CHB 2019 Residents’ Opinion Survey results released

Ninety-two per cent of Central Hawke’s Bay residents believe that
Central Hawke’s Bay is a great place to live, while 83 per cent of residents
are satisfied with Central Hawke’s Bay District Council’s (CHBDC) performance
over the last 12 months, according to the 2019 Central Hawke’s Bay Residents’
Opinion Survey.

Now in its second year, the survey showed an overall increase in performance
for the Council and was run by an independent company called Research First. It
was open to all residents in Central Hawke’s Bay, using a mixed method of
telephone and online research and ran from May until June. The survey received
420 responses, 215 online and 205 by telephone.

Residents were asked how to rate their overall levels of satisfaction with the
performance of the Council over the last twelve months. Eighty-three per cent
of residents were satisfied overall, similar to the satisfaction score in 2018.
Only 17 per cent were dissatisfied or very dissatisfied and more than half the
survey takers were satisfied or very satisfied at 63 per cent, an improvement
on 2018.

Services and facilities that received a satisfaction rating of more than 90 per
cent included the libraries; cemeteries; parks and reserves; and wastewater
services. More than 80 per cent were also satisfied with the Council's economic
and community development activities; stormwater drainage; and the drinking
water supply.

The service areas which had the highest improvement in satisfaction from last
year were compliance and monitoring (from 66 per cent to 91 per cent); 
swimming pools (from 79 per cent to 90 per cent); animal services (from 79 per
cent to 85 per cent); waste water (from 87 per cent to 93 per cent) and
building consents (from 72 per cent to 77 per cent.)

Residents were also asked to list three improvements they would like to see in
the services and facilities the Council provides. The top three improvements
residents would like the Council to focus on are: 1) roading and traffic
control; 2) water supply and quality; and 3) rubbish and recycling. 

Monique Davidson, chief executive of Central Hawke’s Bay District Council said:
“I’d like to thank all residents who took the time to participate in the survey
this year.  It’s great to see that overall we maintain a good level of
satisfaction from our customers and have had some distinct areas of
improvement, particularly in the building and compliance spaces.

“Week on week our staff beaver away to deliver key infrastructure projects,
make improvements to facilities and deliver services across the District. Our
residents’ survey is an opportunity to check in with our residents and
understand if what we’re busy delivering, is actually satisfying their
needs.  We’re also grateful for the feedback that focuses our attention on
the areas we need to improve on the most. This information is like gold to us
and helps inform our work and prioritisation plans for the coming year.”

Central Hawke’s Bay District Council will use the feedback received in the
survey to develop improvement plans for the coming year.

22 August 2019

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