Better services and lower council tax boosts residents' satisfaction
by Hammersmith and Fulham Press Office
01/07/2008
Better services combined with successive council tax cuts are boosting residents’ satisfaction with Hammersmith and Fulham Council.
Residents say they are happier with council services than they’ve ever been in a poll of 1,260 local people.
64 per cent of respondents say they are satisfied with Hammersmith & Fulham Council - a ten per cent jump from last year. The result means H&F Council is now in the top five local authorities in London for satisfied residents.
The annual residents’ survey also shows that the 3 per cent council tax cuts this year and last have proved popular with 58 per cent of people saying the council provides good value for money, compared with 35 per cent in 2006. H&F is now in the top five councils in England in terms of delivering excellent value for money.
Council Leader, Cllr Stephen Greenhalgh, says, “The sleeping giant that is Hammersmith & Fulham Council has awakened. We have been home to the biggest council tax cut in Britain for two years running and now residents are telling us that they are happier than ever with the services we provide.
“I know that government auditors have already given us the highest rating possible for our services but I am more interested in what residents think. The fact that the people who pay for and use local services say they are better is more encouraging than anything else.”
Other results in the survey show that H&F residents widely applaud the council’s cleaner, greener programme (78%), refuse collection (75%) and efficiency (69%).
74 per cent of people say they are satisfied with the borough’s parks and open spaces, up 4 per cent from last year. And 54 per cent of residents say the council keeps them informed, up 9 per cent from last year.
Cllr Greenhalgh concludes, “Critics have argued in the past that you cannot cut council tax and improve services - but, once again, this result proves you can. Hammersmith & Fulham is on its way to becoming a model council - delivering high quality, value for money services to all.
“We are the only council in Britain to have falling council tax combined with growing residents’ satisfaction and top marks from the governments’ official watchdog. This is fantastic news and re-affirms my belief that we are on the right track.”
The annual residents’ survey questionnaire was sent out in May 2008. To view the results in full click on http://www.citizenspace.com/local/lbhf/ARS2008 (opens new window).
