The Annual Town Survey Results for 2023 are in!

Annual Town Survey 2023 – Feedback Summary

The Annual Town Survey 2023 had 200 respondents. The survey went live on 24th May 2023 and closed on 31st July 2023. When the survey closed 137 respondents had confirmed their status, 29 were pending and 34 anonymous. Overall, we had 904 visits to the Commonplace platform whilst the survey was live, including 116 via Facebook, 31 through LinkedIn, 31 Twitter, 15 via our website and 98 through an online news post.

Not everyone answered all of the questions, which is why there are different response rates.

Of the 200 respondents 89 were from Cirencester; other respondents were from Ashley, Ashton Keynes, Avening, Bagendon, Bibury, Coates, Compton Abdale, Cricklade, Daglingworth, Driffield, Hatherop, Kemble, Minchinhampton, Mole Valley, Nailsworth, North Cerney, Poulton, Preston, Siddington, Somerford Keynes, South Cerney, Tetbury, Winstone and Winson.

Of the 89 respondents from Cirencester the Ward breakdown was as follows:

Abbey 15, Beeches 14, Chesterton 10, Four Acres 5, New Mills 9, Stratton 11, St Michaels 14, Watermoor 11.

Local Connection:

50 of the respondents lived in Cirencester, 7 stated that they lived in Cirencester as well as having a business, 21 live and work in Cirencester, 11 visited and shopped in Cirencester and 2 work in Cirencester.

Gender:

56 respondents identified as being Male, 62 as being Female and 1 as other.

Age Profile:

We had respondents across all age groups from 16+ up to 84; most respondents were aged between 55 and 64, although there was also a strong response rate from those aged 35 to 54.

Education and Employment Profile:

38% retired, 36% full-time employment, 13% part-time employment, 8% self-employed, 4% other, 1% student.

Survey Questions and Responses

The first question we asked was how satisfied the respondents were with Cirencester as a place to live, work or study in; of the 177 responses 77% were satisfied or very satisfied.

We also wanted to know how satisfied respondents were with the services provided by Cirencester Town Council for example markets & events, local information centre, parks, and open spaces. Of the 171 people who responded, 65% were satisfied or very satisfied with the services provided by the Town Council.

We also asked respondents how satisfied they were with the services provided by Cotswold District Council for example planning, waste and recycling, parking, environment, and housing of the 171 people who responded, 40% were satisfied or very satisfied with the services provided by the District Council.

We asked the same question, in respect of Gloucestershire County Council and services they provide such as public transport, roads, libraries, health, and social care; of the 169 people who responded, 12% were satisfied or very satisfied with the service provided by the County Council.

In 2022 we issued a few statements and asked the public if they agreed or not. The feedback received was that the public wanted more information and evidence to be able to respond accurately and in an informed way. In 2023, we provided a wide range of information and evidence, and more people agreed that we provided value for money, that we engaged and kept residents informed, that we are a trusted, open and transparent organisation and that we respond to the concerns of the community.

Comment Analysis

Some members of the public are critical of engagement and consultation; this could be for many reasons. Cirencester Town Council is seeking to build a level of trust with the public which demonstrates that our consultations are meaningful and relevant. Through the Commonplace platform we will always follow up with a feedback summary and a ‘you said - we did’ tile or ‘you said - we’ll do’; demonstrating an active response to the feedback we receive.

In the 2023 Annual Town survey we received over 100 comments; 14 of which related to the Town Council, 25 Cotswold District Council and 49 the County Council. 22 were general comments and 2 related to the impact of college students parking in nearby residential areas.

General issues and comments

Cinema

Cirencester is fast becoming a zombie town.

Housing

Lack of affordable housing and rental accommodation.

Let down by incompetent local government.

Light rail link

More pedestrian-only space in centre.

More Useful Shops and increased pedestrianisation

Much more needs to be done to improve look and appeal of Cirencester for residents and visitors.

Need another large supermarket like Asda or Sainsbury's.

Not enough for young people.

There is no climate emergency and diversity is not a strength.

Too passive, there is no plan for the future.

Use contractors who carry out work properly and are held to account financially when they don't.

Vacant Shops

Lack of Shop Variety

Youth

Taxi Rank

Thank you to everyone who participated; the feedback summary has been published with the Council Agenda for the meeting of the Council being held on September 12th.