SERVICES provided by Harrogate Borough Council
have got the thumbs' up from local residents in a recent
satisfaction survey.
Satisfaction levels went up right across the council's
services including, planning, parks and open spaces, cultural and
leisure facilities, housing and environmental services as well as
overall satisfaction with the way the council is run as a
whole
Street cleansing always scores high in these surveys, but even
here there was a sharp increase this year. The
council was also pleased to see that improved efforts on keeping
public land clear of litter and refuse has been recognised with a
high score of over 90 per cent satisfaction
rate.
All local authorities are required by central government to
carry out satisfaction surveys every three
years. Although the next statutory survey isn't
due until the autumn of 2006, Harrogate Borough Council carried out
an interim survey this year to help them when setting performance
targets for the coming financial year.
Councillor Richard Cooper, Deputy Leader of the Council,
said: "Nationally, satisfaction
with councils has fallen in recent years so Harrogate Council is
bucking the trend. With pressure to
keep council tax down and low government grants it's always
difficult to improve services. That we have done
this is a real boost to councillors, council officers and the
general public alike.
"There are still many things we want to extend such as
recycling and improve further such as the planning
service. But these independent measurements show
we are heading in the right direction at the same time as levying
the lowest council tax increase in recent years."
ENDS
Copies of the full results are available from Rachel
Glendinning, Performance Officer on 01423
556159.
The full report will be summarised on
the council's website at
www.harrogate.gov.uk
FURTHER INFORMATION: Councillor Richard Cooper is
available for comment on 07957 844380.