Shropshire’s Big Conversation seeks residents’ views on their community

Local residents are being asked their views on their community as part of Shropshire Council’s Big Conversation survey.

The survey illustrates the challenges communities in Shropshire face, and the work the council and its partners are doing to tackle these challenges.

Infographic demonstrating the rurality of Shropshire

The questionnaire asks what more the council, its partners and the local community can do help enhance community resilience in the county.

So far there have been over 220 responses to the Big Conversation survey which launched in December 2016. Many of those who’ve taken part in the survey to date, have said (about their community) that better communication and information is needed to enable people to be more proactive in taking action to address local issues.

Cecilia Motley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for rural services and communities, and Shropshire’s Big Conversation, said:

“Shropshire’s Big Conversation is an opportunity for you to let us know what more we could do to ensure that Shropshire continues to remain a great place to live, learn and work.

“We have a role to play in enabling individuals and communities to be more self-sufficient and connect people and activities in their neighbourhoods; where strengths are recognised and where people can easily find the information and advice they need to be happy and healthy residents.

“Our Big Conversation survey is one way we are seeking solutions, so please take some time to get involved and tell us what more we could do. We very much welcome your ideas and suggestions.”

Work is already underway to help build community resilience and enable community networks to have a more active role in delivering support and services which meet their local needs.

Shropshire Council’s Resilient Communities programme joins together those working in services such as health and social care, housing support, libraries, leisure centres, job centres, schools, community nursing, and GP surgeries with voluntary and community groups and local people.

The programme, led by the council’s community enablement team, is trialling a pilot with Oswestry Community Action to create a directory of all the community groups and activities that are going on in the area. There are nearly a hundred different groups set up so that people can get together to learn new skills, do sport, arts or crafts or to support other people in the community.

The Big Conversation survey also asks residents questions about health and the local economy (the key priorities in the council’s Corporate Plan).

For more information and to take part in Shropshire’s Big Conversation survey visit shropshire.gov.uk/bigconversation. Hard copies of the survey are available on request by calling 0345 678 9028. Closing date for the survey is Sunday 12 March 2017.

You can also follow and message us on twitter @Shropcouncil using #Shropbc, and Facebook.

Further information

What people told us about community in last year’s Big Conversation

Everyone lives within a community. Some people play an active role as councillors, volunteering or helping their neighbours. Others keep themselves to themselves. Whatever you prefer to do, we are here to support you and this section details some of the difficulties we have faced, the challenges you set us and how we worked to improve our services.

Our challenge

• Shropshire’s residents are spread across the county; we have the same number of residents, but are 44 times bigger than Nottinghamshire. This equates to 97 people per square kilometre, compared to the average in England of 413 people.
• Our population is growing; Shropshire’s population grew by 9% between 2001 and 2014.
• Our population is ageing; 23% of our population are aged 65 or over, compared to 18% nationally.
• We have higher rates of fuel poverty; 13% of households live in fuel poverty (17,222 households).

You said

• Communities need to be enabled to do more: 61% of Big Conversation survey respondents already volunteer or take part in community activities, and 71% agreed with enabling communities to do more for themselves.
• Support is needed: Big Conversation workshop participants said it would be easier to be more involved in the community if it were coordinated from a single point, with clear and well communicated information about volunteering.
• We need to raise income locally: 56% of survey respondents agreed with introducing fees for some services, and 49% agreed council tax should be increased.
• We should learn from elsewhere and share resources: You wanted us to look at examples of services being delivered in other areas of the country and at other services we could work more closely with.

What we have already done, and what we plan to do

• Introduced a new model for youth services, saving £410,000 per year by localising the commissioning of services through the local joint committees (LJCs).
• Established a town and parish council forum to share ideas, good practice and support the development of joint working and delivery.
• Saved libraries through community transfer including Albrighton, Broseley, Shifnal, Craven Arms, Bishop’s Castle and Cleobury Mortimer.
• Working with residents, to deliver the services they want within the financial restraints we have.

Shropshire’s Big Conversation

Residents and organisations across Shropshire have been invited to give their views on what more the council can do in light of its financial challenges due to ongoing cuts in government funding.

The call out is part of Shropshire’s Big Conversation which launched in 2015 to better understand which services people value most and where the council should prioritise its budget.

Over 2,450 residents and organisations have already taken part in the Big Conversation survey and events. This resulted in Shropshire communities telling us that services for vulnerable children and adults, education and transport were perceived as priorities, where people felt savings couldn’t be made. Feedback also gave us an insight into people’s views on making savings, increasing revenue, and encouraging more local involvement in providing services.

You can find the full report on 2015’s survey here.