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The overall purpose of the research was to assist in Hastings Councils’ Best Value Reviews. The specific areas for review were:
In addition to assisting with the above Reviews, the Council also wished to refresh its Citizens’ Panel: a randomly selected sample of registered electors who agree to assist the Council with future research.
This questionnaire was distributed to respondents as follows: 1177 were current Panel members selected initially by random sample from the Electoral Register, and 2446 were registered electors randomly selected by the Council. Names of people who were already panel members were removed from the new list and a total of 3623 questionnaires were distributed via Royal Mail.
At the time of analysis 1093 completed questionnaires had been returned. Data was weighted in order to make the sample representative of the borough population in terms of age and gender, the achieved sample being particularly unrepresentative of young males.
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The vast majority of respondents, (84%), rated the provision of parks and open spaces in Hastings and St. Leonards as either ‘very good’, (19.9%) or ‘good’ (64.1%). 11.3% rated the provision as ’poor’, (9%), or ’very poor’, (2.3%). It is with respondents with children in the household that the ‘poor’ ratings become most marked, with 17.1% of these respondents rating the provision of parks and open spaces as either ‘poor’ (12.8%), or ‘very poor’, (4.3%); although it should be noted that even amongst respondents with children the positive ratings, (‘very good - 13.9%, ‘good’ - 66%), were still high.
The primary reason given by respondents who had not visited parks and open spaces in the last year, was simply that they did not wish to, (31.6%), with a further 13.2% saying that they had not time or were too busy to go.
The park mentioned most often as being visited was Alexandra Park, which was identified as one visited most often by 47.7% of respondents. This was followed by the Country park, which was mentioned by 9.6% of respondents.
Young people were more likely to have attended a special event than were older people, (18 to 29 years - 24.6%, 30 to 49 years - 23.1%, 50 to 64 years - 8.5%, 65 years and over - 6.5%). The most mentioned special event was the Beer Festival.
Overall, 32.1% of respondents said that graffiti or vandalism had affected their enjoyment of parks and open spaces during the past 12 months. 64.7% said that it had not affected their enjoyment and 3.1% did not give an opinion on this. Graffiti and vandalism has a greater effect on enjoyment the older the respondent. This is illustrated in the figure below, where it is shown that 24.1% of respondents aged between 18 and 29 say that it affects their enjoyment compared with 38.9% of those aged 65 years and over.
A massive 90.5% of respondents agreed that they liked the floral displays on the seafront, with only 3.6% disagreeing, (5.9% no opinion). 16.4% of respondents agreed with the statement that part of the money spent on floral displays on the seafront should be spent elsewhere in the town, with the majority, 62.3% disagreeing with the statement.
The parks and open spaces service which was thought to be of first importance by the largest number of respondents was ‘cleanliness’, rated or ranked as first importance by 42.5% of all respondents. This was closely followed by ‘tidiness, e.g. regular grass cutting and litter collection’. Of least importance was the ‘provision of sports pitches’, ranked as first importance by only 5.6% of respondents.
The majority, (69.1%) of respondents were aware that the Council had a Park Ranger Service. 61.1% of respondents gave a first importance rating (or ranking) to the Ranger Service of patrolling parks and open spaces to ensure that they are safe and ready for use. 24.1% gave a first importance rating or ranking to ‘enforcing park bye laws and dealing with anti social behaviour’.
Only 8.2% of respondents said that they had ‘never visited’ the Country Park, although a further 19.8% said that they had not visited within the last 12 months. i.e. 72% of all respondents had visited within the last year. Those without access to a car in the household were most likely not to have visited, (11.6%), or not to have visited in the last year, (27%). (Total of 38.6% not visited in the last year).
The primary reasons for visiting the Country Park were to walk, (66%); to look at the scenery, (48.2%); to enjoy the natural areas and wildlife, (42.4%); and to sit and relax, (41.4%). The least mentioned reasons were to jog, (1.7%), and to play sport, (1.9%).
The vast majority of respondents, (87.5%), said that they were aware that the Council has a Dog Warden service. Of the services provided by the Dog Wardens, ‘enforcing the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act, and tackling the problem of dog fouling across the Borough was thought to be the most important service by 73.5% of respondents.
Nearly two thirds of all respondents felt that the cemetery grounds within Hastings and St Leonards were either ‘very well’, (24.1%), or ‘well maintained’, (42.3%). Only a small proportion of respondents felt that the cemetery grounds were either ‘badly’, (3.5%), or ‘very badly’ (0.8%) maintained. However, 29.3% did not give an opinion.
Only a minority of the respondents had used Hastings Golf Course in the last 12 months, (7.1%). 1.4% of respondents use the Golf Course at least once a week, with a further 2.3% using it 1 to 3 times a month. 1.8% had used the course in the last six months and 1.6% within the last year.
Nearly two thirds, (63.7%), of respondents felt that the Golf Course should either make a profit, (37%), or ‘break even’, (26.7%). This reduces to 45.1% of users. Although the sample of Golf Course users is small this difference is marginally statistically significant. 11.3% of none users of the Golf Course thought that it should be subsidised, compared with 50.8% of users, nearly one third of whom, (32%), thought that the subsidy should be more than £100,000.
Over half of all respondents, (53.4%), said that they had visited the White Rock Theatre in the last 12 months. 43.9% said that they had not visited and 2.7% did not respond to the question. Younger people are less likely to have visited the theatre than other age groups, (18 to 29 years 41% compared with 62.4% - 30 to 49 years, 59.8% - 50 to 64 years and 50.3% - 65 years and over).
54.8% of respondents thought that the White Rock Theatre should be subsidised. 31.8% thought the Theatre should break even, and 13.4% had no opinion or were not sure. A quarter of Theatre users, (25.5%), thought the Theatre should break even. Although 54.8% of respondents thought the Theatre should be subsidised, 36.9% gave a figure less than the current subsidy.
Those people who did not feel that the White Rock Theatre should be subsidised were asked if the programme was changed to make it more interesting or relevant, would they then think that it should be subsidised. Over two thirds of those who felt the Theatre should not be subsidised, (67.2%), said that they did not think it should be subsidised even if the programme was changed.
Five main themes emerged in respect of encouraging greater use of the Theatre. The over-riding theme was that of a wider range of shows, which was mentioned by two thirds of all respondents, (66.5%). Safer parking nearby and cheaper tickets were mentioned by nearly half of all respondents, (47.1%); and better publicity of shows, (27.9%), were also important factors in encouraging greater usage of the Theatre.
80.8% of respondents said that they had used public toilets in the Borough in the last 12 months. (87.9% of those with children in the household said that they had used public toilets in the Borough).
In the main, ratings for aspects of public toilets were high with the exceptions of baby changing facilities and feelings of personal safety which both fell below a mean score of 2.5. (Mean scores of 1 = very good and 4 = very poor - don’t know/no response removed. Average = mean score of 2.5)
Particularly highly rated were the location of the toilets, (76.8% positive ratings: 11.8% very good and 65% very good); the levels of maintenance, (64% positive ratings : 8.1% very good and 55.9% good); and the levels of cleanliness of public toilets, (67.9% positive ratings : 11.4% very good and 56.5% good); in the Borough.
All Council buildings were deemed to be either very or reasonably clean by the vast majority of respondents. Only in respect of the Housing Benefits/Council Tax Reception (2.5% dirty, 0.3% very dirty), and the White Rock Theatre, (2.4% dirty, 0.1% very dirty), did more than 2% of respondents consider the interior of buildings not to be clean.
The majority of respondents expressed the view that there should be 32 Councillors, as it is now, (52.9%), with 28.5% saying that there should be less Councillors than now.
As with the previous question, the majority of respondents would prefer status quo in respect of Council Elections, and 61.1% opted for elections twice in every four years as it is now. Only 12.1% would like three elections every four years, and 19.4% were in favour of elections once every four years.
62.3% of respondents claimed to have voted when they last had the opportunity in a Council election. This figure correlates with national data on recollection of voting by the general public. Young people are most likely to say that they did not vote, (47.6%), with people 65 years and over being least likely to say this, (11.4%).
By September 6th 2000, 1026 individuals had volunteered to take part in future research for Hastings Borough Council. Of these 714 were original volunteers to the Panel and 312 were ’new recruits’.
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This page last updated: 01/07/2003