[cma-l] Citizenship Survey - Empowering communities

[Bill Best]

Fwd:

26 Jun 2008 11:30

From: http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/162619

People need more power to influence and control their local services
Communities Secretary Hazel Blears said today, as new figures show
that fewer than four in ten people feel their voices are being heard
at local level.

Headline figures from the Citizenship Survey (April 2007 - March 2008)
show that in the last year just 38% of respondents felt able to
influence decisions in their local area whilst only 39% of people were
involved in some kind of civic participation such as attending a
public meeting, signing a local petition or contacting a local
councillor.

The findings tally closely with data from this year's local elections
which showed average voter turnout at around 40% or less. Taken
together, the findings suggest a sense of apathy pervading the local
democratic process which is something the Government is keen to
address.

The Government wants to see greater involvement of local people in the
decision making process and greater accountability so that when people
do get involved in meetings or signing petitions they can be sure
those efforts are not wasted.

Research shows that where people have opportunities to participate and
feel they can influence decisions their satisfaction with the local
authority tends to be higher. By giving more people more of a say and
a greater bearing on the decisions that affect them the Government
wants to bring about a real shift in power with local people playing a
bigger role improving communities up and down the country.

The Government has already announced new measures for local people to
have a say through community kitties, a new right to a response when
people sign a petition on an issue that matters to them and greater
ownership of community assets. In the coming weeks Hazel Blears will
publish a Community Empowerment White Paper which will go even further
in giving more power to local people.

Hazel Blears said:

"Too few people feel they can influence decisions either at a local or
national level. Everyone should have a real sense of power and control
over key aspects of their life - such as tackling crime or improving
healthcare - and that means giving people a bigger say in the
decisions that affect them.

"Local people often know what the solutions to problems in their area
are - but too often we don't include them in the process. If we want
the highest quality services that really meet people's needs then we
need to find better ways of hearing what they have to say and put
communities in control of the services that affect their lives."

Despite lower levels of civic participation, broader measures on
attitudes towards and involvement in communities captured by the
Citizenship Survey are generally very positive. The Citizenship survey
shows that:

* nearly three quarters (73%) of all adults have volunteered at least
once in the last year;

* 48 % have volunteered at least once a month;

* 82% of people think that people from different backgrounds get on
well in their local area;

* The numbers of people that feel they belong strongly to their
neighbourhood has risen from 70% in 2003 to 75% in 2008.

The third section of the Citizenship Survey reports views on racial
prejudice and discrimination. Findings include:

* a decline in the number of people from ethnic minority groups who
felt hat they would be treated worse than other races by at least one
of eight public service organisations from 38% in 2001 to 34% in
2007-082

* Less than 1 in 10 people (9%) say that racial or religious
harassment is a problem in their local area.

* 56% of people feel that there is now more racial prejudice in
Britain than five years ago.

* People from ethnic minorities (32%) are less likely than White
people (58%) to feel that there is now more racial prejudice in
Britain compared with five years ago.

Notes to Editors

1. Every year almost 15,000 people are asked their views on issues
around community cohesion, racial prejudice and discrimination,
values, civic engagement and interaction. The biggest survey of its
kind, the Citizenship Survey is one of the key tools used by
Government to inform policy development and measure the effect of its
policies.

2. The full findings from the fourth quarter of the Citizenship Survey
April 2007 - March 2008 can be found at
http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/857938

News Releases: http://www.communities.gov.uk/newsroom

1. The participation/satisfaction research relates to the Communities
and Local Government (2007) Best Value User Satisfaction Survey
2006-07: General Survey National Report, London CLG.

2 The eight organisations looked at are the police, the prison
service, the courts, the Crown Prosecution Service, the probation
service, a council housing department or housing association, a local
GP and a local school.