From January 29 to February 25, 2024, we conducted a residents' survey using the Local Governments Association's standard question set. This included questions such as, "How strongly do you feel you belong to your local area?" and "To what extent do you think Elmbridge Borough Council acts on the concerns of local residents?" Additionally, there were questions related to Elmbridge’s Vision 2030.
The survey was carried out through phone calls, face-to-face interviews, and street surveys led by researchers. We sampled 500 residents, ensuring representation across age, gender, and ethnic groups. The results have an accuracy of +/- 4.4% at the 95% confidence level.
The top 3 areas of performance were identified:
- 85% are satisfied with the waste collection
- 83% of respondents were satisfied with their local area as a place to live and the same proportion
- 83%, feel they belong to their local area.
The top 3 areas of improvement were identified:
- 24% dissatisfied with street cleaning
- 27% identified rubbish or litter lying around as a problem
- 32% would speak positively about Elmbridge Borough Council
Elmbridge Borough Council's performance versus the national average from February 2024 was also identified:
- satisfaction with the waste collection in Elmbridge was 85% compared to the national average of 78%
- satisfaction with the local area as a place to live was 83% in Elmbridge compared to the national average of 74%
- satisfaction with street cleaning was 64% in Elmbridge compared to the national average of 57%
- satisfaction with how the council runs things was 61% in Elmbridge compared to the national average of 53%
- perception that the council keeps residents well informed was 54% in Elmbridge compared to the national average of 54%
- satisfaction with sport and leisure services was 48% in Elmbridge compared to the national average of 54%
- agreement that the council provides value for money was 40% in Elmbridge, national average was also 40%
- satisfaction with services and support for older people was 29% in Elmbridge compared to the national average of 37%
- safety during the day in the local area was 94% in Elmbridge, the national average was 92%
- safety at night in the local area was 72% in Elmbridge, the national average was 70%
Elmbridge’s budget 2025/2026 budget report and Vision 2030 report to Cabinet on 5 February sets out our response to the survey including investments in parks and community space, community engagement and community support services in Elmbridge.