Priorities, communication and feedback

We asked the East Sussex Residents’ Panel, in a survey, how they would rank the County Council’s priorities and for their views on information about the council, communication and feedback.

Response rate

395 people responded to the survey – a 52% response rate. Compared with the full panel, a higher proportion of older people responded.

Results

• Crime and the fear of crime, minimising council tax increases and improving services to older people were the highest priorities for Panel members.
• Two thirds of residents appreciate the Council has a difficult job in setting council tax levels and balancing budgets.
• Residents are very interested in know more about how the Council spends its money.
• Top choices for accessing information were talking direct to a councillor, followed by the Council’s magazine for residents.
• A third of residents had visited the Council’s website. Panel members were most interested in news and information about their local community and council, but less interested in paying for services online.
• Residents were divided about how informed they felt about services.
• 40% of Panel members believe there are not enough opportunities to get involved in discussions about priorities and budget setting.

Your impact

• A summary of the results went to the Council’s Cabinet on 1 February 2005. Consultation on the Council’s budget and priorities was also highlighted at the full County Council meeting on 22 February 2005.
• Panel members’ views appear to confirm that the Council’s priorities do reflect public opinion.
• The Council has taken on board residents’ concerns about rising council tax bills. It has announced a council tax increase of 4.2% for 2005/06, the lowest increase for 10 years.

• The June 2005 edition of Your County (the council's residents' magazine) featured a special section on how the Council spends its budget.

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Priorities, Communication and Feedback (964k) Findings from the East Sussex Residents’ Panel about how they would rank the county council’s priorities, and their views on information about the council, communication and feedback.