Citizen's Panel July 2001 (Summary)

Back to top of page...

Introduction: Research Objectives and Methodology

1. The overall aim of this survey was to gather information which would assist with several service reviews. Information was collected relating to 'Waste Management', 'the White Rock Theatre', 'Neighbourhood Forums', 'Community Safety', and 'future Community Surveys'.
2. Self-completion questionnaires were sent to all 1152 members of the Councils Citizens' Panel. Questionnaires were also sent to 2146 residents who were randomly selected from the Electoral Register.
3. Questionnaires were posted during July 2001. A total of 1,239 completed questionnaires were returned by the time of the analysis: 617 from Original Panel members (response rate 54%), and 620 from those selected from the Electoral Register (response rate 29%).

Back to top of page...

Summary of Main Findings

Waste Management

1. 85.3% all respondents believed that 'Overall' the Domestic Refuse Collection service had been 'good' over the last year (52.8% 'very good' + 32.5% 'fairly good'). Only 3.1% were of the opinion that the service had been 'poor'.
2. The Domestic Refuse Collection was rated most highly in respect of 'frequency' (63.6% 'very good' + 25.2% 'fairly good'), and 'punctuality' (59% 'very good' + 30.6% ' fairly good'). The service was rated least positively in relation to 'tidiness' (39.8% 'very good' + 33.7% 'fairly good'.

'How would you rate our Domestic Refuse Collection over the last year ?' (% response - all respondents)

1. 52.1% of all respondents believed that Hastings Borough Council should provide bins for household waste.
2. If bins were provided, almost three-quarters (73.6%) of all respondents would be 'prepared to place waste at their front gate for collection'. Older respondents, and those with a personal disability were less prepared than others to move waste.
3. 73.1% of all respondents believed their household is included in the Black Box Paper Collection Scheme. 92.9% of those who believed their household is included in the Black Box Paper Collection Scheme (67.9% of the total sample) regularly participate in the scheme.
4. The large majority (84.5%) of those who currently participate in the Paper Collection Scheme are of the opinion that 'other materials such as glass, cans, plastics etc. should also be collected'.
5. Only 27.5% of those whose households are included in the Paper Collection Scheme but do not currently participate, regularly recycle other materials such as glass, cans, plastics etc., though 40.7% of these respondents believed they would participate in the Collection Scheme if other materials were also included.
6. The majority (59.2%) of respondents were aware that the Council offers a free bulky waste collection service. Only 30.1% of those who were aware that the Council offers a free bulky waste collection service had used the service in the last year (16.8% of the total sample). Over three-quarters (79.7%) of those who had used the Bulky Waste Collection Service in the last year expressed satisfaction with the service, whilst 14.5% expressed dissatisfaction The main reasons for dissatisfaction related to 'difficulty with contacting the Council to request the service' and the 'waiting time' for collection.
7. Over half of all respondents (51.2%) believed that the Street Cleansing Service 'Overall' had been 'good' over the last year, (7.7% 'very good' + 43.5% 'fairly good'), whilst just over one-in-five (21.9%) were of the opinion that it was 'poor'.
8. 13. The standard of street cleanliness in St. Leonards Town Centre, over the last year, was judged by the total sample to be somewhat poorer (34.1% poor), than in most other areas of the town: 'Hastings Town Centre' 20.1% 'poor'; 'Seafront/promenade' 12.3% 'poor', and 'residential streets of local neighbourhood' 28.3% 'poor'.

'How would you rate the standard of street cleanliness, over the last year?' (% response - all respondents)

1. In terms of satisfaction with street cleaning in the local neighbourhood, there was significant differences between Wards, with less than 20% of respondents from 'St. Helens', 'Ashdown' and 'Elphinstone' being of the opinion that the standard was 'poor', compared to over 40% of those from 'Gensing', 'Hollington', and 'Central St. Leonards'.
2. 55.9% of the total sample were in favour of 'selling the DY1 number plate on the Mayor's car, (for approximately £35,000), if the monies raised were used to remove abandoned and untaxed vehicles from the Borough's streets;
3. Only 22.6% of the sample had needed to contact the Council about waste issues in the last year. The great majority of those who had contacted the Council about waste, had done so using the 'telephone' (86.2%). Less than two-thirds (64.2%) of those who had contacted the Council about waste felt that the Council's response had been 'efficient and effective, whilst 30.7% felt it had 'not been efficient and effective'.

White Rock Theatre

SINCE THIS CITIZENS PANEL WAS CONDUCTED, THE COUNCIL CABINET HAVE MADE A DECISION TO SEEK OTHER OPTIONS ABOUT THE FUNDING AND PROVISION OF THE WHITE ROCK THEATRE AND ARTS IN THE FUTURE - THESE OPTIONS WILL BE SUBJECT TO FURTHER PUBLIC CONSULTATION BY THE USE OF FOCUS GROUPS.

1. More than half (56.5%) of all respondents had NOT visited the White Rock Theatre in the past twelve months, 36.2% had visited '1 to 3 times', 5.1% had visited '4 to 6 times' and only 2.2% had visited 'more than 6 times'.
2. Over half (51.6%) of all respondents were in favour of the Council investing a subsidy in the Theatre of £590,000 to £735,000 each year for the next four years (in line with the Business Plan).
3. Respondents who did not support the Business Plan level of subsidy, were asked 'what level of subsidy would you support?': 33.4% of these respondents were 'not in favour of any subsidy', 24.4% would support 'up to £250,000 per year', and 23% 'up to £500,000 per year', whilst 19.2% were not sure.
4. Over the total sample, support for Theatre subsidy is thus: 51.6% '£590,000 to £735,000', 7.5% 'up to £500,000', 8% 'up to £250,000', 11% 'none', and 21.7% 'no opinion/don't know'.
5. The large majority (71.8%) of all respondents indicated that they were likely to attend at least one type of performance over the next year.
6. Comedy' performances, with tickets costing £10-15, were the most popular types of event, with almost a half (48.2%) of all respondents believing they were likely to attend to see these over the next twelve months. 'Variety/Pantomime at £7-15' (43%), and 'Rock and Pop at £12-15' (40%), were the second and third most popular types of events, followed by 'Amateur productions at £8' (34.5%), and 'Drama at £6 (34.1%).
7. Amongst those who are not likely to attend any events at all during the next year, 'type of event' (27%) was the main reason for non-attendance, followed by 'cost' (21.7%), and 'difficulty of access' (7.6%). However 30.9% of these respondents referred to 'other' unlisted reasons which included 'lack of interest', 'lack of public transport', 'inadequate parking', 'safety issues/fear of crime/vandalism etc', and 'age/ill health'.
8. Respondents were asked 'If money was to be made available for the performing arts or other community facilities by closing the Theatre, which of the following would you wish the Council to support? (seven projects were listed). There was greatest support amongst the sample for 'A major new outdoor leisure and healthy living event for families and young children', given as a 'first priority' by 27.9% of all respondents, and as a priority (1st or 2nd or 3rd) by just under half (48.8%).
9. If the Theatre continues, most respondents would like to see 'Festivals & Conferences' (62.6%) and 'Exhibitions' (62.3%) as additional activities in the theatre building. 'A tourist attraction' (46.9%), and 'Educational activities', (46%), were also seen as attractive propositions, each referred to by just under a half of all respondents. Neighbourhood Forums
10. When asked if they 'would be interested in participating in a Neighbourhood Forum', just over a quarter (26.4%) of all respondents said 'yes', and a further 33.8% gave a 'not sure' response.
11. Over half of all respondents (52.3%) were of the opinion that the proposed areas for Neighbourhood Forums are the right ones for their areas. Only 5.3% of respondents were of the opinion that the areas were 'not' the right ones. Only in respect of two wards of the Borough did the proportion of respondents who did not agree with the proposed Forum areas exceed 10% ('Castle' 11.1%, and 'Old Hastings' 13%).
12. When asked 'what sorts of issues would you like to see neighbourhood Forums address', the great majority (91.4%) of respondents referred to 'crime', with three other issues also being referred to by more than half of all respondents - 'environment' (71.1%), 'drugs' (63.8%) and 'youth service and activity' (55%).
13. Over a third (37.4%) of all respondents would be willing to attend discussions to discuss how funds should be spent if a Forum in their area was allocated funds. On a Ward basis, willingness to attend discussions as to how funding should be spent ranged from only 20.6% in 'Broomgrove' to over 45% in 'Braybrooke' (47.4%) and 'Gensing; (49.5%).
14. 'Planning the future of the area', referred to by just under half (48.9%) of all respondents as a '1st priority', and by 78.6% as a priority (1st or 2nd) was deemed the main priority for Neighbourhood Forums'. Community Safety
15. The great majority of respondents feel 'safe' whilst in their own homes, both during the day (95.8%) and at night (93.5%).
16. The majority (83.7%) of respondents also feel safe whilst walking alone in their local neighbourhood during the day; however, 12.8% feel 'unsafe', particularly those with a disability (23.6%), and those living in Housing Association properties (20.1%).
17. Almost half (48.6%) of all respondents feel 'unsafe' whilst walking alone in their local neighbourhood at night, whilst only 35.1% of all respondents said they feel safe (14.4% said they 'don't walk alone in their neighbourhood at night' and 1.8% did not respond).
18. Both Hastings Town Centre and St. Leonards Town Centre were generally viewed as 'unsafe' places to be at night: 48.6% of all respondents felt 'unsafe' whilst walking alone in Hastings Town Centre at night; and 45.3% felt 'unsafe' whilst walking alone in St. Leonard Town Centre at night.
19. The overall view of the sample was that St. Leonards Town Centre was not as safe a place to walk during the day as was Hastings Town Centre: 80% of respondents felt 'safe' walking alone in Hasting Town Centre (and only 14.1% felt 'unsafe'), compared to only 51.6% who felt 'safe' walking alone in St. Leonards Town Centre, and 28.4% who felt 'unsafe'.

How safe do you feel when... ?' (% response - all respondents)

1. 'Youths or strangers causing annoyance or loitering' was the main reason given for feeling unsafe, (51.6%), referred to by over half of those who ever feel unsafe whilst walking alone, in respect of the local neighbourhood and the town centres: 'Hastings Town Centre' (68.4%), 'St Leonards Town Centre' (63.9%), 'Local Neighbourhood' (51.6%) and 'other areas' (42.1%).'Local neighbourhood' 51.6%.

'If you feel unsafe at all walking alone during the day or night, why is this?' (% response - all those who reported feeling unsafe)

1. 'House burglary' (16.9%). 'Vehicles being damaged' (15.0%), and 'Speeding offences', (13%), were the incidences 'in the local neighbourhood' which caused most concern, and were the only ones mentioned by more than one-in-ten respondents.
2. Incidents which caused most concern in Hastings Town Centre, and which were mentioned by more than one-in-ten of respondents were 'rowdiness or disorder' (15.9%), 'public drunkenness' (15.3%) and 'physical assault' (10.8%), with this latter type of incident being of a lesser concern to older respondents (over 55 years).
3. 'Public drunkenness' (19.7%). was the only type of incident in St. Leonards town centre which caused concern to more than 10% of all respondents.

'Which of the following incidents causes you most concern' % Response (rounded to nearest %) - all respondents

1. Respondents were generally concerned about all types of crime. Respondents expressed most concern about 'Burglary' (47.2% very concerned + 33.5% fairly concerned), but only in respect of 'sexual assault' (64.4%), and 'theft from your car' (69.6%), did the percentage of all respondents who expressed concern ('very concerned' or 'fairly concerned') fall below 70%.

Concern about different types of crime (% Response - all respondents)

1. The majority (65%) of all respondents reported 'rarely (36.7%) or 'never' (28.3%) seeing a police officer patrol in a car in their local neighbourhood these days. Police officer patrols on foot or cycle were reported to have been sighted even less often, with 67.7% of respondents reporting that they 'never' see such patrols in their local neighbourhood these days, and a further 22% saying such sightings were 'rare'.
2. When respondents were asked to choose which three police tasks were most important, two tasks emerged as clear leaders: 'responding immediately to emergency calls investigating serious crime' (mentioned by 67.9% of all respondents), and 'patrolling streets' (60.5%), with 'dealing with public disorder' in a clear third place (mentioned by 47.5%).
3. However, all police tasks (listed on the questionnaire) were deemed important (very or fairly) by over three-quarters of all respondents: 'Responding immediately to emergency calls investigating serious crime' (94.2%), ''dealing with public disorder' (93.5%), 'patrolling streets' (92.7%), 'investigating drug dealing' (89.3%), 'reducing crime through crime prevention initiatives' (87.6), 'reducing car crashes by targeting drink driving and speeding' (85.6%), 'providing support to victims of crime' (82.9) and 'getting involved in the community (76.4%).
4. Over one-in-five respondents (21.4%) reported that they had been a victim of crime within the last three years and had not reported it to the police.
5. Awareness of police/community initiatives was highest in respect of 'CCVT' (92.1% of all respondents aware), and 'Neighbourhood Watch' (91%): these were followed by 'Road Safety Campaigns' (74.1%), 'Victim support Schemes' (71.2%), 'Crime Stoppers' (63.3%), 'Property Marking', 'Property Marking' (61.7%) and 'Schools Liaison' (60.3%). Initiatives which had the lowest awareness amongst respondents were 'Crime Prevention Panels (33% aware), and 'SNAP - Say No and Phone' (only 17.9% aware).
6. The principal suggestion when asked for views as to what could be done to make the Borough of Hastings a safer place to live, related to 'more visible police presence', mentioned by 41.3% of all respondents.

Citizens Panel

1. 'Postal Questionnaires' (the current method), was the method that the majority (72.1%) of panel members most preferred for giving their views to the Council.
2. Only small minorities expressed a preference for other methods of consultation, with the most popular of these being 'e-mail questionnaires', given as a preference by 6.6% of all respondents.
3. However, many respondents were willing to use several methods for giving their views to the Council: 'postal questionnaires' (73.3%), 'short telephone interview' (39.1%), 'doorstep interview' (23.4%), 'e-mail questionnaire' (23.3%), and 'on-line at the Council's website' (10.3%). 5.9% of respondents were willing to use any method of consultation ('no preference').

Back to top of page...