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Residents' Satisfaction Survey 2003

In 2003 a survey was undertaken of 1400 local residents on their satisfaction with living in the Rother District. Residents were particularly surveyed about their satisfaction with Rother District Council services.

The main findings of the survey are given under each of the headings below. This includes an explanation of how the survey was carried out and who completed the survey.

  • Overall Satisfaction with Rother District Council in 2003
    In 2003 56.2% of Rother residents are satisfied with the Council overall. 12.5% were dissatisfied. The remainder expressed no preference either way or didn't know.
  • Complaints to the Council
    In 2003 12% of respondents said that they had complained to Rother District Council within the last three years. 37% of those respondents were satisfied with the way that their complaint had been handled. This is a drop of 4% since 2000. However, this result was among the best 25% of local authorities in England.
  • How Well the Council Keeps Residents Informed
    In the 2003 survey respondents were asked how well they think that the Council keeps them informed about its services. Over half (52%) of Rother residents thinks that the Council keeps them fairly or very well informed. 40% of residents think the Council gives them limited or very little information.
  • Housing Advice Services
    30% of respondents were satisfied with housing advice services. 4.2% were not satisfied. The remainder had no opinion either way or didn't know. Only 9% of respondents had used the service.
  • Environmental Services
    47.7% of Rother residents, when surveyed in 2003, were satisfied with these services. 6.5% were dissatisfied. 17% of residents had used the services in the last 12 months.
  • Benefits Service
    This service was surveyed separately in 2003. All respondents were benefit claimants. 97% had made successful claims and 3% had made unsuccessful claims. Overall satisfaction with the benefit service was 86%. The result three years ago, in 2000, was 54%. So, this is a significant improvement of 32%.
  • Planning Service
    This service was the subject of a separate survey at the same time in 2003. All respondents in the survey had submitted a planning application, and were asked to respond regardless of whether or not they had received approval. 66% of respondents were satisfied with the service provided by the Council. 21% were dissatisfied.
  • Cultural and Recreational Services
    In 2003, 40% of respondents said that they were satisfied with cultural and recreational services provided by the Council. 6.8% said that they were dissatisfied. 18% of residents had used the services in the last 12 months.
  • Household Waste Collection
    In 2003 94.2% of Rother residents were satisfied with household waste collection. This was a 2% increase on the previous survey in 2000.
  • Litter and Refuse on Public Land
    In 2003 73% of residents were fairly or very satisfied with the way public land is kept clear of litter and refuse. 12% of residents were dissatisfied. This result is amongst the best 25% of satisfaction levels of all the Councils in England (makes Rother one of the best).
  • Council Services That Residents Thought Got Worse
  • Level of Access to the Internet
    The survey included a question on whether residents had access to the internet in any form.
  • Level of Home Composting
    In the 2003 survey we asked whether or not the respondent had a composter or compost heap. This was asked to find out the level of success of our campaign to promote home composting. Home composting is one way to reduce household waste.
  • Top Five Problems in Anti-Social Behaviour
    In the survey in 2003 the respondents were given a list of different types of anti-social behaviour. They were asked to tick any that they find is a problem in their area. They were asked two extra questions about how safe they feel outside in their area during the day and at night.
  • Results - Top Five Things Residents Say Have Got Worse in Rother (2003)
    Residents were asked to pick from a list their selection of five areas that they thought had got worse in Rother since 2000.
  • Results - The Top Five Things That Residents Think Have Most Improved in Rother
    In the 2003 survey the respondents were given a list of things that affect the quality of life in an area. They were asked to pick the five things that they thought had most improved in the District.
  • Results - The Top Five Things That Need Improving in Rother
    In the 2003 survey the respondents were given a list of elements related to overall quality of life. They were asked to pick five things that they think needed improving the most in the District.
  • Residents Who Did The Survey
    The 2003 survey was sent to a selection of 2900 local residents and 1400 completed surveys were returned.
  • Methodology
    The survey was undertaken in 2003 under criteria set by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. (That department no longer exists. The replacement is the Department of Communities and Local Government.)
  • Background
    Once every three years, from 2000 up to 2006, all local authorities (councils) in England were obliged to carry out a research survey with local residents.
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