Merton ALG Residents Survey 2006/07

1
Merton ALG Residents Survey 2006/07
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION LONDON DATA UNDER EMBARGO
UNTIL 8th JANUARY 2007
2
ISSUES COVERED

• Issues of concern
• Image of the council
• Service delivery
• User perceptions
• Extra Questions 2006
• Discrimination, tackling racism and social
  cohesion
• Crime, anti-social behaviour and drugs
• Respect
• Community Activity
• Extra questions for residents aged over 50
• Young peoples survey

3
METHODOLOGY

• 1061 interviews conducted in home and in street
• Fieldwork conducted 17 July 8 August 2006
• 2005 2 25 September 2005
• 2004 10 November 7 December 2004
• Representative quota sample
• Quotas set on gender, ethnic origin, age, working
  status of women and housing tenure, set to 2001
  Census
• 88 sampling points across the borough

4
SAMPLE PROFILE

• SET ACHIEVED Number
• 49 46 489
• 51 54 572
• 36 31 325
• 42 48 514
• 22 21 222
• 91 92 978
• 9 7 77

• Men
• Women
• 18-34
• 35-59
• 60
• Owner Occupier
• /Other
• Council Rented

Base All Merton residents (1061)
5
SAMPLE PROFILE

SET ACH ACH NO.
ETHNICITY
White 75 75 794
Mixed
Black 25 25 264
Asian
Other



Base All Merton residents (1061)
6
Areas of Personal Concern
7
AREAS OF PERSONAL CONCERNMerton 2006
Change from 2005
0 1 -3 -6 -2 5 -1 0 3 1 1 3 1
Sig
Base All Merton residents (1061)
8
CHANGES IN AREAS OF CONCERN SINCE 2005
UP Lack of affordable housing 5 Not enough
for elderly 3 Public transport 3 DOWN Litter
/ dirt - 6
9
MAIN ISSUES OF PERSONAL CONCERN 1995 - 2006
Council tax
Crime
Traffic
Litter
Base All Merton residents
10
CONCERNS OF AB RESIDENTS
Base All Merton residents (1061)
11
CONCERNS OF C2DE RESIDENTS
Base All Merton residents (1061)
12
AREAS OF PERSONAL CONCERN Merton 2006
Diff to London
17
-11
6
8
2
1
-1
-9
0
6
2
Sig
-5
Base All residents
13
SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES FROM LONDON 2006
MORE CONCERN IN MERTON Council
Tax 17 Litter 8 Traffic 6 Recreational
facilities 6 LESS CONCERN IN
MERTON Crime -11 Health Service -9 Lack of
jobs -5
14
Image of the council
15
IMAGE OF THE COUNCIL 2006
Change from 2005
2
7
4
5
6
4
4
4
1
1
0
-6
3
-1
Sig
Base All Merton residents (1061)
16
CHANGES SINCE 2005
BETTER Doing a good job 7 Efficient
well run 6 Difficult to phone - 6 Better
place to live 5 Informs 4 WORSE Nothing
17
OVERALL PERCEPTIONS OF MERTON Saying Great Deal
/ Some Extent
Good job
Efficient
VFM
Base All Merton residents
18
DOING A GOOD JOB
Highest 2005/06 73
Highest 2004/05 71
Lowest 2005/06 62
Lowest 2004/05 58
19
BETTER JOB NOW THAN YEAR AGO
Highest 2005/06 52
Highest 2004/05 51
Lowest 2004/05 38
Lowest 2005/06 37
20
VALUE FOR MONEY
Highest 2005/06 43
Highest 2004/05 41
Lowest 2004/05 33
Lowest 2005/06 31
21
EFFICIENT AND WELL RUN
Highest 2005/06 63
Highest 2004/05 62
Lowest 2005/06 44 Lowest 2004/05 41
22
KEEPS RESIDENTS INFORMED
Highest 2004/05 73
Highest 2005/06 72
Lowest 2005/06 53
Lowest 2004/05 47
23
LISTENS TO CONCERNS
Highest 2005/06 59
Highest 2004/05 54
Lowest 2005/06 39 Lowest 2004/05 39
24
INVOLVES RESIDENTS IN DECISION MAKING
Highest 2005/06 51
Highest 2004/05 48
Lowest 2005/06 39
Lowest 2004/05 36
25
STAFF FRIENDLY AND POLITE
Highest 2004/05 78
Highest 2005/06 77
Lowest 2005/06 66
Lowest 2004/05 60
26
RESPONDS QUICKLY WHEN ASKED
Highest 2005/06 53
Highest 2004/05 50
Lowest 2005/06 41
Lowest 2004/05 38
27
MAKING AREA BETTER PLACE TO LIVE
Highest 2005/06 69
Highest 2004/05 68
Lowest 2004/05 52
Lowest 2005/06 51
28
DOES NOT DO ENOUGH FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME
Highest 2004/05 51
Highest 2005/06 47
Lowest 2005/06 39
Lowest 2004/05 36
29
DIFFICULT TO CONTACT BY PHONE
Highest 2005/06 50
Highest 2004/05 48
Lowest 2005/06 35
Lowest 2004/05 35
30
IMAGE OF THE COUNCIL 2006 Merton Vs London
Diff to London
8
-2
2
-3
1
1
2
1
1
-2
-6
Sig
Base All residents
31
IMAGE OF THE COUNCIL 2006 Merton Vs London
BETTER THAN LONDON Staff friendly 8 WORSE
THAN LONDON Value for money -6
32
Service Delivery
33
PERCEIVED SERVICE DELIVERY Merton 2006
Change since 2005
Refuse collection
3
Street lighting
7
Recycling facilities
2
Coll. council tax
0
Public transport
-1
Libraries
7
Parks etc.
8
Health services
1
Street cleaning
6
Policing
2
Leisure facilities
4
7
Primary education
Fly tip removal
3
Roads / pavements
5
Adult education
2
Nursery education
4
Secondary educn.
5
Social services
5
Youth services
2
Housing benefit
3
Sig
2
Council housing
Base All respondents (1061)
34
SIGNIFICANT CHANGES SINCE 2005
BETTER Parks etc. 8 Street lighting
7 Libraries 7 Primary education
7 Street cleaning 6 Secondary
education 5 Roads / pavements 5 Social
services 5 Nursery education 4 Housing
benefit 3 WORSE Nothing
35
REFUSE COLLECTION
Highest 2004/05 87
Highest 2005/06 82
Lowest 2005/06 64
Lowest 2004/05 64
36
RECYCLING
Highest 2004/05 75
Highest 2005/06 73
Lowest 2005/06 53
Lowest 2004/05 39
37
STREET CLEANING
Highest 2005/06 69
Highest 2004/05 65
Lowest 2005/06 43
Lowest 2004/05 40
38
STREET LIGHTING
Highest 2004/05 72
Highest 2005/06 69
Lowest 2004/05 56
Lowest 2005/06 56
39
ROAD AND PAVEMENT REPAIR
Highest 2004/05 47
Lowest 2004/05 29
40
NURSERY EDUCATION
Highest 2004/05 45
41
PRIMARY EDUCATION
Highest 2005/06 47
Highest 2004/05 46
42
SECONDARY EDUCATION
Highest 2004/05 43
Highest 2005/06 39
Lowest 2004/05 19 Lowest 2005/06 19
43
ADULT EDUCATION / EVENING CLASSES
Highest 2004/05 42
Highest 2005/06 42
Lowest 2005/06 25
Lowest 2004/05 24
44
LIBRARIES
Highest 2005/06 67
Highest 2004/05 65
Lowest 2005/06 50
Lowest 2004/05 48
45
PARKS, PLAYGROUNDS, OPEN SPACES
Highest 2005/06 57
Highest 2004/05 53
Lowest 2005/06 46
Lowest 2004/05 39
46
LEISURE AND SPORTS FACILITIES
Highest 2005/06 57
Highest 2004/05 53
Lowest 2005/06 32
Lowest 2004/05 30
47
COLLECTION OF COUNCIL TAX
Highest 2005/06 68
Highest 2004/05 64
Lowest 2005/06 49
Lowest 2004/05 49
48
COUNCIL HOUSING
Highest 2004/05 32
Highest 2005/06 31
Lowest 2004/05 12
Lowest 2005/06 10
49
HOUSING BENEFIT
Highest 2005/06 35
Highest 2004/05 33
Lowest 2004/05 14
Lowest 2005/06 11
50
SOCIAL SERVICES
Highest 2004/05 38
Highest 2005/06 32
Lowest 2004/05 18
Lowest 2005/06 16
51
LOCAL HEALTH SERVICE
Highest 2005/06 61
Highest 2004/05 59
Lowest 2005/06 46
Lowest 2004/05 42
52
POLICING
Highest 2005/06 52
Highest 2004/05 46
Lowest 2005/06 36
Lowest 2004/05 33
53
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Highest 2005/06 67
Highest 2004/05 65
Lowest 2005/06 58
Lowest 2004/05 48
54
PERCEIVED SERVICE DELIVERY Merton vs. London 2006
Diff. to London
Refuse collection
-3
Street lighting
3
Recycling facilities
3
Coll. council tax
3
Public transport
-1
Libraries
-3
Parks etc.
0
Health services
n/a
Street cleaning
-5
Policing
1
Leisure facilities
-3
1
Primary education
Fly tip removal
n/a
Roads / pavements
-1
Adult education
-2
Nursery education
0
Secondary educn.
-9
Social services
n/a
Youth services
n/a
Housing benefit
-6
Sig
-6
Council housing
Base All respondents
55
DIFFERENCES FROM LONDON2005
MERTON BETTER THAN LONDON Nothing MERTON
WORSE THAN LONDON Secondary education -
9 Housing benefit - 6 Council housing - 6 Street
cleaning - 5


56
User trends
57
OPINION OF SERVICESUsers vs. Non-Users

NURSERY EDUCATION
Total 2006
Users 2006 (86)
COUNCIL HOUSING
Total 2005
Tenants 2005 (77)
58
NURSERY EDUCATION (UNDER 5S) - USERS saying
Good - Excellent
Merton
London
59
PRIMARY EDUCATION - USERS saying Good -
Excellent
Merton
London
60
SECONDARY EDUCATION - USERS saying Good -
Excellent
London
Merton
61
EVENING CLASSES / ADULT EDUCATION - USERS
saying Good - Excellent
London
Merton
62
COUNCIL HOUSING - TENANTS saying Good -
Excellent
Merton
London
63
HOUSING BENEFIT - USERS saying Good - Excellent
London
Merton
64
SOCIAL SERVICES - USERS saying Good - Excellent
London
Merton
65
PARKS, PLAYGROUNDS OPEN SPACES - USERS saying
Good - Excellent
London
Merton
66
LIBRARIES - USERS saying Good - Excellent
London
Merton
67
LEISURE AND SPORT FACILITIES - USERS saying
Good - Excellent
London
Merton
68
RECYCLING - USERS saying Good - Excellent
London
Merton
69
CHANGES SINCE 2005-6Summary
Sig
70
MERTON VS LONDON USERS 2006those saying Good -
Excellent
London Merton Diff. Recycling 72 71 -1 P
arks 66 64 -2 Nursery 64 69
5 Primary 68 70 2 Secondary 54 50 -4 Ad
ult educ. 74 69 -5 Leisure
56 51 -5 Libraries 80 71 -9 Council
housing 37 38 1 Housing benefit 58 51 -7
Sig
71
Merton Extra Questions
72
Discrimination, tackling racism and social
cohesion
73
DOES MERTON COUNCIL TREAT PEOPLE IN A FAIR AND
NON-DISCRIMINATORY WAY?54 Agree/strongly agree
Base All Merton residents
74
IS MERTON A COUNCIL THAT TACKLES RACISM?40 say
Yes in 2006/07
Merton
75
IS MERTON A COUNICIL THAT TACKLES RACISM OR
NOT?By ethnicity
Base All Merton Residents (1061)
76
Is the local area a place where people of
different backgrounds get on together?84 say
yes
Base All Merton Residents
77
Is the local area a place where people of
different backgrounds get on together?By
ethnicity
Base All Merton residents (1061)
78
Crime, Anti-social behavior and Drugs
79
HOW WORRIED ARE YOU ABOUT CRIME?
Base All Merton Residents
80
Worry about crime has decreased, especially among
Dundonald / Trinity / Abbey residents
Fairly / very worried about crime (2005/06 avg
67) (2006/07
avg 65)
1 Village/ Hillside/ Raynes Park/ Wimbledon
Park 2 Dundonald/ Trinity/ Abbey 3 Cannon Hill/
Merton Park/ West Barnes/ Lower Morden 4
Lavender Fields/ Pollards Hill/ Figges Marsh 5
Ravensbury/ St Helier/ Cricket Green 6 Colliers
Wood/ Graveney/ Longthornton
Base All Merton residents
81
HOW WORRIED ARE YOU ABOUT ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR?
Base All Merton Residents
82
Changes in worry about anti-social behaviour has
varied according to area
Fairly / very worried about anti-social
behaviour (2005/06 avg 66) (2006/07 avg 65)
1 Village/ Hillside/ Raynes Park/ Wimbledon
Park 2 Dundonald/ Trinity/ Abbey 3 Cannon Hill/
Merton Park/ West Barnes/ Lower Morden 4
Lavender Fields/ Pollards Hill/ Figges Marsh 5
Ravensbury/ St Helier/ Cricket Green 6 Colliers
Wood/ Graveney/ Longthornton
Base All Merton residents
83
HOW WORRIED ARE YOU ABOUT DRUG USERS IN YOUR AREA?
Base All Merton Residents
84
There is still a larger gap in worry about drugs
between areas 1/2/3 and 4/5/6, than for crime and
ASB
Fairly / very worried about drug users (2005/06
avg 43) (2006/07 avg 45)
1 Village/ Hillside/ Raynes Park/ Wimbledon
Park 2 Dundonald/ Trinity/ Abbey 3 Cannon Hill/
Merton Park/ West Barnes/ Lower Morden 4
Lavender Fields/ Pollards Hill/ Figges Marsh 5
Ravensbury/ St Helier/ Cricket Green 6 Colliers
Wood/ Graveney/ Longthornton
Base All Merton residents
85
Respect
86
Do you agree that people in your local area treat
you with respect and consideration?89 agree
Base All Merton Residents (1061)
87
More respondents in Areas 2, 3 5 felt that they
were treated with respect and consideration by
people in their local area.
Definitely / tend to agree (avg 89)
1 Village/ Hillside/ Raynes Park/ Wimbledon
Park 2 Dundonald/ Trinity/ Abbey 3 Cannon Hill/
Merton Park/ West Barnes/ Lower Morden 4
Lavender Fields/ Pollards Hill/ Figges Marsh 5
Ravensbury/ St Helier/ Cricket Green 6 Colliers
Wood/ Graveney/ Longthornton
Base All Merton residents (1061)
88
Do you agree that parents in your local area are
made to take responsibility for the behaviour of
their children?58 agree
Base All Merton Residents (1061)
89
More respondents in Areas 1 4 felt that parents
in their local area were made to take
responsibility for the behaviour of their
children.
Definitely / tend to agree (avg 58)
1 Village/ Hillside/ Raynes Park/ Wimbledon
Park 2 Dundonald/ Trinity/ Abbey 3 Cannon Hill/
Merton Park/ West Barnes/ Lower Morden 4
Lavender Fields/ Pollards Hill/ Figges Marsh 5
Ravensbury/ St Helier/ Cricket Green 6 Colliers
Wood/ Graveney/ Longthornton
Base All Merton residents (1061)
90
Community Activity
91
Do you agree or disagree that you can influence
decisions affecting your local area?51 Agree /
strongly agree
Base All Merton residents (1061)
92
Have you engaged in formal volunteering for two
hours a week or more over the past year?16 say
yes
Base All Merton Residents (1061)
93
Extra Questions for residents aged over 50
94
Do you know about the Celebrating Age Festival
for 50 people in Merton?18 say yes
Base Merton Residents aged 50 (373)
95
Which of these are you personally most concerned
about?
Base Merton Residents aged 50 (373)
96
Which of these are you personally most concerned
about?By age
Base Merton Residents aged 50 (373)
97
Do you know about the Care Connect service in
Merton?
Would you know what local services to contact for
help if everyday life became too difficult?
Base Merton Residents aged 50 (373)
98
What is your opinion of health and personal
social care services in Merton (e.g. chiropody,
dental care)? 43 say excellent / very good / good
Base Merton Residents aged 50 (373)
99
Do you belong to any older people or community
groups?16 say yes
Base Merton Residents aged 50 (373)
100
How often do you take regular exercise (e.g.
walking shopping, cycling etc)?
Base Merton Residents aged 50 (373)
101
How safe or unsafe do you feel when outside in
your neighbourhood?
Base Merton Residents aged 50 (373)
102
How safe or unsafe do you feel when outside in
your neighbourhood during the day?By area
Very safe / Fairly safe (avg 89)
1 Village/ Hillside/ Raynes Park/ Wimbledon
Park 2 Dundonald/ Trinity/ Abbey 3 Cannon Hill/
Merton Park/ West Barnes/ Lower Morden 4
Lavender Fields/ Pollards Hill/ Figges Marsh 5
Ravensbury/ St Helier/ Cricket Green 6 Colliers
Wood/ Graveney/ Longthornton
Base Merton residents aged 50 (373)
103
How safe or unsafe do you feel when outside in
your neighbourhood after dark?By area
Very safe / Fairly safe (avg 51)
1 Village/ Hillside/ Raynes Park/ Wimbledon
Park 2 Dundonald/ Trinity/ Abbey 3 Cannon Hill/
Merton Park/ West Barnes/ Lower Morden 4
Lavender Fields/ Pollards Hill/ Figges Marsh 5
Ravensbury/ St Helier/ Cricket Green 6 Colliers
Wood/ Graveney/ Longthornton
Base Merton residents aged 50 (373)
104
Do you think that the libraries do enough for
older people?47 say yes
Base Merton Residents aged 50 (373)
105
Have you visited a library in the last three
months to use?
Base Merton Residents aged 50 (373)
106
Young Persons Survey
107
Areas of personal concern Young peopleConcern
over Bullying, Bad behaviour and Drugs has
decreased. Concern about pollution has increased

Base All Merton residents 11-17yrs (245)
108
Areas of personal concern Social grade Young
people in AB households are more concerned about
litter environment DE more concerned about
bullying bad behaviour

Base All Merton residents 11-17yrs (245)
109
Concern about crime and public transport tends to
increase and concern about bullying decreases
with age

Crime
Public Transport
Bullying
Base All Merton residents 11-17yrs (245)
110
Image of the council Young people
Saying Great Deal / Some Extent

Base All Merton residents 11-17yrs (245)
111
Image of the council Young people
Saying Great Deal / Some Extent

Base All Merton residents 11-17yrs
112
Perceived service delivery Young people
Difference from 2005/6
12
Parks etc.
3
Health services
Libraries
1
Primary education
3
6
Recycling facilities
2
Public transport
Policing
3
Secondary educn.
3
Leisure facilities
4
Street cleaning
1
Roads / pavements
1
1
Sixth form colleges
4
Arts culture
Youth services
1
5
Social services
Sig
Base All Merton residents 11-17yrs (245)
113
Perceived service delivery Young people
Difference from London
2
Parks etc.
7
Health services
Libraries
-8
Primary education
-3
7
Recycling facilities
5
Public transport
Policing
n/a
Secondary educn.
-6
Leisure facilities
-3
Street cleaning
-1
2
Roads / pavements
-9
Sixth form colleges
Arts culture
-10
Youth services
-5
-2
Social services
Sig
Base All Merton residents 11-17yrs (245)
114
Young people and political involvementWhat young
people have done, or might consider doing
Base All Merton Residents 11-17yrs (245)
115
Out of school activities attended67 engage in
at least one activity, with sports/gym most
popular
Male 52 Female 26
Male 15 Female 25

Base All Merton residents 11-17yrs
116
Out of school activities young people would like
to attend96 would like to attend at least one.
Sport / friends most popular place to do
homework least popular
Male 63 Female 34
Male 21 Female 39

Base All Merton residents 11-17yrs (245)
117
Summary
118
SUMMARY - ISSUES

• Council tax remains the number one issue in
  Merton, though concern about crime is not far
  behind.
• Concern about litter has fallen this year and is
  now the fourth biggest area of concern in Merton.
• Concern over affordable housing, services for the
  elderly and public transport have also risen in
  the past year.

119
SUMMARY - IMAGE

• Following a decline in the last two years, the
  percentage of people saying the Council does a
  good job increased significantly this year
• Ratings improved for Council staff being
  efficient well run, making the local area a
  better place to live and keeping residents
  informed
• There were no significant declines in any aspects
  of the councils image.

120
SUMMARY - SERVICES

• Educational services for all ages, from nurseries
  to evening classes, improved this year.
• Facilities in parks, libraries, street lighting
  and street cleaning were also seen to have
  improved considerably in the last 12 months.
• Among users, all aspects of council services
  showed an improvement over the past year.

121
SUMMARY Other local issues

• Worry about crime and anti-social behaviour in
  Merton had decreased a little. 89 of
  respondents felt that people in their local area
  treated them with respect and consideration.
• Attitudes towards the Councils policy towards
  discrimination, race and social cohesion had not
  changed much over the past year.
• Half of respondents felt that they were able to
  influence decisions affecting their local area.

122
SUMMARY Issues for older residents

• 18 of respondents aged over 50 had heard of the
  Celebrating Age Festival for 50 people in Merton
• They were most concerned about personal safety
  and pension provision.
• 89 felt safe outside in their neighbourhood
  during the day 51 felt safe outside in their
  neighbourhood after dark.
• Just under half of older respondents were happy
  with library services or health and personal
  social care services in Merton.

123
SUMMARY Young people

• Crime is the main area of concern among young
  people in Merton. Concern over bullying, bad
  behaviour and drug users / pushers had declined
  in the past year.
• Over the past 12 months, an increased proportion
  of young people felt that the Council does enough
  to protect them, though they felt that the
  Council could be doing more to keep them informed
• Young people saw improvements over all aspects of
  Council service delivery, particularly in the
  delivery of local park services.
• Two thirds of young people engage in at least one
  out of school activity, with sports/ gym being
  the most popular, particularly among boys. Dance/
  drama/ music is the second most popular activity,
  but more so among girls than boys.
• 96 of young people would like to attend at least
  one out of school activity.