Community relations

• The majority (69%) of residents agree that their local area is a place where people from different backgrounds get on well together, and this is up +11ppts since 2019.
• However, at the same time, disagreement that they live in a place where different people get on well together has doubled, to 25% in 2021 from 12% two years’ before.
• Acting on concerns.
• Just over one in four (28%) residents feel the Council acts on the concerns of local residents. This figure is down -5ppts since 2019.
• The proportion of residents who feel their concerns are acted upon by the Council is also -34ppts below the LGA benchmark (62%).
• In all areas this sense that the Council is responsive is a minority view, with uncertainty supressing these positive percentages. However, it is notable that in East Central the proportion who say that the Council does not act on concerns at all is notably higher at 23%.

Barriers and motivators to community involvement

Following the pandemic, barriers to getting involved in community events are more commonly identified than opportunities.
Only 9% have more time to get involved than previously. Concern about virus transmission remains a key a barrier identified by 27% of residents.

Results for Q20 - Do you agree or disagree with the following statements about volunteering and community involvement

Leisure centres

Significantly more residents are confident using Council leisure centres now that appropriate COVID-19 protections are in place. Only 15% are not.

Residents over-65s (51%) and not working (46%), and the Financially Stretched (42%) are more likely to state that they do not to use leisure centres anyway.

Results for Q22 - Would you feel confident using these facilities at the moment?