Local Councils Briefing Leicestershire’s Future: Consultation Results

1. Local Councils BriefingLeicestershire’s Future: Consultation Results November 2013 Nicole RickardPolicy and Partnerships Team Leader nicole.rickard@leics.gov.uk

2. Current Position • Over the last three years we’ve saved £64m • Government funding consultation over the summer – local government seems to be low priority • National deficit until at least 2018 • Over the next five years, including this one, LCC needs to save £110m • Difficult to forecast income given economic uncertainty • Huge risks and uncertainty…implications of Dilnot report on ASC funding system, health and social care integration etc. • Firm proposals for 2014-15/2015-16, outline proposals for next 2 years • Cross-party Transformation Board established • Specific proposals in development and to be agreed at February Cabinet 2

3. Methodology and Responses • Stakeholder consultation event • Stakeholder feedback survey – 48 responses • Survey for residents • - Online – 2,134 responses • - Special edition of Leicestershire Matters – 3,575 responses • Three resident focus groups - 73 residents • - Charnwood/Melton • - NWL/Hinckley & Bosworth • Blaby/Oadby/ Harborough • Plus a Staff Survey (results available on-line, 1391 responses) • Total responses = 7,147 3

4. Residents 4

5. Q1 & Q2 - Residents £31.5m +50% Midpoint 5

6. 6 Base = 5,650

7. Q5 Council Tax What annual Council Tax increase would you be prepared to pay over the next few years? 69% 19% 7

8. Top 10 codes (accounting for 47% of all comments) Fewer councillors (510) Join up services/unitary authority (338) Reduce transport subsidies (302) Reduce street-lighting and grass cutting (300) Less bureaucracy/inefficiency/waste (282) Protect vulnerable people (274) Reduce number and salary of LCC employees (231) Reduce number and salary of managers (207) Wiser procurement/don’t privatise (206) Issues with survey/concept/questions (186) Residents – ‘Any other comments’ Base = 6,000 points of view In descending order: 8

9. Stakeholders 9

10. Q1 & 2 - Stakeholders 10

11. Stakeholder – commentsMost important outcomes for service usersUniversal outcomesHealth and wellbeing, maintaining highways, culture and heritage, education and learning Targeted outcomesProtecting vulnerable people from harm, reduced isolation, independence, choice, positive transitions into adulthoodWhat doesn’t work wellBureaucracyRed tape, too many meetings, top-heavy, over bureaucratic, too much paperwork, inefficienciesHow can we work differentlyJoint working and pooling resourcesCombine tourist offices and libraries, community hubs, share HR & payroll, more effective procurement processes 11

12. Stakeholder – comments (continued…) How can we help local people help their communities Support volunteersProfessional support, not replacing staff, funding and training, difficult to recruit volunteers, fear of liability Promote responsibilityEncouraging community spirit, teaching responsibility, offering opportunities to young people Reducing demand for services Cannot reduce demand If there is need there then demand cannot be reduced Early Intervention and prevention Teaching responsibility, working with communities, floating support Introducing charging / Raising eligibility criteria Increase prices, how commercial businesses manage peaks 12

13. Residents’ Workshops 13

14. We have a distorted view of our population… 14

15. …and about the range and complexity of Leicestershire County Council’s services Current budget:£717mgross,£356m net Just one is six thought it was over£10m Almost half thought it was no more than£1m So ... why bother to consult with the public? 15

16. 1. Prioritising Services 16

17. Resident Focus Groups – Headline resultsPost discussion Most willing to contemplate cuts Budget decrease Budget increase Opinions more balanced Least willing to contemplate cuts

18. 2. How and why residents change their minds – and where residents are most cautious 18

19. Residents change their mind in the light of more information

20. 3. Attitudes to council tax/the Council generally 20

21. Understanding of vocational qualifications – general public Post-Discussion most participants wanted an increase in council tax Q: When LCC sets the level of council tax next year, which of the following would you prefer it to aim for? Increase council tax to maintain more public services Lower council tax and reduce services No response Keep council tax unchanged for a smaller reduction in services Post-discussion 4% 7%

22. Participants now feel differently about the Council… Changing views at start and end of discussion Feel informed about Council services Feel that Council exceeds their expectations Feel informed about how Council makes spending decisions Satisfied with Council After After After After Before Before Before Before Not informed about Council services Council falls below expectations Dissatisfied with Council Not informed about Council spending

23. Service Delivery: Underlying themes Services are more important than who provides them Geographical boundaries not important Bring services, providers and buildings together Scope for community or trust-based services Potentially greater role for individuals Remove barriers But clear caveats apply to each of these 23

24. Illustrating the communications challenge currently facing councils ‘It was very helpful – perhaps yearly this same talk and info should be given through the media e.g. radio etc, not just [as it usually is] in boring graph form.’ ‘We have had the benefit tonight of understanding the issues. The challenge is getting that out to everyone. The way it was presented to us has made me think completely differently. Before tonight I would say: “Stuff the Council”. But I don’t feel that way now. You have got to get the information out there.’ 24