Place Survey Workshop

1. Place Survey Workshop 5th August 2008 Phil Challoner Communications Manager Paul Wright Head of Communities & Regulatory Services Chris Wright Principal Research Officer, Research Sandwell

2. Opinions are made to be changed – or how is truth to be got at? Lord Byron

3. Communities in Control A key government driver is about putting citizens and communities in control: Examples include: • Community Empowerment Action Plan and White Paper • Policing Green Paper

4. What can we do? Need to co-ordinate action on two fronts • Service Quality • Reputation Management And consider • drivers for improving performance and confidence in the council and its partners • targeting our resources • key factors that will influence the outcomes of this and other surveys

5. Comprehensive Area Assessment 3 key questions: • How well do local priorities express community needs and aspirations? • How well are the outcomes and improvements needed being delivered? • What are the prospects for future improvement?

6. Evidence to support CAA Might include: • Views of service users, residents, community groups, third sector organisations, other stakeholders • Self-evaluation • National Indicator set and other nationally available data • Local performance management information • Inspection, regulation and audit findings • Other intelligence or briefings

7. Influencing Satisfaction Surveys such as the Place Survey and other operational data can help us understand satisfaction levels across the Borough • All services have a part to play in influencing overall satisfaction and perceptions of the borough • The LGUSS (or BVPI survey) has shown us the key drivers for residents’ satisfaction • Evidence shows that by targeting communities or geographical areas where improvements are necessary, we can improve satisfaction scores

8. Factors driving satisfaction

9. Satisfaction with the way the Authority runs things

10. The Place Survey • Replaces the BVPI Satisfaction Surveys • A single survey about Place • not specific to any one agency or service • not specific to any particular client group • First survey will be carried out in Autumn 2008, and every 2 years after that • Sandwell have commissioned Ipsos MORI to carry out the survey on our behalf

11. Methodology Very similar to the BVPI general survey • Run by Councils • Postal methodology • 1100 responses required • Post Office small users address file (PAF) will form the sampling frame • The survey begins on 29th September

12. Questionnaire • Questions will collect data for 18 of the National Indicators • Topics covered include satisfaction with the area as a place to live, voluntary work, ASB, and health • Other surveys will collect data for a number of other NIs • Additional classificatory questions will enable analysis for groups within the population and areas of the borough

13. Influencing NIs • Service improvements need to be taking place this summer • Not just about “playing the game” – more about real changes that are sustainable • Probably a number of NIs where your service has a role to play • A number of these indicators form part of the LAA, and all 18 have a role in CAA

14. Overall Satisfaction

15. Community

16. Governance

17. Engagement & Participation

18. ASB

19. Health & Service Delivery

20. Useful Websites • Performance Portal on the Council’s intranet • www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/placesurveymanual0809 • www.audit-commission.gov.uk • www.communities.gov.uk/localgovernment/ • www.researchsandwell.org.uk

21. Workshop 1 How will you and your service area influence residents’ opinion of Sandwell?

22. Workshop 2 Where should we be targeting our resources for optimum effect?