INTRODUCTION
During the late Spring/Summer 2000, Media 3, a local company, carried out a survey on behalf of Gosport Borough Council. Residents were randomly selected from the electoral role and were given the opportunity to join our Resident's Panel by completing a questionnaire. A total of 967 questionnaires were returned.
The Resident's Panel will be used by the Council as a main method of consultation. Membership of this panel will be maintained at approximately 1000 people to ensure that consultation feedback is statistically valid.
ANALYSED RESULTS
Quantitative data
The questions and quantitative responses are detailed overleaf. The data has been analysed to show:
- "Real" average: The average score (all the scores given between 1 and 5 added and divided by the number of valid votes).
- Rank: The position within the selection, based on the real average
Please note the following in respect of the quantitative data analysis
- Any "5" votes on a 1 to 4 scale are treated as "4"s.
- Some items are further analysed by "user" group, e.g. travel tokens, car parking.
Qualitative data
This refers to comments which people have made. This data cannot be analysed in the same way as the answers that require a 'tick the box' response. All qualitative comments have been taken and collated into themes, and under these themes, key issues have been identified. The qualitative data analysis is shown on page 7.
WHAT WILL BE DONE WITH THE RESULTS?
The Council will take these results and use them, where possible, to help shape Council policy and to improve the services that it provides to the community.
Many of the questions were about the services which are currently being reviewed under Best Value. Under Best Value, Councils must consult a variety of people, such as service users, residents and Council Tax Payers, to find out what they think about services. This feedback is then used to improve the services so that they match the needs of the community.
The following 'front-line' services are currently undergoing Best Value Reviews, and are using the questionnaire results in this review process:
- Car Parks
- Forward Planning
- Concessionary Fares
- Cemetery Service
- Tree service
These services will be reporting on the review findings and detailing ways to improve these services, in the next few months. In addition to this, the Residents Panel identified Community Safety as a key issue. Therefore, the Council will be reviewing this next year to see how Community Safety can be improved throughout the Borough.
A general response on the survey findings is shown in page 10 of this document.
QUANTITATIVE DATA ANALYSIS
Detailed below are the questions which the Residents' Panel were asked and the results.
PEOPLE
The following information will help Gosport Borough Council gain a better understanding of the Borough. Please mark where appropriate (although questions in this section are optional).
1. How many years have you lived in Gosport? | Average is 28.8 years. |
2. What is your age? | Average is 51 years. 25.6% are 65 or older. |
3. Are you male or female? | 433 male (45%), 533 female (55%). |
4. Do you own or regularly drive a car? | 728 said Yes (75%). |
4. To which of these groups do you consider you belong? | |
a. White: | |
British | 959 (99.2%) |
Irish | 3 |
Other white group (please specify) | 3 |
d. Black or Black British: | |
Caribbean | 1 |
Other Black background (please specify) | 1 |
5. Do you have any long-standing illness, disability or infirmity? (Long-standing means anything that has troubled you over a period of time or that is likely to affect you over a period of time) | 189 said Yes (20%). |
6. If you have an illness or disability, does it limit your activities in any way? | 123 said Yes (117 of above, 13% of total). |
THE FUTURE
Next year, the Council will be establishing a programme to look at the way its services and policies impact upon some of the wider issues in society. Your feedback will assist the Council in long term planning and decision making. Please indicate how important you feel each of the following issues are. Enter a 1-5 based on the priority of the following issues, where 1 is unimportant and 5 is very important. Please do not duplicate a priority.
| "Real" average score | Rank |
Community safety (to address crime prevention and provide a safer and secure environment) | 4.47 | 1 |
Borough regeneration (improve the economy, environment, facilities & residential accommodation) | 3.56 | 2 |
Social inclusion (helping people who are socially excluded from an acceptable way of life, by virtue of their social and skills background) | 2.68 | 3 |
Improve access for the disabled to existing Council services | 2.60 | 4 |
Improve access to services & information by using new technology, e.g. the Internet | 1.74 | 5 |
LOCAL PLAN
The Council's Forward Planning section is preparing a new Gosport Borough Local Plan which allocates land for future use and sets policies for the control of development and heritage conservation. Please indicate below which options you believe are the most important to the Borough, by placing a 1-5 in the appropriate box, where 1 is unimportant and 5 is very important. Please do not duplicate priorities.
| "Real" average score | Rank |
Improve access to Gosport peninsula | 4.25 | 1 |
Create more employment | 3.34 | 2 |
Protect green open spaces | 3.28 | 3 |
Allocate sufficient land to accommodate the housing needs of the local community | 2.24 | 4 |
Other issue… please indicate | 2.07 | 5 |
HISTORIC BUILDINGS
The Council has a limited budget to provide aid to historic structures in the Borough. Please indicate below what you think this money should be spent on by placing a 1-4 in the appropriate box, where 1 is unimportant and 4 is very important. Please do not duplicate priorities.
| "Real" average score | Rank |
Buildings in conservation areas | 3.03 | 1 |
Important historical naval buildings which it is difficult to find a use for | 2.79 | 2 |
Prominent listed buildings such as The Crescent | 2.55 | 3 |
Other issue… please indicate | 1.85 | 4 |
ACCESS TO GOSPORT
Access to the Gosport peninsula is subject to severe congestion at peak hours. Please indicate below which options you believe are the most appropriate to reduce congestion, by placing a 1-4 in the appropriate box, where 1 is unimportant and 4 is very important. Please do not duplicate priorities.
| "Real" average score | Rank |
By improving road access and/or providing sections of new roads (option 1) | 3.06 | 1 |
A combination of 1 & 2 | 2.86 | 2 |
By making significant investments to public transport (option 2) | 2.53 | 3 |
Other ideas… please indicate | 2.01 | 4 |
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
The Council is required to provide additional housing under Government policy. Please indicate below which options you believe are the most appropriate to safeguard natural open spaces, e.g. Alver Valley, by placing a 1-4 in the appropriate box where 1 is unimportant and 4 is very important. Please do not duplicate priorities.
| "Real" average score | Rank |
Design for the provision of communal open areas rather than gardens or parking areas | 2.79 | 1 |
Build to a higher density, with more flats or three storey homes | 2.72 | 2 |
Other ideas… please indicate | 2.61 | 3 |
Have less space for the parking of cars | 2.18 | 4 |
TRANSPORT CONCESSIONARY FARES
The Council's annual Concessionary Fares Scheme offers all residents of state pension age and disabled residents over the age of 16, a choice between £37 worth of travel tokens or a half fare bus pass. The bus pass costs £5 (but is free for the disabled and those on benefit) whilst travel tokens are free.
Travel tokens can be used to pay fares on all types of local transport including Dial-a-Ride. The bus pass can be used on bus journeys throughout Hampshire. Currently 12,500 residents choose tokens whilst 1,500 opt for the half fare bus pass. The estimated cost of this scheme for 2000/2001 is £522,000 which is the equivalent £9.25 for each adult resident in Gosport. Due to the ageing population this cost will increase over the years if the scheme is maintained in its current form.
The scheme is discretionary although most Councils have one. However, from 1 April 2001 the Government intends to introduce a compulsory scheme with a minimum standard of a free half fare bus pass. This is less generous than the Council's current scheme.
| ALL replies (967) | Eligibles (337) |
1. Before reading this questionnaire, were you aware that the scheme existed? | 60.5% | 66.5% |
2. If Yes, how did you find out about it? | 496 answered, of 585 aware | 186 answered, of 224 aware. Main ways of finding out were; · Relative 35% · Friend 17.1% · Council 13.92% · User 10.54% · Word of mouth 8.95% |
3. What do you think the Council should do? | (18 opted for more than one) | |
- Adopt the Government's scheme of a free half fare bus pass or
| 19.2% | 8.9% |
- Adopt the Government's free half fare bus pass plus limited use of tokens or
| 17.8% | 10.7% |
| Continue its current scheme | 62.4% | 81.3% |
4. Where applicable, should a charge be made to users to reduce the costs? | 44.1% Yes, (47.6% No) | 31.2% Yes, (56.4% No) |
5. If Yes, should any charge be waived for the disabled and those on benefit? | 35.2% (78% of those saying Yes) | 32.9% (106% of those saying Yes) |
6. With the number of pensioners increasing and living longer should the existing scheme be changed to reduce costs? | 36.4% | 17.8% |
7. Do you think that those on benefit and the disabled should have an increased allowance? | 40.8% | 43.0% |
CAR PARKING
The following questions relate to the provision of off-street and foreshore car parks and does not include on-street parking. The annual costs of running the car parks are approximately £300,000, which is a direct charge to Gosport residents within the Council tax, which is the equivalent of £5.31 for each adult resident in Gosport. Please enter a 1-5 where 1 is poor and 5 is excellent
Availability of car parking spaces | "Real" average score | Rank |
Town Centre | 3.89 | 1 |
Lee-on-the-Solent | 3.54 | 2 |
Stoke Road | 2.43 | 4 |
Other shopping areas | 2.85 | 3 |
Cleanliness | "Real" average score | Rank |
Town Centre | 3.79 | 2 |
Lee-on-the-Solent | 3.86 | 1 |
Stoke Road | 3.18 | 3 |
Other shopping areas | 3.07 | 4 |
Safety | "Real" average score | Rank |
Town Centre | 3.71 | 1 |
Lee-on-the-Solent | 3.55 | 2 |
Stoke Road | 2.85 | 4 |
Other shopping areas | 3.03 | 3 |
State of repair | "Real" average score | Rank |
Town Centre | 3.71 | 2 |
Lee-on-the-Solent | 3.72 | 1 |
Stoke Road | 3.22 | 3 |
Other shopping areas | 3.12 | 4 |
General appearance | "Real" average score | Rank |
Town Centre | 3.72 | 1 |
Lee-on-the-Solent | 3.69 | 2 |
Stoke Road | 2.99 | 4 |
Other shopping areas | 3.04 | 3 |
Directional signs to car park | "Real" average score | Rank |
Town Centre | 3.68 | 1 |
Lee-on-the-Solent | 3.52 | 2 |
Stoke Road | 2.83 | 4 |
Other shopping areas | 2.94 | 3 |
Information signs within car parks | "Real" average score | Rank |
Town Centre | 3.30 | 1 |
Lee-on-the-Solent | 3.23 | 2 |
Stoke Road | 2.73 | 4 |
Other shopping areas | 2.77 | 3 |
Would you be prepared to pay for car parking? | 318 (32.9%) said Yes (247 of which are car users) |
If Yes, how much would you pay per hour? | |
Short stay | Ideas ranged from 10p to £2 |
Long stay | Ideas ranged from 10p/hour to £5/day |
Would you support changing one small Town Centre car park to a quick turnaround one hour car park? | 571 (59.0%) said Yes (467 of which are car users) |
ENVIRONMENT GROUNDS MAINTENANCE
The Council provides a service which creates and maintains a variety of floral and other displays. To help the Council monitor satisfaction and identify priorities, what are your opinions of the following?
For 'Satisfaction' please enter a 1-5 where 1 is poor and 5 is excellent. | "Real" average score | Rank |
Flower beds | 4.33 | 1 |
Hanging baskets/Flower troughs | 3.85 | 2 |
Rose beds and shrub beds | 3.52 | 3 |
Standard of parks | 3.41 | 4 |
Maintenance of grassed areas | 3.38 | 5 |
For 'Priority' please enter a 1-5 where 1 is the lowest priority and 5 is the highest. Please do not duplicate a priority. | "Real" average score | Rank |
Standard of parks | 3.94 | 1 |
Maintenance of grassed areas | 3.72 | 2 |
Flower beds | 3.21 | 3 |
Rose beds and shrub beds | 2.20 | 4 |
Hanging baskets/Flower troughs | 2.00 | 5 |
TREES
The Council provides a service which maintains the tree stock in parks, open spaces, on housing and highways land. Please tick as appropriate to help the Council monitor satisfaction.
Before reading this questionnaire, were you aware that the Council provides a tree maintenance service? | 540 (55.8%) answered Yes |
How satisfied are you with the standard of tree maintenance in the Borough? Please enter 1-5, where 1=very dissatisfied and 5=very satisfied | "Real" average score: 3.62; |
In order to improve light levels on your property, would you be prepared to pay a contribution towards appropriate tree pruning for Council trees? | 224 (23.2%) answered Yes |
If you are interested in assisting the Council on a voluntary basis by reporting trees that require maintenance, please tick this box | 338 (35.0%) answered Yes. |
QUALITATIVE DATA RESULTS
This survey provided two sets of qualitative data for analysis from:
a) Questions contained in the section of the survey 'the future', in respect of forward planning. This allowed respondents to add in their own issues/priorities/ideas in addition to options provided by the Council.
b) The final question on the survey 'if there are any general comments that you wish to make'.
Detailed below is a summary of analysed results.
FORWARD PLANNING QUALITATIVE COMMENTS
LOCAL PLAN
This question explained the purpose of the local plan and allowed participants to prioritise the following issues
- improve access to Gosport Peninsula
- create more employment
- protect green open space
- allocate sufficient land to accommodate the housing needs of the local community
In addition to this it allowed participants to indicate 'other issue'.
A total of 370 'other issues' comments were made.
The top three issues were
- facilities for teenagers, 27 comments, 7.3%
- facilities for children, 18 comments, 4.9%
- access to the peninsular, 18 comments, 4.9%
HISTORIC BUILDINGS
This question explained that the Council has a limited budget to provide aid to historic structures in the Borough and allowed participants to prioritise the following issues
- Prominent listed buildings such as the Crescent
- Buildings in conservation areas
- Important historical naval buildings which it is difficult to find a use for
In addition to this it allowed participants to indicate 'other issue'.
A total of 233 'other issues' comments were made.
The top three issues were
- The station, 42 comments, 18%
- Haslar Hospital, 21 comments, 9%
- Fort Gilkicker, 12 comments, 5.2%
ACCESS TO GOSPORT
This question explained the problem of congestion and allowed participants to prioritise the most appropriate options to reduce congestion
- By improving road access and/or providing new sections of road
- By making significant investments to public transport
- A combination of the above
In addition to this it allowed participants to indicate 'other ideas'.
A total of 412 'other ideas' comments were made.
The top three ideas were
- Light Rapid Transport System, 70 comments, 17%
- Tunnel or bridge to Portsmouth, 70 comments, 17%
- Ways to improve access to Fareham, 46 comments, 11.2%
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
This question explained that the Council had to provide more housing and allowed participants to prioritise the most appropriate way to safeguard green spaces
- Build to a higher density, with more flats or three storey homes
- Have less space for the parking of cars
- Design for the provision of communal open areas rather than gardens or parking areas
In addition to this it allowed participants to indicate 'other ideas'.
A total of 345 'other ideas' comments were made.
The top three key ideas were
- Do not allow extra house building, 55 comments, 16%
- Use brownfield sites, 55 comments, 16%
- Use MOD land, 44 comments 12.8%
FINDINGS FROM THE 'GENERAL COMMENTS' QUESTION
A total of 660 'other comments' were made. These comments have been collated into themed areas such as access, allotments and cctv for example. The comments in respect of each themed area have then been collated into further key issues.
THEMES
The themed areas which received most comments were;
Parking 103 comments 15.6% of comments
Development 52 comments 7.9% of comments
Access 41 comments 6.2% of comments
Cleansing 39 comments 5.9% of comments
Highways 31 comments 4.7% of comments
It should be noted that questions on parking, development and access were included in the questionnaire and could therefore have prompted a comment on these themes.
KEY ISSUES
Comments for each themed area have been collated into further key issues. Key issues which received over 14 comments (2% of total comments) are detailed below;
Cleansing
Development
Dog fouling
Floral displays
General
Parking
support for free parking/against charging (26 comments out of 103 comments)
provide residents with a permit and charge non residents (23 comments out of 103 comments)
on street parking is a problem (19 comments out of 103 comments )
charge commuters (14 comments out of 103 comments)
Stoke Road
GOSPORT BOROUGH COUNCIL'S RESPONSE TO SURVEY RESULTS
Issue | Comments | Our response |
Access | People are concerned with access issues (41 comments 6.2% of overall comments) | This Council is already aware of the local concern regarding access and has been pressuring Hampshire County Council (who are the highway authority) for many years to make improvement. The County Council are currently progressing the provision of the Light Rail Transit system linking Fareham, Gosport and Portsmouth and it is anticipated that approval for this scheme will be given by the Government in the near future. Proposals for arrangements to Newgate Lane and a possible Stubbington by-pass are now back in the County Council's plans thanks to Gosport Council's pressure. This Council is also attempting to facilitate as many jobs as possible on the Gosport peninsular to reduce the morning out-commuting which causes the current problems. Four hundred new jobs are to be created at Royal Clarence Yard and over five hundred jobs will be created at the Fareham Reach industrial park. A current application for a mixture of business and retail warehouses at Frater Gate could also provide four hundred jobs, and more jobs are also planned at the Fort Brockhurst Industrial site extension and at Priddys Hard Heritage Area. If a more sustainable pattern of development can be achieved then the quality of life in Gosport can be improved. |
Cleansing | Need to improve street cleaning (18 comments , out of 39 comments) | Street Cleansing is a service which was contracted-out by this Council and is currently provided by Quadron Sita. The standard of street cleansing has been recognised as needing improvement and the Council is taking action. A re-organisation was undertaken this year to form a Contracts Unit dealing with our "Other Cleansing Services" Contract. This new unit has concentrated resources on this extremely high profile and important area and improvements have already been noted. If any areas are identified as unsatisfactory please contact our Contracts Unit on 023 9254 5304 |
Dog fouling | Too much dog fouling/need to take measures to control it (15 comments out of 17 comments) | This Council has had much success in reducing dog fouling in past years and was in fa, ct the pioneer for the poop-scoop scheme. Following a recent re-organisation the Council now has a "dog enforcement" team. The Council is actively pursuing prosecutions of any person who is found to be letting their dog foul. This policy is supported by all Councillors. If you are aware of any person who is regularly allowing their dog to foul public places and you would be prepared to give evidence to this effect please contact our dog team on 023 9254 5596 (Environmental Health) |
Floral displays | Gosport's floral displays are good (18 comments out of 21 comments) | Gosport is an annual participant in the Britain in Bloom competition and is proud of its many floral displays. We are pursuing a variety of sponsors to assist with our 2001 entry and hope to continue to improve. The Council also holds a "Gosport in Bloom" competition which is very well supported. We are currently working with local schools to plant many daffodils for Spring displays on the main roads in the Borough. |
General | People satisfied with Gosport Borough Council (15 comments out of 68 comments) | Gosport Council is pleased with this response, however it will still be continually trying to improve its performance and deliver services which are important to the Community. |
Stoke Road | Not satisfied with the Stoke Road improvements (21 comments out of 23 comments) | This scheme was funded by Hampshire County Council as a safety scheme due to a number of accidents, particularly involving vulnerable road users, that had occurred throughout Stoke Road. The alterations are designed to reduce traffic speeds, increase sight lines when exiting the side roads and to improve the general environment for pedestrians. Extensive consultation was undertaken with the local residents prior to the scheme's implementation. The scheme has benefits to all road users and the Council feels that these aims have generally been achieved. The entrance to Stoke Road at the junction with Bury Road has been controversial but the final construction has now been implemented and will, the Council believes, be successful. Some complaints were received during the construction process and these were addressed. The County Council are proposing to fund further enhancements to the footpaths in Stoke Road in the future. If you have any specific concerns regarding the Stoke Road Scheme please contact our Engineer Alison Barnes on 023 9254 5585. |
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