Message from Councillor Waggott
We've listened to your views and
hope you find this year's guide
easy to understand and helpful.
We have focused our articles on issues we know are important to you. We know because you have told us that the following are important - right across the borough:
- Value for money
- Cleanliness and recycling
- Anti-social behaviour
In all these areas you have told us we are getting better but there is more to do.
We have once again been
awarded a four star 'excellent'
status by the Audit Commission
who assess how well we are
doing across all services we deliver.
We are determined to continue
to improve value for money and
ensure that our services are rated
as improving well.
More on the Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA)
Value for money
At the same time as improving services, we are delivering better value for money. Ipsos MORI's research where they asked 1800 residents if they thought we were making a difference found:
| Satisfaction with | 2003/4 | 2006/7 | % change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleanliness of area | 53% | 72% | +19% |
| Waste collection | 84% | 86% | +2% |
| Recycling facilities | 66% | 76% | +10% |
| Satisfaction with | 2002 | 2006 | % change |
| Local area as a place to live | 80% | 83% | +3% |
| Way council is running the area | 59% | 64% | +5% |
| Quality of council services | 57% | 62% | +5% |
| Council's performance improvement | 20% | 39% | +19% |
We know from our listening campaign that there is more to do to narrow the service gap between areas and we are determined to focus on this in the next few years.
We have learned that working with partners and residents is the best way to tackle issues and are totally committed to listening and responding to build a better future for South Tyneside.
Listening to residents is particularly important when we set the council tax. We listened to your views and have responded by setting a council tax with a 2.9% increase. This is well below the current rate of inflation and the lowest increase in 13 years.
Paul Waggott
Leader of the Council