Thurs 23 July 2015

Residents happy with council services but less impressed with councillors: National Research Bureau

Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick is not surprised that a new independent survey shows Rotorua residents expressing growing satisfaction with council services, but has highlighted the need for elected officials to improve their individual performances.

“This council organisation has worked very hard to lift its performance during the last year so it’s pleasing to see those results being acknowledged by residents. But given the divisive and aggressive behaviour around some local issues at our council table, it’s no wonder residents have assessed councillors’ behaviour and effectiveness as having dropped since last year.”

Mrs Chadwick was referring to the findings of a community perceptions survey undertaken by National Research Bureau (NRB) earlier in the year. The annual survey helps Rotorua Lakes Council independently measure residents’ views of the performance of a range of council activities and services, against objectives set in each year’s annual plan.

While 86 per cent of Rotorua people found the performance of council staff to be acceptable - up from 79 per cent last year - the acceptance rating for the mayor and councillors dropped six per cent to 79 per cent, compared to last year’s higher 85 per cent approval figure.

“This year’s survey was conducted in its traditional timeframe and that happened to coincide with the Te Arawa partnership consultation and hearings period. We know that was a passionate and difficult conversation which tested many. I would expect all elected officials to consider this community feedback against their own contribution during the last year, especially during that particular time,” said Mrs Chadwick.

“As mayor I believe we’re working on the right path for improving the place of Rotorua. However, I also believe the behaviour of elected members, both individually and collectively, has to be in the best interests of the district.

“Displays like Councillor Kent’s confrontational grandstanding today [Weds 22 July] before storming out of the Council Chamber during our Operations and Monitoring Committee meeting, does little to encourage public confidence. He also failed to attend this afternoon’s important council meeting where we had approval of the long-term plan on the agenda.

“This is not the first time the Pro-Democracy Society aligned councillor has attacked staff and the city’s reputation during this council term. It’s a theme that he continues to follow even though he no longer resides in our district. Councillor Kent’s negativity is a detraction from those who are working in a positive environment.”

High satisfaction with council services

The 2015 NRB Public Perceptions Survey reveals that the vast majority of Rotorua residents are satisfied with council services, with approval levels for some council activities reaching per centage figures in the high 90s.

The top rated council service was district beautification and landscaping with 98 per cent of people satisfied, followed closely by high approval levels for sewerage systems (97%), water supplies (96), rubbish collection (95%), city cleanliness (94%) and stormwater systems (93%).

Other high approval levels were recorded for cycling facilities (89%), parks and playgrounds (89%), roads (87%), sports fields (85%), tourism promotion (85%), city parking (85%), library (84%), footpaths (82%), events promotion (81%) and the museum (80%).

Even the services with the lowest acceptance ratings still had a majority of respondents giving approval. These were public toilets with 56 per cent acceptance, business and investment promotion (59%), and the aquatic centre (69%). However the council has announced measures in its recently adopted long-term plan to improve public toilets and the aquatic centre, and to boost work on business and investment attraction.

Mayor Chadwick said she was encouraged by the community’s high ratings for the majority of council services, and the equally high rating for the performance of council staff.

“It shows our community believes we’re getting it right in most cases and providing services at levels they’re mostly very happy with.

Other key results from the 2015 NRB survey:

• 71% satisfied with the way rates are spent by the council (23% not satisfied).

• 82% have had some influence on council decisions (14% say ‘no influence’).

• 80% satisfied with service received when making direct contact with the council (18% not satisfied).

• 71% say newspapers are the main media source of information about council activities (radio 9%, newsletters 8%, council website 9%).

• 60% received sufficient information from the council (35% not enough).

• 64% say community spirit in Rotorua is good/very good (9% not very good/poor)

• 50% say cultural diversity makes the district a better place (9% worse, 42% neither better or worse).

• 53% have household emergency kits

• 49% have household emergency plans for a Civil Defence emergency.

A summary of the NRB community perception survey can be viewed on the council website –rotorualakescouncil.nz.

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