The Place Survey - national results announced

Every local authority in England administered a survey of residents to capture local people's views, experiences and perceptions of their area and public services within the area. The Place Survey consisted of 37 questions and was sent to a sample of 5000 Shepway residents in September 2008. Shepway had a good response rate of 54%. The results from the survey questions contribute to 18 statutory National Indicators, each local authority must report on to Government. These indicators provide valuable information of local resident perceptions and will help all public agencies understand the views of local people with the district and take into consideration the views and preferences of residents in service delivery.

Within this context, the Place Survey provides a set of national indicators which will be common to all areas. The national results of the Place Survey have been published today (23 June 2009) and area available from the following website:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/statistics/placesurvey2008

The following gives the headlines from the Place Survey for Shepway District, along with graphs showing how the district compares at the national, regional and county levels for the 18 National Indicators.

Shepway District - Headlines from the Place Survey 2008

About your local area

• 79 % of the population were satisfied with Shepway district as a place to live
• 59 % felt they belong to their immediate neighbourhood

Your local public services

• 25.5 % agreed or strongly agreed that Shepway District Council provided value for money
• 35 % were, taking everything into account, satisfied with the way Shepway District Council runs things

Awareness of civil protection arrangements in local area

• 23 % of the population said that they were very well or fairly well informed about what to do in the event of a large-scale emergency e.g. flooding or human pandemic flu.

Local decision-making

• 22 % felt they could influence decisions in Shepway district
• 27.5 % would like to be more involved in the decisions that affect Shepway district

Helping out

• 23 % had participated in formal volunteering at least once a month in the last twelve months

Getting involved

• In the last 12 months, 12 % of the population had been involved in local decision-making (for example, being a member of a committee or groups relating to local services, education or standing as a local councillor)

Respect and consideration

• 31 % of the population felt that there were problems with people in Shepway district not treating one another with respect and consideration
• 71% felt that they were treated with respect and consideration by local services
• 77 % felt that people from different backgrounds got on well together in Shepway district

Community Safety

• 73 % do not think drunk and rowdy behaviour is a problem in the district; for drug use or drug dealing the figure was 75%
• 25 % felt that police and other local public services sought local people's views on community safety issues; and 24 % felt that these bodies were successfully dealing with these problems.