URL: https://democracy.arun.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=1665

Decision Maker: Policy and Resources Committee

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose: The Residents Survey 2025 provides a valuable insight into public perceptions of and satisfaction with the services we deliver and Arun as a place to live. The survey results set out in the report enable us to identify areas of high performance and also areas where performance is not so strong, feeding into decisions on how to deliver services during the period of the Council Vision 2022 – 2026.

Content: The committee received a report from the Assistant Director of Governance, People & Performance summarising the results of the Arun District Council Residents’ Satisfaction Survey 2025.   It was explained that the survey was historically undertaken annually and had been carried out biannually since 2023. The 2025 survey had been undertaken in April to May 2025 reflecting on services delivered during 2024/25. The report presented the headline results, comparisons with previous surveys and included a commentary responding to the results captured from the survey provided by the Senior Leadership Team.   The survey formed part of the council’s wider performance framework, complimenting quarterly KPI reporting and annual Vison performance reporting and provided insight into residents’ perception of the council, its services and the wider district. A summary of the survey responses had been set out in the report.    It was being recommended by officers that the 2025 survey should be the final survey undertaken by the council due to (LGR).   The recommendations in the report were then proposed by Councillor Walsh and were seconded by Councillor Nash.   The chair invited questions and debate. Mixed views were expressed over the proposal to not rerun the survey in 2027 due to LGR. Many councillors felt that there were benefits in conducting a last review for the new council to respond to and to have a more up to date appreciation of how residents felt about their district.   The Chief Executive confirmed that she had canvassed all other West Sussex CEOs, and it had been confirmed that no other West Sussex councils would be undertaking similar surveys between now and vesting day, the decision to not rerun the survey had not been taken lightly with work continuing to be undertaken to assess the council’s performance via KPIs.   Turning to the survey results, there were some negative trends that some members felt could not be ignored. The public had indicated their dissatisfaction over various issues but the most startling theme coming out of the survey was the fact that distinct geographic variations continued to persist confirming that those living in the west of the district were far less appreciative of the services being provided in their area compared to those residing in the east or the downland areas. It was hoped that the development of the new street cleansing KPI would assist in reducing such variations.  Members felt strongly that this was something that the council should take notice of and had raised before when the last survey results had been debated. There was a lot to take away from the survey results for the council to improve on.       The chair highlighted that with many of the issues highlighted, these were problem behaviours that were not the responsibility of the council and were issues that the council could not control. Action Groups had been set up in Bognor Regis and Littlehampton to assist in tackling the problems listed and so work was progressing in both towns.   The committee             RESOLVED – That   (1)  Having reviewed the survey that its contents be noted; and   (2)   To agree that the survey in 2025 be the final survey to be carried out on behalf of Arun District Council, due to the timing of the Local Government Reorganisation.  

Date of Decision: December 11, 2025