Ben Page

1
Recession and revolution

• Ben Page
• Chairman
• Ipsos MORI Social Research Institute
• ben.page_at_ipsos-mori.com

2
Where are we now?

• A decade of reform to boost involvement and
  accountability
• Surveys, user engagement, juries, workshops,
  consultation strategies, local area forums, ward
  sub-committees etc
• Voting in NDC elections
• Empowerment Plans, White papers etc
• New national indicator on feelings of influence
  measured every two years via the Place Survey
• Real challenges of place!
• Public angrier than before and the recession is
  only beginning

3
Recession is opportunity
What do you see as the most/other important
issues facing Britain today?
The economy
Crime/ Law Order
Race/ immi-gration
Education
NHS
Base c. 1,000 British adults 18
Source Ipsos MORI Issues Index
4
Concern about the Economy Vs. Unemployment
What is normal??
Year
5
As Hazel Blears likes to say

• I believe that the biggest improvements in public
  services are driven not by the oversight of
  central government, but by local people by
  communities having a chance to say what they
  want.
• In my experience there is no service that cannot
  be improved by the active involvement of local
  people, no challenge that cannot be better met by
  harnessing their energy and initiative.

6
Both major parties grappling with the challenge
of the limits of state action and the need for
cultural change
7
What drives Satisfaction with Area at the
resident level?
Concern about ASB
32
Feel area cohesive
14
13
Satisfied with housing, Education, planning
Satisfaction with area
13
Cleanliness score
10
46 of variation in satisfaction with area
explained
Parks and Open spaces
4
How well Informed kept
2
Feeling can influence council
8
Involvement vs feeling NDC improved area
Levels of involvement 2006 ()
Feeling NDC improved area 2006 ()
Source NDC Survey 2006
Base 15,792 NDC residents aged 16
9
Involvement vs perceived quality of life
Levels of involvement 2006 ()
Perceived quality of life 2006 ()
Source NDC Survey 2006
Base 15,792 NDC residents aged 16
10
Involvement vs feeling part of community
Levels of involvement 2006 ()
Feeling part of community 2006 ()
Source NDC Survey 2006
Base 15,792 NDC residents aged 16
11
Involvement vs trust in local NDC partnership
Levels of involvement 2006 ()
South Kilburn
Braunstone
Marsh Farm
Blakenall
Greets Green
Doncaster Central
Trust in local NDC partnership 2006 ()
Source NDC Survey 2006
Base 13,008 NDC residents aged 16
12
Involvement vs knowing other people
Levels of involvement 2006 ()
Knowing other people 2006 ()
Source NDC Survey 2006
Base 15,792 NDC residents aged 16
13
Influence vs satisfaction with area
Feelings of influence 2006 ()
Satisfaction with area 2006 ()
Source NDC Survey 2006
Base 15,792 NDC residents aged 16
14
Change in influence vs change in satisfaction
with area
Change in feelings of influence 2002-2006 ()
Thornhill
Ocean Estate
North Huyton
North Fulham
Change in satisfaction with area 2002-2006 ()
Source Longitudinal data NDC Surveys 2002 2006
Base 19,574 (2002) 15,792 (2006) residents
aged 16
15
Change in influence vs change in trust in local
council
Change in feelings of influence 2002-2006 ()
Change in trust in local council 2002-2006 ()
Source Longitudinal data NDC Surveys 2002 2006
Base 19,574 (2002) 15,792 (2006) residents
aged 16
16
Influence much weaker correlation
Feelings of influence ()
City of London
Southwark
Northants
Cherwell DC
Satisfaction with council ()
Base BVPI 2006 (70 District, County and Unitary
Authorities)
Source Ipsos MORI
17
Opportunities for participation matter a bit more
Satisfied with opportunities for participation ()
Gateshead
Hackney
Kensington and Chelsea
Bromley
Notts CC
Satisfaction with council ()
Base BVPI 2006 (70 District, County and Unitary
Authorities)
Source Ipsos MORI
18
Feeling Informed really matters
Satisfaction with council ()
Correlation -0.75
Kensington Chelsea
City of London
Westminster
Bromley
Bury
Haringey
Bedfordshire
Oldham
Feel informed by Council about Services and
Benefits it provides ()
Base Standard govt surveys 2006 (130 Single,
Upper Tier and District Ipsos MORI client
authorities)
19
Conclusions

• Recession and fiscal disaster ought to increase
  misery
• Engagement is likely to rise for negative
  reasons
• Self-help and co-production are the obverse side
  of demos over the cuts from 2011 onwards
• Huge communications challenge about what is
  available
• And what you are doing
• Tell them about efficiency savings
• Its going to be bloody.

20
Thank you

• ben.page_at_ipsos.com
• 020 7347 3000