Council Priorities

1
Council Priorities Budget Options

• Consultation

2
Background

• Clarification of the Councils key priorities and
  objectives form a key element in Corporate
  Planning and preparation for the Budget Cycle.
• The Councils community consultation has been
  developed and reaffirmed in the CPA Improvement
  Plan.
• Determining the provision of statutory and
  discretionary services within a fair and
  acceptable level of Council Tax.

3
Priority setting

• A Workshop was held on 3rd June 2004.
• A further Workshop was held on 14th July 2004.
• Draft Project Plan produced and approved by
  Cabinet on 19th July 2004.
• Overview and Scrutiny have also been consulted on
  the questionnaire.
• Report on initial findings of the priorities as
  part of the budget process 18th October.
• Full report to be produced for Cabinet on the 9th
  November 2004.

4
Methodology

• Introduction
• Concept of a Citizens Panel presented to Cabinet
  on the 17th May 2004.
• Consultation from a random sample of the Postal
  Address File, with representation from all Wards
  in the District.
• The cut off date for the questionnaires to be
  returned was Monday 11th October 2004.

5

• The Questionnaire has been split into three
  themes
• Priorities
• Customer Access
• Community Cohesion.

6
Distribution and return rates
7
Opinion on the Councils proposed AimHouseholders
response

• Householders Response -76 of respondents agreed
  with the proposed aim, with only 12 disagreeing.

8
Opinion on the Councils proposed AimParish
Councils response

• 86 of respondents agreed with the proposed aim,
  with only 6 disagreeing.

9
Opinion on the Councils proposed AimVoluntary
Community response

• 100 agreed with the proposed aim.

10
Agreement with the proposed key priorities

• Householders response -.

11
Agreement with the proposed key priorities

• Parish Councils responses -.

12
Agreement with the proposed key priorities

• Voluntary and Community responses -

13
Views on services provided by the
CouncilHouseholders

• Most important services
• Tackling anti-social behaviour
• Designing out crime
• Cleanliness of environment
• Tackling effects of drugs and alcohol
• Health scrutiny

• Least important services
• Enforcement of parking restrictions
• Business Innovation centres
• Licensing
• Newark leisure centre
• Tourism

14
Views on services provided by the CouncilParish
Councils

• Most important services
• Tackling anti-social behaviour
• Designing out crime
• Recycling
• Tackling effects of drugs and alcohol
• Environmental protection

• Least important services
• Business Innovation centres
• Licensing
• Enforcement of parking restrictions
• Newark leisure centre
• Inward investment by lobbying

15
Views on services provided by the
CouncilVoluntary and Community

• Least important services
• Licensing
• Business Innovation centres
• Energy efficiency
• Newark leisure centre
• Enforcement of parking restrictions
• CCTV

• Most important services
• Tackling anti-social behaviour
• Cleanliness of environment and Tackling effects
  of drugs and alcohol
• Wealth, benefits, income, Employment, Young
  People, Recycling, Affordability of homes and
  Designing out crime

16
Preferred Council Tax Options
17
Preferred Council Tax Options Householders
18
Preferred Council Tax Options Parish
19
Preferred Council Tax Options Voluntary
Community
20
Views on discretionary services provided to meet
Community needsHouseholders

• Most important
• Contribution to TV licenses
• CCTV
• Parks and playing fields
• Contribution to bus passes
• Public conveniences

• Least important
• Chairman's office and civic events
• Street naming and signs
• Cattle markets
• Youth hostels
• Catering

21
Views on discretionary services provided to meet
Community needs Parish Councils

• Most important
• Parks and playing fields
• Contribution to bus passes
• Public conveniences
• CCTV
• Contribution to TV licenses

• Least important
• Chairman's office and civic events
• Catering
• Street naming and signs
• Public relations
• Arts events festivals

22
Views on discretionary services provided to meet
Community needs Voluntary Community

• Most important
• Grant aid to voluntary sector
• Car parking
• Contribution to bus passes
• Contribution to TV licenses
• Building design

• Least important
• Chairman's office and civic events
• Building design
• Cattle markets
• Catering
• Street naming and signs

23
Next Steps

• This provides a snapshot of the raw headline
  information collected from the exercise.
• Further validation and analysis will be conducted
  for the report to Cabinet on the 9th November.