Citizens' Panel Newsletter

Spring 2007

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Welcome to the latest Citizens' Panel newsletter. In this edition we let you know the findings from the latest survey that included questions on Tameside in Bloom, the Countryside, Tameside's Community Strategy, District Assemblies and Education Welfare.

Tameside in Bloom

We asked the Panel questions about the Tameside in Bloom campaign, which aims to foster a sense of civic pride, get local people involved in creating a cleaner and greener local environment and work towards the Council's priority of making Tameside an attractive borough.

Almost all of the Panel have heard of Tameside in Bloom, with 80% saying they know about it. Although few Panel members took part in Tameside in Bloom last year, 93% of the Panel noticed the floral displays in their local area.

Panel members feel positively about how the floral displays affected the appearance of Tameside (72% said the displays and hanging baskets made the borough look a lot better).

Almost two-thirds of the Panel say that Tameside in Bloom made them feel more positive about their local area.

Look out for the improvements in your local area over 2007.

Local residents, businesses, community groups and schools will all be involved in creating an environment everyone can be proud of. One quarter of the Panel gave permission for the Council to send them more information about how to get involved in Tameside in Bloom in 2007.

Countryside Survey

We wanted to find out what the Panel feel about Tameside's Countryside. No part of the built up area of the Borough is more than 1.5 kilometre from accessible countryside, providing everyday contact with landscape and nature, important for the well-being and quality of life of the local community.

As the chart shows, the majority of Panel members have visited the local countryside over the last twelve months.

How often Panel members visited the local countryside over the last twelve months

• More than once a week = 11%
• Weekly = 11%
• More than once a month = 23%
• Less than once a month = 40%
• Never = 16%

The main reasons why Panel members visit the local countryside are to relax and enjoy the peace and quiet (65%said they visited the countryside for this reason), to walk for pleasure (53%) and to enjoy the views (51%). The Council also asked the Panel about satisfaction with different elements of the countryside. Panel members were most satisfied with stiles and gates (84% satisfaction), car parking (74%), signage (74%) and path surfaces (70%). Panel members were less satisfied with cleanliness (53% satisfaction) and feelings of security (56%). The Council will aim to increase the number of visits by countryside rangers to litter hotspots. It will also aim where possible to keep pathways clear and visible and free from blind spots by removing overhead vegetation.

The main reason why some Panel members don't visit the countryside is because of lack of time, health and mobility problems and lack of transport. To find out more about Tameside's countryside, walking routes, visitor centres and a varied organised countryside events programme please visit http://www.tameside.gov.uk/leisure/new/leisure4.htm or call the Countryside service on0161 330 9613.

Tameside Community Strategy

Tameside's Community Strategy sets out a long-term blueprint for the borough. Following extensive consultation with local residents in 2002, six priorities were identified for the future of Tameside for all local organisations to work towards.

The Council wanted to find out whether the six shared priorities for Tameside remain important to local residents. As the chart shows, the majority of Panel members feel that the six priorities are still important.

Panel members' feelings about how important each of the six shared priorities are for Tameside

• A Safe Environment = 98%
• A Healthy Population = 96%
• A Learning Community = 93%
• A Supportive Community = 93%
• An Attractive Borough = 92%
• A Prosperous Society = 83%

100% of Panel members say that low levels of crime, low levels of anti-social behaviour and feeling safe on the streets are important in making the borough a good place to live.

The Council will continue to work closely with organisations like the Police to further reduce crime and make Tameside a safe place to live, work and play.

The Panel also say that clean streets, good health services, parks and open spaces, good schools and support for older people are important in making Tameside a good place to live.

The Council and other organisations such as the health service and police, local businesses and voluntary and community groups will continue to work together towards the six shared priorities to improve quality of life for everyone in the borough.

District Assemblies

Panel members were asked how strongly they agree with a series of statements about District Assemblies.

85% of Panel members agree that District Assemblies are a good idea, while 71% think that they make the Council more aware of public opinion.

Only 13% of Panel members have attended a District Assembly meeting, however many more (in the region of 40%) would do so if they have a particular complaint or problem to raise, or wanted to request a service.

For those who have been to a meeting, the most popular reason for attending is to listen to the debate on a specific issue.

The Council will continue to deliver services such as street cleaning and projects such as Tameside in Bloom via District Assemblies. Meetings will continue to take place every seven weeks in the eight district assembly areas of Tameside.

Education Welfare

The Panel were asked what they think are the main reasons why some pupils don't go to school regularly, and this was found to be lack of family support. The Council finds that the main reasons why some pupils don't go to school regularly are illness and family holidays. Parents are therefore asked to take family holidays in the periods when schools are closed, unless it is unavoidable.

The Panel were also asked which things the Education Welfare Department could do to encourage some pupils to go to school more regularly. The most popular options are parenting support programmes and better communication between schools and the home. The Council works with other organisations such as the health service to offer support to parents through health visitors, school choice advisors and support for pupils with special educational needs. It also works with schools to develop better policies on communicating with parents.

If you have any comments, ideas or queries about the Citizens' Panel please contact:

Jonathon Blackburn tel: 0161 342 3529