Porirua residents continue to rate council services highly

Porirua residents continue to have a high level of satisfaction with most of the Council’s services, facilities and performance areas, Porirua City Council’s Te Komiti heard today.

The 2015 Residents’ Satisfaction Survey, carried out by Key Research earlier this year, found an 86 per cent high satisfaction rating overall for the Council.

“It’s pleasing to see that the overall satisfaction with services has increased from last year,” said Te Komiti Chairperson Euon Murrell.

“People gave many of the services we provide a 90 per cent or higher level of satisfaction ranking.”

These included: library services (98 per cent); Pataka and Te Rauparaha Arena (both 97 per cent); burial and cremation facilities and services (95 per cent); parks, public gardens and reserves (94 per cent); water supply (93 per cent); swimming pools (93 per cent); festivals and events (93 per cent); sewerage system (92 per cent); recreational cycleways and walkways; recycling; sportsfields and outdoor courts; and graffiti removal (all 90 per cent).

Services of the most importance to Porirua residents are water supply; sewerage; storm water; the quality of the natural environment; and litter removal and cleaning in public places.

Having a healthy harbour, coast, wetlands, streams, hills and native bush rated 95 per cent in terms of importance.

“Our residents have told us that they want more attention given to improving the quality of the natural environment. In particular, they would like to see a reduction in pollution and silt in the harbour,” said Cr Murrell.

The survey is helpful in guiding Council decisions and spending.

“We have for some years now had a focus on improving the harbour and catchment. This is one of our strategic priorities and a lot of good work has been done. Clearly the public is keen to see us continue to commit resources to this.

“We also know from the survey that people want more attention given to the central city Cobham Court area and this is another area we’re focussing on in our Long Term Plan deliberations.”

Although over two-thirds (67 per cent) of residents are happy with the way the Council spends rates, this is an 8 per cent decline in resident satisfaction from last year.

“Porirua residents pay high rates and that’s largely because we have fewer ratepayers per head of population because we’re a young city with more people per household.

“So we have less money to work with compared to our neighbours but we still need to invest in costly infrastructure to keep our city thriving, address the needs of our harbour and improve our CBD. It’s a very difficult balancing act.”

Chief Executive Gary Simpson said the Council had a responsibility to get resident’s views on performance.

“We need to track how well our efforts are carrying through to our residents,” he said.

"The best way to do this is to interview a representative cross-section of people, and to have this done by an independent group to ensure impartiality.”

Using a randomised selection method, residents from throughout the City are interviewed by phone and asked their opinions. The survey is totally confidential.

Mr Simpson said the results of the survey form part of the Council’s formal reporting. They are also a critical ingredient in planning for further improvements to Council’s delivery of services.

The full report can be found on the Council's website at www.pcc.govt.nz and search "Residents Survey".

ENDS

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