Normal version
Your Services - Your Say: Budget Consultation 2015/16
What do you think of our services?
Q1
In the last year have you used any of the following services funded by the council? (Please tick all that apply)
Care for older people
Care for physically disabled and those with learning difficulties
Customer services e.g. one stop shop
Environmental health and trading standards
Planning
Public health (not including NHS services)
Schools
Children's social services
Highways / roads
Waste and recycling services
Local bus services
Sport and leisure facilities
Libraries
Parks and open spaces
Housing advice services
Welfare and council tax reduction for which the council is responsible
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?
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?
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?
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.
Q8
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
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.
Q9
Overall, how satisfied or dissatisfied are you with your local area as a place to live?
Very satisfied
Fairly satisfied
Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
Fairly dissatisfied
Very dissatisfied
Don't know
Q10
Over the past 2 years, do you feel that South Gloucestershire has become a better place to live, is the same or is worse?
Better
The same
Worse
Don't know
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.
Q11
Overall, how satisfied or dissatisfied are you with the way South Gloucestershire Council runs things?
Very satisfied
Fairly satisfied
Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
Fairly dissatisfied
Very dissatisfied
Don't know
In considering the next question, please think about the range of services South Gloucestershire Council provides to the community as a whole, as well as the services your household uses. It does not matter if you do not know all the services South Gloucestershire Council provides to the community. We would like your general opinion.
Q12
To what extent do you agree or disagree that South Gloucestershire Council provides value for money?
Strongly agree
Tend to agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Tend to disagree
Strongly disagree
Don't know
Q13
To what extent do you agree or disagree that South Gloucestershire Council keeps you informed about the services it provides?
Strongly agree
Tend to agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Tend to disagree
Strongly disagree
Don't know
Q14
To what extent do you agree or disagree that South Gloucestershire Council keeps you informed about any proposals for change?
Strongly agree
Tend to agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Tend to disagree
Strongly disagree
Don't know
Q15
To what extent do you think South Gloucestershire Council acts on the concerns of local residents?
A great deal
A fair amount
Not very much
Not at all
Don't know
Q16
How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
I can influence decisions affecting my local area.
Strongly agree
Tend to agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Tend to disagree
Strongly disagree
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?
--Click Here--
Male
Female
Prefer not to say
Q21
How old are you?
--Click Here--
16 to 24
25 to 34
35 to 44
45 to 54
55 to 64
65 to 75
Over 75
Prefer not to say
Q22
Do you consider yourself to be disabled?
--Click Here--
Yes
No
Prefer not to say
Please tell us how any disability impacts on your use of council services
Q23
Please tell us your ethnic origin
--Click Here--
Arab
Asian/Asian British - Bangladeshi
Asian/Asian British - Chinese
Asian/Asian British - Indian
Asian/Asian British - Other
Asian/Asian British - Pakistani
Black/African/Caribbean/Black British - African
Black/African/Caribbean/Black British - Caribbean
Black/African/Caribbean/Black British - Other
Gypsy or Traveller
Mixed/multiple ethnic group - Other
Mixed/multiple ethnic group - White & Asian
Mixed/multiple ethnic group - White & Black African
Mixed/multiple ethnic group - White & Black Caribbean
White - English / Welsh / Scottish / Northern Irish / British
White - Other
White Irish
Other
Prefer not to say
Thank you for telling us your views, please press the submit button below to send us your response
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