Your Services - Your Say: Budget Consultation 2015/16

What do you think of our services?

Q2	South Gloucestershire Council is a key provider of public services locally, so we would like your views on some of the main services it provides. How satisfied or dissatisfied are you with each of the following services provided or supported by South Gloucestershire Council?
Q2		Very satisfied	Quite satisfied	Neither satisfied or dissatisfied	Fairly dissatisfied	Very dissatisfied	Don't know / Not used
	Care for older people	Care for older people Very satisfied	Care for older people Quite satisfied	Care for older people Neither satisfied or dissatisfied	Care for older people Fairly dissatisfied	Care for older people Very dissatisfied	Care for older people Don't know / Not used

	Care for physically disabled and those with learning difficulties	Care for physically disabled and those with learning difficulties Very satisfied	Care for physically disabled and those with learning difficulties Quite satisfied	Care for physically disabled and those with learning difficulties Neither satisfied or dissatisfied	Care for physically disabled and those with learning difficulties Fairly dissatisfied	Care for physically disabled and those with learning difficulties Very dissatisfied	Care for physically disabled and those with learning difficulties Don't know / Not used

	Children's social services	Children's social services Very satisfied	Children's social services Quite satisfied	Children's social services Neither satisfied or dissatisfied	Children's social services Fairly dissatisfied	Children's social services Very dissatisfied	Children's social services Don't know / Not used

	Customer services	Customer services Very satisfied	Customer services Quite satisfied	Customer services Neither satisfied or dissatisfied	Customer services Fairly dissatisfied	Customer services Very dissatisfied	Customer services Don't know / Not used

	Environmental health and trading standards	Environmental health and trading standards Very satisfied	Environmental health and trading standards Quite satisfied	Environmental health and trading standards Neither satisfied or dissatisfied	Environmental health and trading standards Fairly dissatisfied	Environmental health and trading standards Very dissatisfied	Environmental health and trading standards Don't know / Not used

	Housing advice services	Housing advice services Very satisfied	Housing advice services Quite satisfied	Housing advice services Neither satisfied or dissatisfied	Housing advice services Fairly dissatisfied	Housing advice services Very dissatisfied	Housing advice services Don't know / Not used

	Highways and roads	Highways and roads Very satisfied	Highways and roads Quite satisfied	Highways and roads Neither satisfied or dissatisfied	Highways and roads Fairly dissatisfied	Highways and roads Very dissatisfied	Highways and roads Don't know / Not used

	Libraries	Libraries Very satisfied	Libraries Quite satisfied	Libraries Neither satisfied or dissatisfied	Libraries Fairly dissatisfied	Libraries Very dissatisfied	Libraries Don't know / Not used

	Local bus services	Local bus services Very satisfied	Local bus services Quite satisfied	Local bus services Neither satisfied or dissatisfied	Local bus services Fairly dissatisfied	Local bus services Very dissatisfied	Local bus services Don't know / Not used

	Parks and open spaces	Parks and open spaces Very satisfied	Parks and open spaces Quite satisfied	Parks and open spaces Neither satisfied or dissatisfied	Parks and open spaces Fairly dissatisfied	Parks and open spaces Very dissatisfied	Parks and open spaces Don't know / Not used

	Planning	Planning Very satisfied	Planning Quite satisfied	Planning Neither satisfied or dissatisfied	Planning Fairly dissatisfied	Planning Very dissatisfied	Planning Don't know / Not used

	Public Health (not including NHS services)	Public Health (not including NHS services) Very satisfied	Public Health (not including NHS services) Quite satisfied	Public Health (not including NHS services) Neither satisfied or dissatisfied	Public Health (not including NHS services) Fairly dissatisfied	Public Health (not including NHS services) Very dissatisfied	Public Health (not including NHS services) Don't know / Not used

	Schools	Schools Very satisfied	Schools Quite satisfied	Schools Neither satisfied or dissatisfied	Schools Fairly dissatisfied	Schools Very dissatisfied	Schools Don't know / Not used

	Sport and leisure facilities	Sport and leisure facilities Very satisfied	Sport and leisure facilities Quite satisfied	Sport and leisure facilities Neither satisfied or dissatisfied	Sport and leisure facilities Fairly dissatisfied	Sport and leisure facilities Very dissatisfied	Sport and leisure facilities Don't know / Not used

	Waste and recycling services	Waste and recycling services Very satisfied	Waste and recycling services Quite satisfied	Waste and recycling services Neither satisfied or dissatisfied	Waste and recycling services Fairly dissatisfied	Waste and recycling services Very dissatisfied	Waste and recycling services Don't know / Not used

	Welfare benefits and council tax reduction for which the council is responsible	Welfare benefits and council tax reduction for which the council is responsible Very satisfied	Welfare benefits and council tax reduction for which the council is responsible Quite satisfied	Welfare benefits and council tax reduction for which the council is responsible Neither satisfied or dissatisfied	Welfare benefits and council tax reduction for which the council is responsible Fairly dissatisfied	Welfare benefits and council tax reduction for which the council is responsible Very dissatisfied	Welfare benefits and council tax reduction for which the council is responsible Don't know / Not used

The Council Savings Programme

Like all local authorities we face significant financial challenges as national austerity measures continue. During the last four years we have reduced our spending by nearly £43m (from a net budget of £190m) through efficiency measures and this has helped us to protect frontline services from spending reductions while delivering better value for money to residents. At the same time we have frozen council tax for the last four years, supporting local residents through the period of austerity.

We now need to reduce our spending by a further £40m by 2019/20 and have already provisionally identified £36m of these savings. This is a significant amount, and will involve far-reaching changes to our role as well as the services we provide. We will become a smaller council, delivering fewer services, and will need to review our priorities to make sure our more limited resources are focused on our ‘core’ activities. At the same time we will look to work more closely with local communities, strengthening and encouraging communities to take greater responsibility for local services to ensure that people's needs are met. Your answers to this survey will help shape the council's decisions in relation to future service provision.

Q3	The council has identified the core services that in future it will focus its limited resources on delivering. How strongly do you agree or disagree with these core service areas?
Q3		Strongly agree	Tend to agree	Neither agree or disagree	Tend to disagree	Strongly disagree	Don't know
	Delivering jobs, homes and infrastructure	Delivering jobs, homes and infrastructure Strongly agree	Delivering jobs, homes and infrastructure Tend to agree	Delivering jobs, homes and infrastructure Neither agree or disagree	Delivering jobs, homes and infrastructure Tend to disagree	Delivering jobs, homes and infrastructure Strongly disagree	Delivering jobs, homes and infrastructure Don't know

	Improving educational outcomes	Improving educational outcomes Strongly agree	Improving educational outcomes Tend to agree	Improving educational outcomes Neither agree or disagree	Improving educational outcomes Tend to disagree	Improving educational outcomes Strongly disagree	Improving educational outcomes Don't know

	Maintaining safe and clean communities	Maintaining safe and clean communities Strongly agree	Maintaining safe and clean communities Tend to agree	Maintaining safe and clean communities Neither agree or disagree	Maintaining safe and clean communities Tend to disagree	Maintaining safe and clean communities Strongly disagree	Maintaining safe and clean communities Don't know

	Closing the gaps - income, education & health	Closing the gaps - income, education & health Strongly agree	Closing the gaps - income, education & health Tend to agree	Closing the gaps - income, education & health Neither agree or disagree	Closing the gaps - income, education & health Tend to disagree	Closing the gaps - income, education & health Strongly disagree	Closing the gaps - income, education & health Don't know

	Safeguarding vulnerable children and adults	Safeguarding vulnerable children and adults Strongly agree	Safeguarding vulnerable children and adults Tend to agree	Safeguarding vulnerable children and adults Neither agree or disagree	Safeguarding vulnerable children and adults Tend to disagree	Safeguarding vulnerable children and adults Strongly disagree	Safeguarding vulnerable children and adults Don't know

	Meeting assessed needs for children and adults	Meeting assessed needs for children and adults Strongly agree	Meeting assessed needs for children and adults Tend to agree	Meeting assessed needs for children and adults Neither agree or disagree	Meeting assessed needs for children and adults Tend to disagree	Meeting assessed needs for children and adults Strongly disagree	Meeting assessed needs for children and adults Don't know

	Please tell us if you think there are any core service priorities missing?

Q4	In the future, the council will need to find ways to make services more affordable as it adjusts to its more limited resources. How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following approaches?
Q4		Strongly agree	Tend to agree	Neither agree or disagree	Tend to disagree	Strongly disagree	Don't know
	Targeting resources on the most vulnerable and people most in need	Targeting resources on the most vulnerable and people most in need Strongly agree	Targeting resources on the most vulnerable and people most in need Tend to agree	Targeting resources on the most vulnerable and people most in need Neither agree or disagree	Targeting resources on the most vulnerable and people most in need Tend to disagree	Targeting resources on the most vulnerable and people most in need Strongly disagree	Targeting resources on the most vulnerable and people most in need Don't know

	Reducing the quality of some services provided	Reducing the quality of some services provided Strongly agree	Reducing the quality of some services provided Tend to agree	Reducing the quality of some services provided Neither agree or disagree	Reducing the quality of some services provided Tend to disagree	Reducing the quality of some services provided Strongly disagree	Reducing the quality of some services provided Don't know

	Increasing fees and charges for some services	Increasing fees and charges for some services Strongly agree	Increasing fees and charges for some services Tend to agree	Increasing fees and charges for some services Neither agree or disagree	Increasing fees and charges for some services Tend to disagree	Increasing fees and charges for some services Strongly disagree	Increasing fees and charges for some services Don't know

	Making more services available online	Making more services available online Strongly agree	Making more services available online Tend to agree	Making more services available online Neither agree or disagree	Making more services available online Tend to disagree	Making more services available online Strongly disagree	Making more services available online Don't know

	Making more efficient use of council assets such as land and buildings	Making more efficient use of council assets such as land and buildings Strongly agree	Making more efficient use of council assets such as land and buildings Tend to agree	Making more efficient use of council assets such as land and buildings Neither agree or disagree	Making more efficient use of council assets such as land and buildings Tend to disagree	Making more efficient use of council assets such as land and buildings Strongly disagree	Making more efficient use of council assets such as land and buildings Don't know

	Scaling back or stop providing some services	Scaling back or stop providing some services Strongly agree	Scaling back or stop providing some services Tend to agree	Scaling back or stop providing some services Neither agree or disagree	Scaling back or stop providing some services Tend to disagree	Scaling back or stop providing some services Strongly disagree	Scaling back or stop providing some services Don't know

	Stopping provision of some discretionary services to protect services to older people and the vulnerable	Stopping provision of some discretionary services to protect services to older people and the vulnerable Strongly agree	Stopping provision of some discretionary services to protect services to older people and the vulnerable Tend to agree	Stopping provision of some discretionary services to protect services to older people and the vulnerable Neither agree or disagree	Stopping provision of some discretionary services to protect services to older people and the vulnerable Tend to disagree	Stopping provision of some discretionary services to protect services to older people and the vulnerable Strongly disagree	Stopping provision of some discretionary services to protect services to older people and the vulnerable Don't know

	Changing working practices to make better use of technology and more efficient ways of working	Changing working practices to make better use of technology and more efficient ways of working Strongly agree	Changing working practices to make better use of technology and more efficient ways of working Tend to agree	Changing working practices to make better use of technology and more efficient ways of working Neither agree or disagree	Changing working practices to make better use of technology and more efficient ways of working Tend to disagree	Changing working practices to make better use of technology and more efficient ways of working Strongly disagree	Changing working practices to make better use of technology and more efficient ways of working Don't know

	Working in partnership and sharing services with other councils and public sector agencies	Working in partnership and sharing services with other councils and public sector agencies Strongly agree	Working in partnership and sharing services with other councils and public sector agencies Tend to agree	Working in partnership and sharing services with other councils and public sector agencies Neither agree or disagree	Working in partnership and sharing services with other councils and public sector agencies Tend to disagree	Working in partnership and sharing services with other councils and public sector agencies Strongly disagree	Working in partnership and sharing services with other councils and public sector agencies Don't know

	Transferring services to other organisations like commercial companies	Transferring services to other organisations like commercial companies Strongly agree	Transferring services to other organisations like commercial companies Tend to agree	Transferring services to other organisations like commercial companies Neither agree or disagree	Transferring services to other organisations like commercial companies Tend to disagree	Transferring services to other organisations like commercial companies Strongly disagree	Transferring services to other organisations like commercial companies Don't know

	Transferring services to other organisations like community groups, social enterprises and town and parish councils	Transferring services to other organisations like community groups, social enterprises and town and parish councils Strongly agree	Transferring services to other organisations like community groups, social enterprises and town and parish councils Tend to agree	Transferring services to other organisations like community groups, social enterprises and town and parish councils Neither agree or disagree	Transferring services to other organisations like community groups, social enterprises and town and parish councils Tend to disagree	Transferring services to other organisations like community groups, social enterprises and town and parish councils Strongly disagree	Transferring services to other organisations like community groups, social enterprises and town and parish councils Don't know

	Encouraging more people to volunteer their time to become involved in the delivery of services	Encouraging more people to volunteer their time to become involved in the delivery of services Strongly agree	Encouraging more people to volunteer their time to become involved in the delivery of services Tend to agree	Encouraging more people to volunteer their time to become involved in the delivery of services Neither agree or disagree	Encouraging more people to volunteer their time to become involved in the delivery of services Tend to disagree	Encouraging more people to volunteer their time to become involved in the delivery of services Strongly disagree	Encouraging more people to volunteer their time to become involved in the delivery of services Don't know

Q5	Please tell us about any other ways that you think the council could save money or provide services more efficiently?

Q6	Please tell us about any other ways in which you think the council could support local communities to deal with these changes.

Q7	What do you think the impact of these changes will have on you, your local community and the services you receive?

Council tax

The council is considering its council tax levels for 2015/16 and future years.
The council has no control over the council tax collected on behalf of the police, fire services, or parish and town councils. Each of these bodies will make their own independent decisions.

The maximum amount the council can raise its council tax by next year is expected to be limited to 2% unless we hold a referendum of residents. South Gloucestershire Council's element of the Council Tax has been frozen for the past four years and the council’s current budget planning assumption is for a council tax freeze for a fifth year in 2015/16, followed by a 2% p.a. increase in subsequent years.
A 2% increase would add about £25 (just under 50p per week) to the average band D annual council tax bill for South Gloucestershire Council services.

To increase council tax above 2% we would need to hold a referendum of residents. The cost of holding a referendum would be approximately £500,000. No council has taken up this option to date.

The government has indicated it will provide the option of a council tax freeze grant (equivalent to a 1% council tax rise) next year. If councils limit their underlying council tax increase to 1%, they will be eligible for the council tax freeze grant and can thereby freeze their council tax levels for 2015/16.

Which of the following options would you prefer?

A council tax freeze in 2015/16. The council would still need to make the savings which have already been identified as part of the council’s £36m savings plan over the next 5 years

A council tax increase of 2% in 2015/16 which could delay by £1m the amount of service savings that need to be made over the year. This would add about £25 to the average band D annual council tax bill for South Gloucestershire Council Services.

A council tax increase of more than 2% in 2015/16. For every extra 1% increase in council tax (approximately an extra £12.50 on the average band D council tax bill) the council would gain an additional £1m in funding to support services. One-off costs of approximately £500,000 for the referendum would be required.

No preference

Don’t know

Your comments

Q17	Please use this space to make any comments or suggestions that you think are relevant.

Q18

Are you responding as?

A local resident

A local business

A local voluntary or community organisation

A parish or town council

Other

	If you are responding on behalf of a group or organisation, please tell us its name.

About you

This section is really important as it helps us to understand more about the people who use council services and may be affected by any changes to the council's budget. Any responses to these questions will remain confidential, individuals will not be identified and personal details will not be published.

Q19	Please tell us your full postcode

Q20	Are you?

Q21	How old are you?

Q22	Do you consider yourself to be disabled?

	Please tell us how any disability impacts on your use of council services

Q23	Please tell us your ethnic origin

Thank you for telling us your views, please press the submit button below to send us your response

Your Services - Your Say: Budget Consultation 2015/16

What do you think of our services?

The Council Savings Programme

Council tax

The council is considering its council tax levels for 2015/16 and future years.
The council has no control over the council tax collected on behalf of the police, fire services, or parish and town councils. Each of these bodies will make their own independent decisions.

To increase council tax above 2% we would need to hold a referendum of residents. The cost of holding a referendum would be approximately £500,000. No council has taken up this option to date.

What do you think of your local area and the council?

Throughout this survey we ask you to think about “your local area”. When answering, please consider your local area to be the area within 15 to 20 minutes walking distance from your home.

Your local area receives services from South Gloucestershire Council. South Gloucestershire Council is responsible for a range of services such as refuse collection, street cleaning, planning, education, social care services and road maintenance.

Your comments

About you

Thank you for telling us your views, please press the submit button below to send us your response

Your Services - Your Say: Budget Consultation 2015/16

What do you think of our services?

The Council Savings Programme

Council tax

The council is considering its council tax levels for 2015/16 and future years.The council has no control over the council tax collected on behalf of the police, fire services, or parish and town councils. Each of these bodies will make their own independent decisions.

To increase council tax above 2% we would need to hold a referendum of residents. The cost of holding a referendum would be approximately £500,000. No council has taken up this option to date.

What do you think of your local area and the council?

Throughout this survey we ask you to think about “your local area”. When answering, please consider your local area to be the area within 15 to 20 minutes walking distance from your home.

Your local area receives services from South Gloucestershire Council. South Gloucestershire Council is responsible for a range of services such as refuse collection, street cleaning, planning, education, social care services and road maintenance.

Your comments

About you

Thank you for telling us your views, please press the submit button below to send us your response

The council is considering its council tax levels for 2015/16 and future years.
The council has no control over the council tax collected on behalf of the police, fire services, or parish and town councils. Each of these bodies will make their own independent decisions.