
Very dissatisfied
8%
Fairy dissatisfied
25%
Very satisfied
5%
Fairy satisfied
26%
Neither satisfied
nor dissatisfied
36%
• With regards to local decision making by Wrexham County Borough Council, less than a
fifth (18%) of residents agree that they can influence decisions affecting the local area
while more than half (56%) disagree. Around a quarter of residents agree that the
Council takes account of residents views when making decisions (26%) and that the
Council acts on the concerns of residents (24%).
3
100%
• However, almost three quarters (73%) of residents agree that they would like to be
more involved in the decisions the Council makes which affect the local area; only one in
twenty (5%) disagrees with this.
I can influence decisions affecting the
local area (302)
4
The Council acts on the concerns of local
2
residents (297)
15
0%
Strongly agree
39
22
The Council takes account of residents'
2
view s w hen making decisions (295)
I w ould like to be more involved in the
decisions the Council makes w hich affect
the local area (306)
26
17
40
24
26
26
22
10
36
12
51
20%
Tend to agree
22
40%
60%
Neither agree nor disagree
80%
Tend to disagree
4 1
100%
Strongly disagree
• Around three quarters (74%) of residents have voted in a general, national or local
election during the previous twelve months, and more than two fifths (42%) had signed
a petition. Between a fifth and two fifths of residents have given any unpaid help to any
groups, clubs or organisations (37%), contacted a local politician (35%), participated in
formal or informal learning (31%) or contacted a Local Government Officer (21%).
However, 15% of residents have not participated in any of the listed activities during the
last 12 months.
15
None of the above
5
Taken part in a public rally or demonstration
15
Attended a Public Meeting
21
Contacted a Local Government Officer
31
Participated in formal or informal learning
Contacted a Local Politician (Councillor, Assembly Member or Member of
Parliament)
35
37
Given any unpaid help to groups, clubs or organisations
42
Signed a petition
74
Voted in a general, national or local election
0
20
40
60
• With regard to accessing Council services , around four fifths (81%) of residents agree
that they find it easy to get in touch with the Council. Between three fifths and three
quarters agree that they find it easy to access information about the Council (72%), that
they find it easy to access specific services within the Council (63%) and that the Council
treats them with dignity and respect (61%).
80
The Council treats me w ith dignity and
respect (293)
12
I find it easy to access specific services
w ithin the Council (301)
9
I find it easy to access information about
the Council (309)
49
28
6
54
24
10
15
I find it easy to get in touch w ith the
Council (307)
57
16
20
0%
Strongly agree
11
40%
Tend to agree
60%
Neither agree nor disagree
3
7
61
20%
5
5
6
2
80%
Tend to disagree
100%
Strongly disagree
Your local area
• More than three fifths of residents agree that their local area is free from graffiti and
­
vandalism (71%), is safe for children to play outside (63%) and has a good transport
­
system (63%).
­
• However, less than half of residents agree that their local area is free from litter and
­
rubbish (49%) and their local area is free from heavy traffic (36%). More than two fifths
­
(44%) disagree that their local area is free from heavy traffic.
­
My local area is free from heavy traffic (310)
My local area is free from litter and rubbish (311)
My local area is w ell maintained (312)
People in my local area are w illing to help their neighbours (300)
6
30
10
My local area is free from graffiti and vandalism (308)
39
9
15
25
45
17
Tend to agree
21
6
14
12
53
18
20
54
20%
14
19
44
10
16
20
20
0%
Strongly agree
27
12
45
My local area has a good transport system (307)
My local area is safe for children to play outside (298)
21
40%
Neither agree nor disagree
60%
Tend to disagree
6
12
8
16
80%
6
5
5
100%
Strongly disagree
Your quality of life
• Three quarters (75%) of residents are satisfied with Wrexham County Borough as a
place to live, whereas only 1 in 10 (10%) are dissatisfied.
Fairy dissatisfied
6%
Very dissatisfied
4%
Very satisfied
20%
Neither satisfied
nor dissatisfied
15%
Fairy satisfied
55%
• 7 in 10 (70%) residents rate the quality of life in Wrexham County Borough as good. 13%
of residents rate the quality of life in Wrexham County Borough as poor.
Fairly poor
12%
Very poor
Very good
1%
12%
Neither good nor
poor
17%
Fairly good
58%
• Around half (48%) of residents feel the quality of life in Wrexham County Borough has
stayed the same over the past four years; however nearly two fifths (37%) feel it has got
worse, and only 15% feel it has got better.
Better
15%
Worse
37%
Stayed the same
48%
• When asked what would improve the quality of life in Wrexham County Borough, the
most frequently given responses include improving the town centre, particularly the
shops; improving roads and road repairs; and better parking facilities.
•
Overall, nearly half (47%) of residents rate Wrexham County Borough as a good place to
visit, although nearly a third (31%) rate it as poor in this respect.
Very poor
7%
Very good
14%
Fairly poor
24%
Fairly good
34%
Neither good nor
poor
21%