Laura Sharman 03 July 2014

People unhappy with how councils target spending, says research

People are dissatisfied with the way councils target their spending, with a new survey suggesting town halls are failing to identify local priorities.

The research conducted by Localise, the consumer profiling arm of DJS Research, found that only a quarter of people believe their local council had a good understanding of its residents. Nearly half (43%) felt councils did not target services in a way which best suited them.

When asked to what extent they agreed with the statement ‘my local council focuses its budget on the services which matter most to local people’ only 3% ‘strongly agreed’. Two-fifths (39%) disagreed with the statement, with a quarter agreeing.

The research also found support for councils moving their communications channels to a more online approach, with 52% in favour of this move if savings could be used to fund other services.

Alasdair Gleed, head of Localise and public sector research at DJS Research, said: ‘At a time when local councils are being asked to make large percentage savings year on year, communications channel shifting is something which has the potential to provide a better service at a reduced cost.

‘These findings show that the majority of people are dissatisfied with current council performance, but also that there is a large minority who are unsure how their council performs.

‘This represents an opportunity for councils to look at their communications policies holistically in order to think about how successes can be better communicated, how opinions can be better gathered, and how this can be done cost-effectively to improve services in other areas.’

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Cabinet Assistant

Essex County Council
£24394.0000 - £28699.0000 per annum
Cabinet AssistantFixed Term, Full Time£28,699 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Adults Social Worker - West Essex

Essex County Council
£36101.0000 - £48622.0000 per annum + Flexible Working, Hybrid Working
This position is open to Experienced and Newly Qualified Social Workers (NQSW). The starting salary for a NQSW is £33,885 per annum, rising to £36,10 England, Essex, Harlow
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Senior Practitioner - Children in Care

Essex County Council
£45217 - £54395 per annum + + 27 Days Leave & Local Gov Pension
Senior Practitioner - Children in CareFixed Term, Full Time£45,217 to £54,395 Per AnnumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Head of Tourism – North Yorkshire Council

North Yorkshire Council
£56,443-£64,951
Our visitor economy is a priority sector for us. It adds over £4 billion of economic value a year... Northallerton/ Hybrid
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Panel Administrator

Durham County Council
Grade 5 £25,584 - £27,711
We have an exciting new opportunity for a Panel Administrator Durham (County)
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner

Partner Content

Circular highways is a necessity not an aspiration – and it’s within our grasp

Shell is helping power the journey towards a circular paving industry with Shell Bitumen LT R, a new product for roads that uses plastics destined for landfill as part of the additives to make the bitumen.

Support from Effective Energy Group for Local Authorities to Deliver £430m Sustainable Warmth Funded Energy Efficiency Projects

Effective Energy Group is now offering its support to the 40 Local Authorities who have received a share of the £430m to deliver their projects on the ground by surveying properties and installing measures.

Pay.UK – the next step in Bacs’ evolution

Dougie Belmore explains how one of the main interfaces between you and Bacs is about to change.