Opinion: Council survey set for changes

PHOTO/FILE

THE results of the annual council-commissioned Community Satisfaction Survey are out and while the results weren't hugely surprising, given recent controversial inner city projects, they probably didn't make happy reading for the mayor, councillors or senior council staff.

Although chief executive Geoff Williams told us they were not poor results and highlighted the positives, the survey showed increased dissatisfaction and disapproval with the mayor, councillors' and council's performance.

Of course the survey, of just 400 people, had its limitations. If the recent election was a better indicator then Rotorua can't have been all that unhappy given we voted back in most of the same people.

Though whether that was because voters thought the incumbents were doing a great job, or were simply seen as a better bet than the challengers, who knows?

Mr Williams said the results may have been skewed by the older age of the majority of survey respondents, claiming analysis showed a higher satisfaction rate among the under 50s.

He also pointed out the survey coincided with the lead up to the election - when issues were being fiercely debated - and conceded the survey didn't reach the cross-section of people he would have liked.

The National Research Bureau's Ken Sutton told us the target was to survey 120 people under 45 (which it fell 15 short of). One would hope the council was made aware of this age split expectation beforehand, it was after all paying the Bureau $31,000 to do the job.

Mayor Steve Chadwick says the council will now reflect on the results so we can only wait to see how or if they translate into future action.

As for the future of the survey - Mr Williams says the council will work with the Bureau to ensure it reaches a better cross-section of the community next time.

A good plan. If the survey is to be done again, in my view the method must leave no room for speculation or "what ifs". Otherwise what's the point?