Agenda item

Presentation by Clare Malster, Strategic Community Engagement Officer. 

6.1       The Chairman introduced Ms Clare Malster, SBC's Strategic Community Engagement Officer to the meeting.  Ms Malster explained that a Household Survey was carried out every two years and the results of the survey undertaken in 2015 had now been published.  The Survey had been undertaken in partnership with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Border Sport and Leisure Trust, Transport Scotland and Registered Social Landlords.  Responses had totalled 41% - 2,445 in paper format and a further 261 completed online.  Berwickshire had returned 44% of the questionnaires for the area.  The full Survey details were available online.

6.2       In response to being asked how they rated Scottish Borders Council as a whole, Ms Malster advised that in Berwickshire, the Council was rated as "excellent" (5.9%); "good" (65%); "poor" (10.8%); "very poor" (3%); and just over 15% didn't know.  Opportunities to participate in the decision-making process saw 6.5% of East Berwickshire and 4% of Mid-Berwickshire "very satisfied"; figures for "fairly satisfied" ranged from 36.3% in East Berwickshire to 41.6% in Mid-Berwickshire; "very dissatisfied" residents varied from 7.3% in the east to 10% in Mid Berwickshire.  Generally, satisfaction with local bus services had been generally consistent at around 81% since 2010, and dissatisfaction had remained around 19% for the same period.  Kerbside waste and recycling collection services had shown a drop of 9% in the level of satisfaction and an increase of 3% in dissatisfaction levels since 2013.  Further reduction in levels of satisfaction was detailed across the range of services at Community Recycling Centres.

6.3       The top five neighbourhood problems identified for Safer Communities included: rubbish and litter (40%); anti-social driving and speeding (37%); Parking (35%); unwanted callers at the door (19%); and people using or dealing drugs (14%).  A consistent 97% of people felt safe on their own at home at night with 2% feeling unsafe.  With regard to walking alone in the local area, 97% felt safe during the day as opposed to 70% feeling safe after dark.  Just over 72% of people in Berwickshire accessed the Internet using a mobile device as opposed to 46.5% in 2013, with the number using a home device (television or computer) remaining at around 43% over the same period.  There had been slight increases in the number of residents using Council and other public facilities and an increase of 4.5% of respondees using Internet or email.  Generally, there was a small increase in satisfaction relating to the time it took to repair roads (up to 23%) however 72% of people were still dissatisfied.  Across the area, 93% of participants rated their neighbourhood as a good place to live and residents in the Berwickshire Wards were some of the most satisfied across the Scottish Borders. 

6.4       Discussion followed and it was acknowledged that there was a need to consider alternative ways of providing services in order to manage budget efficiencies now and in the future.  A net saving of around £450,000 had been achieved as a result of the removal of the green waste recycling service.  Further statistics relating to Internet access showed that 100% of those aged between 16 and 34 used the web whereas only 49% of over 75 year olds did.  With reference to Broadband service, there was recognition that some areas of the Scottish Borders did not currently receive a satisfactory Broadband signal and it was hoped that the roll out of superfast Broadband would see a marked improvement for all residents.  The Chairman thanked Ms Malster for attending the Forum and for the presentation.

DECISION

NOTED the presentation.