15 SEPTEMBER 2006  AS part of a national government survey, Harrogate Borough Council has joined the County Council as well as most of the other district councils in North Yorkshire to carry out consultation asking residents what they think of their services.

 

In total, over 22,000 residents across the county will be randomly chosen to receive this postal questionnaire.  In the Harrogate district, this will cover 2750 residents.  The council will be seeking comments on a range of services it provides including recycling and planning as well as general questions on the quality of life in the Harrogate district.

 

Council Chief Executive, Mick Walsh said:  "Consultation is a word you will often hear in modern day local government.  It is right and proper that we ask what people think about individual services and then make sure that their comments are heard and acted on.  Consultation is part of our daily lives.  But this consultation is slightly different in that we are required by government to carry out a district-wide 'customer satisfaction survey' every three years.  The information gathered will be published next year and will help us see how we compare to others in the quality of the services we provide locally.

 

"The results of the last survey carried out in 2003 showed 58% of residents were overall satisfied with Harrogate Borough Council. We have an ambitious improvement plan in place and the results of this 2006 survey will help shape our future plans and address any falling off of customer satisfaction.  This is an important local survey and I would urge anyone who receives a questionnaire to take the opportunity to complete and return it."