Satisfaction at five-year high but trams take toll

Published on Wednesday 22 February 2012 12:08

THE number of people who are satisfied with the management of their neighbourhood has reached a five-year high, new figures have revealed.

Nearly three quarters of Edinburgh residents said their local area was well run, with the highest level on record – 53 per cent – saying they were “very satisfied”.

However, fewer than half of those questioned said they were happy with city management overall, with the handling of the tram project the most common complaint.

Poor use of public funds, general mismanagement, high council tax and issues with the quality of pavements and roads were among the complaints reported as part of this year’s Edinburgh People’s Survey.

Satisfaction levels have varied between 35 per cent and 57 per cent over the past five years, with 46 per cent satisfied with performance in 2011.

The survey, which involved face-to-face interviews with 5000 city dwellers towards the end of last year and cost around £50,000, is one of the largest of its kind in the UK.

Residents were less satisfied with the way the city council has dealt with community safety than in recent years.

Satisfaction with the way vandalism and graffiti is handled fell from 83 per cent in 2009 to 71 per cent in 2011, while the figures for tackling antisocial behaviour fell from 75 per cent to 67 per cent.

Despite the drops the figures are an improvement overall on the last five years. Council leader Jenny Dawe said: “I’m very pleased to see that satisfaction with how we are providing vital services is increasing overall.

“This is thanks to the efforts made by the whole council to keep the city clean, green and safe, as well as the investment we have made in facilities and support for children and vulnerable people.

“We know that the tram project has an impact on how people feel about the council but I’m confident that the recent progress made will show itself in future surveys.”

“We also responded to public feedback in our recent budget by investing in their priorities. However, we will continue to work hard, especially on how we communicate with our customers.”

Overall, those living in nine out of the city’s 12 neighbourhood partnership areas were happier with the way they were run.

Council chiefs said they are keen to improve communication with city residents. Exit polls of customers who had just received a service from the council were high, at around 96 per cent.

Alastair Maclean, director of corporate governance, said: “Our neighbourhood management appears to be working well. However, we do need to communicate more effectively at a corporate level and continue to follow through on the priorities identified.”

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Comments

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25

Aristotle

Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 12:53 PM

This is totally meaningless as we are not given the questions asked or the responses available - any market researcher will tell you that a negative or positive result can be obtained according to the question asked and way it is asked. Loaded questions and weighted answers can usually give the answer the survey commissioner wants,

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24

Uncle Buck

Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 12:06 PM

Nearly three quarters of Edinburgh residents said their local area was well run, with the highest level on record – 53 per cent – saying they were “very satisfied”. From the choices of very satisfied, extremely satisfied and totally satisfied!!

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23

Maurice the Dolphin

Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 11:21 PM

Thought the SNP Scottish Govt. stuck their neb in and had taken control of the trams fiasco and that all was on track now so to speak?

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22

TramStoker

Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 07:24 PM

Jenny Doh does it again: Spends our money on getting what she wants to hear, not what the citizens actually think. Cloud Cuckoo Land is getting a bad name from her continued residence there. Wake up, pack your bags and GO! Dawe has more chance of being hit by a tram than reality hitting her. Constant SideKick Transport Supremo Muckenzie also believes Embra punters are well chuffed with the bright transport future for the city. Jenny & Co. of Team Edinburgh remember the Official Dope Testing date of 6th May 2012, you will all be found out to be positive.

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21

KeithBraidwood

Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 05:36 PM

This report is also on the Council's own website (http:www.edinburgh.gov.uknewsarticle804public_welcome_improvements_to_council_services). There is also the opportunity to add comments which, incidentally, I have just done. They may ignore the comments on this site but those on their own site will at least be seen if not actively dealt with. You are required to add your own email address so please do not comment if you are not prepared to back it up should you be contacted.

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20

dieselmooth

Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 05:22 PM

"issues with the quality of pavements and roads" - ha ha, understatement of the century - bottom line they are in appalling condition, with the roads especially having become death traps in places.

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19

Leamington Lift Bridge

Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 05:18 PM

Trams are the best thing to happen to Edinburgh in years

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18

searchanddestroy

Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 03:52 PM

Despite the drops the figures are an improvement overall on the last five years. Council leader Jenny Dawe said: “I’m very pleased to see that satisfaction with how we are providing vital services is increasing overall. .................................... Despite being told she was a welcome as a doze in brothel delusional fool Jenny Dawe said: “I’m very pleased to see that satisfaction with how we are providing vital services is increasing overall.

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17

Slateford

Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 03:39 PM

#15, unfortunately Dawe and Co will all be elected again in May, that's why she's jumped to the Morningside ward, if she thought she'd not be elected then she'd not be standing at all.

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16

ahmnaedaftyahmajambo

Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 03:37 PM

Dear jennie dawe please take a wee peek at the poll results on the right of this page ---- makes your poll look a wee bit iffy but then off course if you poll your golf club friends then ask the real public -- i rest my case

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15

ahmnaedaftyahmajambo

Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 03:28 PM

time for dawe and all her anus kissing followers to stop wasting our money and stop the back pattingpetting of each other remember you lot are cutting staff and wages at ground level,expecting better results and still claiming to be a great leadership the elections cant come soon enough as dawe and co have been sussed and edinburgh will be well rid

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14

keyser soze

Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 03:26 PM

The Evening News had a survey within its IT Dept. and they were very satisfied with the website.

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13

Afredo Garcia

Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 03:09 PM

Is anybody in that picture actually working rather than surveying the work? I think we should be told.

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12

KeithBraidwood

Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 03:04 PM

People tend to be a bit less outspoken when speaking to someone face-to-face. I agree that an opinion survey would have been more suitable. Perhaps a random survey to a certain number of households within either a council ward or a postcode giving recipients the choice of remaining anonymous or if further information was needed the opportunity to add their email address or other contact details. It should be borne in mind that the figure of 5,000 is less than 1% of the city's population so does not represent a worthwhile section of views. Even an online survey would have been much better than face-to-face interviews.

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11

Max a milllion

Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 02:12 PM

£50k ?? Unbelievable waste of public money on a meaningless survey of people who are obviously living in a different city to me. Must be using up those millions that they found stashed behind a council sofa for a rainy day just before the election. I think the people of Edinburgh will see through this one! Time for change!

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