Issue - meetings

As detailed in the recommendations.

Councillor Thomas introduced the report which sought approval for Flintshire’s acceptance of the offer to participate in the free core modules of the National Residents Survey and the implementation of the Nation Resident Survey before the end of the summer 2024.

Data Cymru and the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) Improvement Programme had developed a modular, resident survey that was being offered free of charge to all local councils in Wales from July 2024.  The survey would collect high level local intelligence identifying people’s perceptions of Flintshire and the Council (the ‘what’).  The data collected would, in turn, inform areas where the Council may need to undertake further, more in-depth research to better understand those perceptions (the ‘why’).

Councils across the whole of the UK continued to face unprecedented financial challenges and it was becoming ever more difficult to balance budgets with public expectation.  With the growing need to make difficult, often unpalatable, financial decisions it was important to understand the views and opinions of residents and provide people with opportunities to have their say in helping to deliver improvements wherever possible.

The Chief Officer (Governance) outlined that the report linked with the previous Digital Strategy report, specifically around the recommendation from Audit Wales on consulting with residents.  The WLGA would be sponsoring the survey, which would ensure a consistent approach across Wales which could be benchmarked.  From 2025, individual councils would be able to commission additional bespoke question modules relevant to their own business need at a small cost.

In response to a question from Councillor Chris Bithell, the Chief Officer gave an assurance that residents who were not able to access the online survey could access it via the Aura Libraires or Connects officers, where the Digital Squad would be available to provide assistance.  Alternatively, paper copies of the survey could be requested by residents.  

RESOLVED:

(a)       That Cabinet approve Flintshire’s acceptance of the offer to participate in the free core modules of the National Resident Survey;

(b)       That Cabinet support Flintshire’s implementation of the National Resident Survey before the end of the summer 2024; and

(c)        That Cabinet champion supplementary consultation and engagement activity based on the findings of the National Resident Survey to better understand the ‘why’ behind the data collected.