Comparator / Action Plan
Performance Indicator Action Plan
Comments on Current Performance:In 1999 as part of the Kwest Survey, it was found that only 32% of people questioned were satisfied with the levels of street cleansing in the city. This seemed to be in direct contrast to the findings of the Directorate’s monitoring inspections, which were showing up to 90% of the City’s streets were of a high or acceptable level of cleanliness. In September of this year the Directorate commissioned the Tidy Britain Group to carry out a similar survey, questioning 200 people about their views on the cleanliness of the City. The results showed that 45% of respondents were either very satisfied or satisfied with levels of cleanliness in the City, 51% of the same people were satisfied with cleaning levels in their local area, and this score rose to 56% of respondents being satisfied when questioned about cleanliness levels in their own streets.
This improvement in cleanliness levels from a public viewpoint, can hopefully be explained by the increased levels of mechanisation in street cleansing services since 1999 when the Kwest Survey was held. Mechanisation has led to increased frequencies of areas being swept, and it is hoped these extra sweeps will be added to in the near future as extra mini-sweepers are introduced.
Barriers to Improvement:
The biggest problem facing the Directorate regarding satisfaction levels re. street cleanliness is one of ‘perception’. Most people when asked about street cleanliness take several factors into account. i.e. physical appearance of buildings, derelict land, untidy street furniture, graffiti, vandalism etc. What is required to get a true picture of people’s perception is that they understand what is meant by ‘street cleansing’.
The survey carried out by the Tidy Britain Group in September of this year bares this out. A large proportion of comments which stated street cleansing was poor, when interrogated a little further, proved to be dissatisfaction with graffiti, weeds, unkempt pieces of land, vandalism, dog-fouling and dilapidated buildings. Therefore there is a need to address associated elements such as those above when considering a clean environment. This is currently being addressed as part of the Best Value Streetscene Review.
Current/Proposed Action:
In order to achieve this ‘true picture perspective’, and as part of the Best Value consultation requirement, the Directorate has commissioned the Tidy Britain Group to carry out formal consultation exercises over the next 3 years involving face-to-face questionnaires and focus groups, to investigate in more detail residents true perceptions on street cleansing quality.
The first years results have been encouraging in that 45% of respondents felt cleansing standards were good. This result is 5% in excess of the year 2001/02 target of 40%. It is anticipated that as mechanised sweeping methods are increased, and environmental maintenance monitoring methods refined, that cleansing will improve still further, resulting in higher levels of public satisfaction.
Top Quartile to be Achieved By (Date):
2004 / Lead Officer:
Malcolm Thorpe
Assistant Director (Contract Services)
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