Budget consultation - what you said

The following text summarises findings from budget consultation for the financial year 2008/09 and is taken from the Cabinet report dated 19 December 2007 (PDF 2.45MB).

Feedback from specific groups is also available.

Living in the borough of Walsall

Residents highlight many positive aspects of living in the borough. Being close to family and friends is important and a key focus for what makes somewhere a good place to live. Friends, family and a safe community are particularly important to young people.

Respondents to the face to face survey were asked to rate the importance of each of the ten council priorities. Results show that the top three priorities are:

1. Ensuring all people are safe and secure
2. Listen to what local people want
3. A clean green borough

Across all groups, including young people, anti-social behaviour and youths hanging about is perceived as a problem. A problem that is thought to be damaging to local communities and causes anxiety amongst older people.

Respondents were also asked to rate how the council is performing on each of its priorities. Analysing importance vs. performance scores for the ten council priorities shows that the most important priorities highlighted are also in need of improvement. Listening to what local people want is the priority which respondents feel is performing least well.

Respondents to the face to face survey Based on 424 responses, importance rating out of 10 where 10 is important. were asked to rate how the council was performing on each of the ten council priorities. Results show that the bottom three performers are:

1. Listening to what local people want
2. Ensure a clean and green borough
3. Transform Walsall into an excellent authority

A clean, green, safe environment is at the forefront of most peoples’ minds when thinking about makes somewhere a good place to live. 79% of respondents gave an importance rating of 8, 9 or 10 in the face to face survey. Litter free streets, well maintained parks and open spaces, safe, secure communities with local visible policing are top priorities for local people.

Local residents look to the towns of Salisbury, Chester, York, Sutton Coldfield and Leamington Spa for how they would like the borough of Walsall to be like in the future. Towns that are ‘alive with heritage’, have ‘history and culture’ and are clean and prosperous. In particular Birmingham is admired for its achievements in regenerating the city centre, particularly the canals, bringing old buildings back to life and cultural attractions. ‘Can’t Walsall be more like this?’

‘Get rid of high rise flats, put some greenery into the area. Get more shops into the city centre.’

47% of respondents to the face to face survey had not seen or read the financial information contained in the council tax booklet. Bearing this in mind a total of 21% are satisfied that the council provides value for money services, whilst 46% are dissatisfied.

Activities for young people, people with disabilities and older people are all seen as important. Young and older people alike are consistent in their message that young people need more things to do, places to go and places to socialise with friends.

‘More facilities for teenagers in the town centre e.g. bowling alley, ice rink, theatre, cinema etc.’

‘I think the area I live in needs to be improved it’s boring’. [Shelfield]

‘Facilities for young people – weekend activities.’

Whilst over a third of all respondents to the face to face survey (40%) agree that Walsall Council does enough for people like them, 30% disagree. Just over a quarter (28%) don’t have an opinion either way.

Respondents to the face to face survey were also asked to think about their local area and the community activities that are available to them. In this context most respondents feel that their local area and Walsall borough has stayed the same over the last 12 months.

A significant proportion of respondents (21%) feel that Walsall borough has got better over the last 12 months, however this is countered by 27% who feel the borough has got worse.

In addition slightly more respondents think that their local area has got worse than think it has got better (23% compared to 19%).

‘Facilities & opportunities for youth e.g. Youth Clubs, Scouts in outer regions of the borough.’

‘I would like investment made in the facilities & natural treasures already in the borough - if we can't look after what we've already got, what is the point of creating new facilities or attractions.’

‘The amount of litter and noise! Living in Pelsall Village can be wonderful at times, overlooking the common and having councillors who are on the ball. However the litter and noise generated from the takeaway food outlets can be unbearable at times. What’s the answer when people won't take responsibility for their actions!’

Council spending priorities

Respondents were given a notional £100 to spend on the 10 council priorities. Respondents were invited to allocate the money however they wish, thus reflecting what is most important to them.

Combined results for the money allocation question shows that a safe and secure borough is significantly more important than any other of the nine council priorities. This priority alone received 23% of the overall budget.

A clean and green borough received 15% of the budget. Making it easier for people to get around, making our schools great and the listening to what local people want all received 11% of the budget.

Council Priorities

1. A clean green borough

A clean and green borough is a key aspect of what makes somewhere a good place to live and makes people proud of where they live. The consistent message is that people want to see clean streets, clearing up litter hotspots, removal of graffiti, investing in deprived areas cleaning them up and improving the general look of the area. Some residents feel that the green spaces in the borough are a great asset, but they have often been left in disrepair, particularly the footpaths, walkways and derelict buildings.

‘Clean up the town centre. Enforce litter fines, encourage community feeling.

2. Making it easier for people to get around

Being able to travel in and around the borough as well as to areas further a field is an important aspect of an individual’s quality of life. Being independent is especially important to younger and older people and those with disabilities. Residents in the workshop discussion felt that although transport links are good in the area, many said that the public transport is not good enough to get them to work in the time that it takes them to travel by car, thus more needs to be done to encourage people to leave their cars at home and adopt more sustainable modes of travel.

‘Much better public transport, cheaper, more frequent and varies bus routes. This might encourage people to leave their cars at home.’

‘Transport is key to people in the younger and older age groups to improve quality of life.’

3. Ensuring people are safe and secure

Results from the money allocation task reinforced the importance people give to ensuring a safe and secure borough. A consistent theme across all respondents is that a greater police presence is needed. Anti-social behaviour and young people hanging about are major concerns for residents in the borough.

‘To be able to walk safely to not fear being mugged. Being deaf I can’t hear people come up alongside me. I am too nervous walking out on my own.’

‘Clean the streets and clear up drugs from the streets.’ (Young person)

‘There are quite a lot of anti-social youths in certain areas who have no respect for others or their surroundings.’ (Young person)

‘Less anti-social youths because they fight and vandalise everything ruining everything for others.’ (Young person)

‘Develop a sense of community spirit and tolerance within people towards one another making people feel safe and secure.’

4. Making our schools great

A good standard of education is seen as imperative for the future of the borough. Lack of basic skills in young people is a major concern amongst respondents. Whilst generally education in the borough is seen as good there are aspects where respondents call for improvements.

“I want to see Walsall schools turning out numerate, literate kids at junior level and educated, well-rounded, ready for work at senior level” (Male resident)

5. Making Walsall a healthy and caring place

Tackling obesity, promoting healthy eating and exercise and providing good access to health services were seen as the main priorities for making Walsall a healthy and caring place.

Feedback from older people, people with disabilities and carers clearly underlines the importance of care and support services. Investing in specialist services such as care for children with special needs, a sitting service and providing activities and social events for those with disabilities and the infirmed were some aspects highlighted for investment.

Respondents want more accessible health services, in particular shorter waiting times for GP appointments. Additionally NHS Walk-in Centres are seen as a valuable service.

‘Lack of activities for disabled young people (35-65 year olds). They are still people not just numbers.’

‘I would like more facilities for people with dementia and Alzheimer’s. Classes that do bingo and play different games. It would help me very much as I am caring for my husband with both and we are in our seventies. I only have a lady that comes in on Mondays for 3 hours for me to have a break.’

‘Promote healthy eating and an active lifestyle to reduce obesity and the amount of litter created by fast food diets.’

6. Encouraging everyone to feel proud of Walsall

Most respondents think that the borough of Walsall is a good place to live, however there are aspects respondents identify as in need of improvement. Making improvements where they are most in need will help make people feel proud of Walsall. The street scene, entertainment and shopping facilities are identified as key areas for investment.

Respondents feel that the borough of Walsall’s image needs improving. Tackling litter, removing graffiti, upgrading and improving run down areas were aspects identified as in need of attention. Respondents believe that addressing these issues would make the area appear more attractive, make people take more responsibility for keeping their neighbourhood clean and tidy and thus make people proud of where they live.

‘Encourage everyone to take pride in their town and look after it better.’

7. Making it easier to access local services

Overall clear information about what services are available would make it easier for people to access them. Without the right information people cannot access what they need or could benefit from. Those with disabilities noted that it is sometimes find it difficult to access services because they can’t physically get there. Making sure all council service points are accessible is a priority for this group. An efficient transport system and free flowing traffic would help many local people access the service they need.

‘Keep people informed on what is going on in the community’

Having access to good public transport and free flowing roads are essential for those that live, visit and do business in the borough. Making local services easier to access must be supported but the right infrastructure. A common theme across all groups is to improve public transport.

‘Sort more bus times.’

‘More public transport.’

8. Strengthening the local economy

Thinking to the future, you told us you want to see the borough grow to be a strong economic modern centre where advanced new business thrives and provides local jobs for local people.

Residents feel that a lot of regeneration work needs to happen in Walsall to make it a great place to live. Many feel that in general the area has been neglected and needs to be regenerated to bring in keep existing residents, bring in new people to the area and attract new businesses.

‘More jobs would cure a lot of Walsall’s problems’

9. Listening to what local people want

Local people want to be given sufficient opportunities to have their say, know that their voice is being heard and that their concerns are being acted on. Just listening is not enough, feeding back on actions and outcomes is an essential part of the process, something that residents want more of.

Having a voice and being heard is important to local people. Furthermore, knowing what has happened as a result holds equal importance if not more. Residents were encouraged by the council’s budget consultation process and participants in the deliberative workshop were especially keen to get more involved and asked that the council undertake more consultation where local people can get fully involved.

There is common feeling that residents don’t get enough feedback form the Council on how things are progressing for the Council.

10. Transform Walsall into an excellent authority

There are a number of things respondents associate with an excellent authority: open, honest, transparent and accountable to the public. Respondents think that an excellent council should also report on its performance, good and bad. Proactive rather than reactive, improving service delivery, working to improve customer service and the overall image of the council.

This page was last updated on 19 June 2009