The results of a survey show that residents in Great Yarmouth are happier with the services provided by the Borough Council, especially cleaner streets.

The Council conducts a user satisfaction survey every three years under Government legislation, to help plan for the future by gathering resident’s opinions on the quality of local public services.

A general questionnaire was sent to 3,000 randomly selected households in September by independent research agency IPSOS MORI. Those receiving them were asked to reply by November 30.

The questionnaire asks for comments on satisfaction levels on topics as diverse as waste collection and recycling, cleanliness of the Borough, and cultural and recreational facilities.

The level of general satisfaction with the Council’s services overall has risen by five per cent to 43 per cent, a result which compares well with most local authorities in Norfolk who have carried out the same survey.

But the largest leap has come in the standard of street cleaning which has risen from 43 per cent three years ago to 63 per cent.

GYB Services, which works with the Council to keep the Borough clean, has a regular programme of street cleaning, and its Dynamic Environmental Response Team (DERT) targets areas to provide a deep-clean service which not only clears rubbish, it cleans and weeds pavements and gutters.

“Residents and business owners regularly thank the Council’s cleaners and DERT team for their hard work,” said the Council’s Leader Barry Coleman.

“The result underlines the finding of a second survey carried out through a citizen’s panel which asked people to prioritise the services given by the council. Top of the list was street cleaning followed by refuse collection.”

In the main survey, satisfaction with recycling rose four per cent to 56 per cent which is probably a reflection on the twin wheel-bin collection system introduced over the last two years which encourages householders to recycle reusable waste including paper and cardboard, food and drink cans and plastic bottles.

A fall of three percent to 73 per cent in satisfaction with waste collection could be a result of the same system which a minority of people have not been keen to adopt. But it still illustrates that three-quarters of the Borough is happy with the waste collection service.

Sport and leisure facilities, museums and galleries all received a pat on the back from the community.

“It is heartening to see that we have raised the overall satisfaction by five per cent,” added Barry Coleman. “And that specific services such as street cleaning have risen quite dramatically.

“All of the areas covered in the survey are key to giving residents the services they need, and the findings help shape future decisions.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Council’s officers who have worked hard over the last three years to bring about this success.”

The results will appear in the Council’s Best Value Performance Plan which is due to be published by the end of June 2007. They will also appear on the Council’s website www.great-yarmouth.gov.uk.

For further information contact:

Council Leader Barry Coleman on 01493 740782 or e-mail bgc@great-yarmouth.gov.uk
Chief Executive Richard Packham on 01493 846301, e-mail rwp@great-yarmouth.gov.uk.

For details of how the survey is conducted call Corporate Services Officer Colin Rowland on 01493 846168, e-mail crr@great-yarmouth.gov.uk.