Appendix 3
BUDGET CONSULTATION 2009/10
1.
INTRODUCTION
1.1
The first stage of budget consultation in relation to the Council’s 2009/10 budget was
completed in November 2008 and this report informs members of the results.
2.
CONSULTATION FRAMEWORK
2.1
The budget consultation process for the 2009/10 budget has comprised a number of
elements with the aim of attracting an increased number of responses from a
reasonable cross-section of the population of the city, including :




Big Listening consultation group
Budget consultation database (including community committee members)
Distribution of questionnaires at the Older Persons Forum
Questionnaires in libraries and public buildings
Salford City Council website via an on-line form and e-mail
2.2
The results of the consultation can now be reported for consideration by the
committee in relation to the development of the Council’s budget and council tax
level for 2009/10.
2.3
The number of responses on which the results are based are as follows:Consultation Group
Big Listening
Budget consultation database
Questionnaires
issued
7000
Number of
responses
1170
% response
1360
125
9
Website and e-mail
Total
17
21
8360
1316
16
2.4
Discussions have taken place with Children’s Services representatives regarding
consultation with young people. It is proposed to develop a programme of budget
awareness and consultation with the Youth Forum and schools councils.
3.
CONSULTATION RESULTS
3.1
The overall results combining Big Listening and all other completed questionnaires –
a total of 1316 responses – were as follows :-



Crime and community safety
The maintenance of roads and pavements
Health and social care
&
&
ie
s
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al
en
ts
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ef
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%
Spend on council services
Which services would you like to see more money spent on?
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Which services would you like to see less money spent on?
25
20
15
10
5
0
A comparison with consultation results over the last three years shows that three services
have consistently been identified as priorities for additional investment :-
Council Tax and Value for Money
Residents were asked their view on alternative options on the level of council tax. The
results were :In 2008/09 the average council tax paid in Salford is £978 per household.
Which option for next year do you feel is most appropriate?
35
29
30
26
26
25
20
%
19
15
10
5
0
An increase in council tax of 3% to
maintain council services at existing
levels
An increase in council tax above 3% A decrease in council tax levels even Council tax to remain at the current
in order to improve priority council
if it meant a reduction in the level of level with some reduction in the level
services
services
of service
Three further questions asked this year related to value for money and the level of council
tax, the results of which were :Salford City Council provides good value for money for the council tax that
residents pay
35
33
29
30
25
21
%
20
15
13
10
5
4
0
Strongly agree
Tend to agree
Neither agree or disagree
Tend to disagree
Strongly disagree
Salford City Council provides better value for money compared to a year
ago
50
45
45
40
35
%
30
25
25
20
16
15
12
10
5
3
0
Strongly agree
Tend to agree
Neither agree or disagree
Tend to disagree
Strongly disagree
Salford City Council has its level of council tax about right
35
31
30
27
25
23
20
%
16
15
10
5
3
0
Strongly agree
Tend to agree
Neither agree or disagree
Tend to disagree
Strongly disagree
Satisfaction with Council Services
Residents were asked about their overall satisfaction with Council services. The results are
shown in the following table :-
Overall how satisfied or dissatisfied are you with the services provided by
Salford City Council?
50
45
45
40
35
30
%
26
25
20
16
15
10
7
7
5
0
Very satisfied
Fairly satisfied
Neither satisfied or
dissatisfied
Fairly dissatisfied
Very dissatisfied
The services which residents expressed the greatest levels of dissatisfaction with this year
are :Which services are you particularly dissatisfied with?
180
160
154
140
126
120
Number
102
100
92
80
60
43
40
20
0
Poor state of
roads/pavements
3.2
Re-cycling issues – lack
of/when/mess left
Dirty streets/back alleys/fly
Emptying of waste
tipping/litter
bins/rubbish/collection issues
General housing repairs
Where residents were dissatisfied with Council services they were asked to state the
service they were dissatisfied with and reasons. In both the Big Listening survey and
from other questionnaires the three main areas of dissatisfaction were :
Environmental Services
o Issues with recycling services
o Bins not emptied or waste left
o Dirty streets, fly tipping and litter

Transport Services
o Poor state of roads and pavements
o Quality of street lighting

Lack of help, assistance, interest or action from the council
4.
PUBLIC MEETING
4.1
The second stage of the Council’s consultation process was a public meeting held at
the Civic Centre on 21st January 2009. The meeting was attended by 14 members
of the public and 10 councillors (including the panel)
4.2
At the meeting a wide range of issues were raised and put to a panel of councillors
representing the three main political parties. The issues raised by the public
included:















Government grant understated due to incorrect population figures
Interest rates paid on longer term borrowings
Accountability for waste of council taxpayers money e.g pot holes, road
humps, ice rink, councillor’s training.
Level of rubbish/fly tipping – no responsibility taken
Collection of council tax from residents of houses of multiple occupation.
Multi storey blocks which have not been painted for many years
Recycling – keep changing the type of bins and what actually to be collected.
Housing development stopped due to economic downturn.
Major investment in housing and schools – are revenue costs arising taken
into account in the budget
Impossible to arrange community meetings in council school buildings
Difficulty to engage with council to arrange payment of council tax over 12
months instead of 10.
Systems in place to train and re-train staff – general lack of knowledge of
Community Committees
Accountability for notices re parking scheme which were put up too early.
Job evaluation – taking money off lowest paid, whilst paying more to the top
earners.
Amount of council tax which gets written off.
Cost of Community Committees
Also received comments on two other issues (via phone/e-mail): Funding stopped for Space Community Wardens (although it seems these
were not funded by the Council)
 A request for more cycle lanes in Salford.
4.3
A report on the issues raised at the public meeting was considered at the meeting of
the Budget Scrutiny Committee on 23rd January 2009.