On an annual basis APSE, using expert polling firm Survation, conducts a public opinion poll to find out what the public really think of local council services. For the past couple of years, we have also asked questions of local councillors. This is helpful in determining differences in perceptions and priorities between councillors and the public they serve. We also use the survey to explore a ‘hot topic' issue which this year focused on asylum accommodation.
So, the results are in. What do they tell us? There is good news for local councils when it comes to resident satisfaction with frontline neighbourhood services scoring highly overall. Satisfaction with waste and recycling is one such service with around three quarters of all residents providing a net satisfaction rating. That is not however the case when it comes to road maintenance and affordable housing, where, perhaps not unsurprisingly, there is general dissatisfaction.
