Thanet District Council is asking 6,000 residents to tell them what they think about the services the authority as part of an annual survey.
Residents, whose addresses have been selected at random, are being asked for their views on the area and key council services. The survey asks how they would like the council to keep them informed and how satisfied they are living in their local neighbourhood. It also asks residents if a service they use were to be reduced or cut, which of the range of options available to the council they would be most willing to support.
Feedback gathered from the survey will be used to monitor residents’ satisfaction with key council services and to help to make improvements.
The council has seen significant funding cuts of £5 million from Central Government over the past five years, so the views will be used to understand local priorities as part of the council’s budget process.
Of the total council tax paid by Thanet residents, to county, district and parish councils, police and Kent Fire and Service, the district council receives just 13p in every £1. That money is used to help fund more than 30 different services including the crematorium, harbour, bin collections, cleansing of beaches, streets and parks, environmental health, planning, housing and tourism.
Thanet District Council’s Cabinet Member for Financial Services and Estates, Cllr Rob Yates, said: “Once again we are seeking residents’ views at a critical time when funding cuts are still having a significant impact on the council’s budget. By completing the survey, residents can help the council when making decisions on future budgets, and ensure these decisions are taken with your views in mind.
“Your assistance is greatly appreciated, we need just 15 minutes of your valuable time to tell us what you think. Getting involved and sharing your thoughts means that as we make some of these tougher decisions, we do so with your views at the forefront of our minds.”
The random sample of residents will receive a postcard providing them with a unique reference number which they will need to complete the survey online. All responses to the survey will remain anonymous. The survey can be completed by any resident (aged 18+) living at that address, but only one survey can be completed per household.
Hard copy surveys can be made available for those selected upon request – details are provided on the postcard.
All surveys should be completed by midnight on Monday, November 4. The results will be published by the council and will be used to help inform its budget and service priorities.
Why only 6,000? Given that not everyone selected will reply this will hardly be representative. TDC aren’t really interested in what we think they just want to be seen to be doing consultation
A survey is normally a representative sample of people. Would be too unwieldy to ask everyone.
I filled one in last year and from what I see TDC didnt do anything !!!
Another box ticked!
Tdc officers only have one interest – a luxury office suite. To hell with council tax payers.
Contempt is all they deserve…
Fill in a survey, and tell them what you think.
There’s little point in venting your spleen on here.
Andrew, we cannot fill in a survey as we are not amongst the carefully selected few.
I cannot think of any selection of residents returning a positive view of TDC services.As always I think they will find it painful to read of their shortcomings.Probably not worth the effort or expense by either party. The incumbent new administration know all too well what the problems are, but is there the will and the means to do something about them?
Too true! I have had several dealings with TDC departments over the years, and their first line of defence is to try and wriggle out of taking any action, or to try and pass you on to other departments! Several decades ago I worked as a consultant to two local authorities, and there was a better more professional attitude. Officers were willing to help, and would work over and above their official hours, and duties, it was called “public service”.
Local authorities have had to endue years and years of cuts to services, mostly reducing staff, which they mistakenly refer to as “efficiency” cuts! How can cutting staff be efficient? Overworked, and harassed staff become inefficient, and stressed out, the only answer is better ring fenced funding, so staff can’t be cut!
The waste and recycling service is bound to get an absolute battering but nothing will get done about it due to the Director’s local version of diplomatic immunity.