Laura Sharman 03 July 2014

People unhappy with how councils target spending, says research

People are dissatisfied with the way councils target their spending, with a new survey suggesting town halls are failing to identify local priorities.

The research conducted by Localise, the consumer profiling arm of DJS Research, found that only a quarter of people believe their local council had a good understanding of its residents. Nearly half (43%) felt councils did not target services in a way which best suited them.

When asked to what extent they agreed with the statement ‘my local council focuses its budget on the services which matter most to local people’ only 3% ‘strongly agreed’. Two-fifths (39%) disagreed with the statement, with a quarter agreeing.

The research also found support for councils moving their communications channels to a more online approach, with 52% in favour of this move if savings could be used to fund other services.

Alasdair Gleed, head of Localise and public sector research at DJS Research, said: ‘At a time when local councils are being asked to make large percentage savings year on year, communications channel shifting is something which has the potential to provide a better service at a reduced cost.

‘These findings show that the majority of people are dissatisfied with current council performance, but also that there is a large minority who are unsure how their council performs.

‘This represents an opportunity for councils to look at their communications policies holistically in order to think about how successes can be better communicated, how opinions can be better gathered, and how this can be done cost-effectively to improve services in other areas.’

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Housing Assurance Service Manager

Kirklees Metropolitan Council
£55,675 - £56,649
We’re building a brand-new assurance team in our Homes & Neighbourhoods service Kirklees, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Kirklees Metropolitan Council

Trainee Public Health Practitioner

Kirklees Metropolitan Council
£24,404 - £24,790
Working within the Kirklees Public Health Improvement team Kirklees, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Kirklees Metropolitan Council

Climate Change Officer

Kirklees Metropolitan Council
£40,476 - £42,708
Are you a passionate and enthusiastic Climate Change Officer Kirklees, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Kirklees Metropolitan Council

Transition Home Manager

Durham County Council
Grade 13 £45,718 - £49,764 (Pay Award Pending)
Could you support young people to realise their individual potential and prepare them for their journey towards independence. NOT JUST A PLACE OF WOR Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

SEND and Inclusion Senior Specialist Support Worker (Communication and Interaction Team)

Durham County Council
Grade 8 £31,586 - £35,235 (Pay Award Pending)
We are recruiting a SEND & Inclusion Senior Specialist Support Worker to join our Specialist SEND & Inclusion Team. We would be particularly intereste Spennymoor
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner