Council survey shows 50 per cent think it delivers value for money (From Bucks Free Press)

Council survey shows 50 per cent think it delivers value for money

9:50am Saturday 2nd March 2013 in News

HALF of Wycombe residents feel the council provides value for money, given the state of the economy, a council survey found.

Nine out of ten residents in Wycombe are happy with the district as a place to live and the way its run, according to the questionnaire, conducted in October and November 2012.

This was an increase of 6.5 per cent since 2009.

Over 1,100 households responded to the survey out of about 4,000 sent out.

Wycombe District Council reported that overall satisfaction with its management has gone up by 15 per cent since 2009, and now stands at 58.2 per cent.

The perception from residents that the authority is doing a good job and delivering good value for the taxes it receives went up from the last survey, the council said, now being five out of ten. It added 74 per cent of respondents felt informed about how their council tax is spent, with information obtained from a variety of sources.

Cllr Alex Collingwood, Leader of Wycombe District Council, said: "It's great news that local residents are satisfied with the Wycombe district as a place to live. It's also particularly encouraging that the level of satisfaction with how we are running local services has improved by 15 per cent since our last survey in 2009.”

Parking was a service where the level of satisfaction did not match the high level of usage, the council said. Listening to the concerns of local residents and involving residents in local decision making were two areas that have been identified as needing some improvement.

But services that residents are most satisfied with include waste and recycling collections and keeping public land clear of litter, parks and open spaces, Wycombe Swan and electoral services.

Independent researchers BMG carried out the survey and the analysis of the results on the council's behalf.

What do you think of the council as a resident of Wycombe? Leave your comments below.