1. Huntingdonshire District Council “2011 Budget Input Consultation” Using SIMALTO Modelling Research For Today Ltd August 2010

2. Objectives Huntingdon District Council wanted to know resident priorities about the allocation of council tax between various services in 2011. The council was facing having to make significant savings on some of its discretionary services over the next few years. Which of current service levels/benefits could be reduced and cause least ‘displeasure’ among residents? Would residents be willing to pay more council tax, above inflation if this was possible, to minimise cuts in services?

3. Interviews Conducted Interviewed Urban103 Rural147 SexMale51%Female49% Age18 - 4034%41 - 5933%60+33% EthnicityWhite97%Other3% 250 face-to-face interviews were conducted in all wards, proportional to their populations

4. Interviews cont. The questionnaire was also put on the internet. Response was :- 391 Residents 143 Staff 34 Business persons/Stakeholders Unless otherwise stated figures in this presentation are for the in-home resident sample.

5. What services were shown? 1. Voluntary grants 2. Local transport 3. Healthy activities 4. Leisure centres 5. Country parks 6. Play areas 7. Anti-social behaviour 8. Licensing 9. CCTV 10. Investigating fraud 11. Planning services 12. Customer services 13. Magazine 14. Council website 15. Homes quality 16. Disabled homes 17. Homelessness 18. Affordable homes 19. Town centre grants 20. Business grants 21. Street cleaning 22. Grounds maintenance 23. Climate, environment

6. 1Grants to Community Groups Only 1000 housebound/ disabled residents able to get advice. Less than half of charities and voluntary groups supported About 9,000 people able to get advice. Fewer charities and voluntary groups helped. About 12,000 people able to get advice. Less money for charities and voluntary groups. No Shopmobility or volunteer cars The Council provides grants for advice services, such as the CAB and for charities and voluntary groups for schemes like Shopmobility and volunteer cars (16,000 people) 2Local Transport Schemes Stop supporting all local transport schemes (no new cycleways, bus shelters, etc.) Reduce the schemes supported and stop grants to community bus schemes Reduce the range and number of schemes supported (no new safety schemes) Provide cycleways, safe routes to schools, bus shelters and community transport groups (Dial- A-Ride) 3Improving Health Stop health-related exercise classes; exercise-referral appointments; health walks halved. No activities for young people. Stop “Hunts for Good Food”, Health Eating Schools Programme 200 fewer classes; 250 fewer doctor’s referral appointments pa; 100 fewer Health Walks. 60% reduction in activities for young people. Stop all disability- sport sessions. No support for clubs and coaches Exercise classes (650); doctor’s referrals (765); Health Walks (465); activities for young people; holiday schemes; after-school clubs; street sports. Support for clubs and coaches. Health eating scheme 4Leisure Centres Close 3 swimming pools (the remaining services will continue to be provided, e.g. Gym, sports hall, etc.) Reduce opening hours and facilities, e.g. Creches, sauna/ steam 5 leisure centres, providing a wide range of sports and leisure activities 5Countryside Parks Hinchingbrooke Country Park and Paxton Pits maintained to minimal standards, other sites maintenance of footpaths only. No events/ educational programmes and volunteer opportunities for special needs groups Close 4 sites (smaller ones), maintain remainder to minimum standard, and provide no events/ educational programmes or volunteer opportunities. No maintenance of Ouse Valley Way 15 Countryside Parks including Hinchingbrooke Country Park, Ouse Valley Way and Paxton Pits. Volunteer and training opportunities, educational programmes, and events 6Play Areas Close all existing Council maintained areas unless Town and Parish Councils or other groups can take them over Reduce inspections and litter picking to once per week. No new play areas Play areas maintained by the Council are inspected twice per week and litter picked Costed SIMALTO Grid 0124 0236 0 0 0 0 12 6 8 1012 3 2

7. 1Grants to Community Groups Only 1000 housebound/ disabled residents able to get advice. Less than half of charities and voluntary groups supported About 9,000 people able to get advice. Fewer charities and voluntary groups helped. About 12,000 people able to get advice. Less money for charities and voluntary groups. No Shopmobility or volunteer cars The Council provides grants for advice services, such as the CAB and for charities and voluntary groups for schemes like Shopmobility and volunteer cars (16,000 people) 2Local Transport Schemes Stop supporting all local transport schemes (no new cycleways, bus shelters, etc.) Reduce the schemes supported and stop grants to community bus schemes Reduce the range and number of schemes supported (no new safety schemes) Provide cycleways, safe routes to schools, bus shelters and community transport groups (Dial- A-Ride) 3Improving Health Stop health-related exercise classes; exercise-referral appointments; health walks halved. No activities for young people. Stop “Hunts for Good Food”, Health Eating Schools Programme 200 fewer classes; 250 fewer doctor’s referral appointments pa; 100 fewer Health Walks. 60% reduction in activities for young people. Stop all disability- sport sessions. No support for clubs and coaches Exercise classes (650); doctor’s referrals (765); Health Walks (465); activities for young people; holiday schemes; after-school clubs; street sports. Support for clubs and coaches. Health eating scheme 4Leisure Centres Close 3 swimming pools (the remaining services will continue to be provided, e.g. Gym, sports hall, etc.) Reduce opening hours and facilities, e.g. Creches, sauna/ steam 5 leisure centres, providing a wide range of sports and leisure activities 5Countryside Parks Hinchingbrooke Country Park and Paxton Pits maintained to minimal standards, other sites maintenance of footpaths only. No events/ educational programmes and volunteer opportunities for special needs groups Close 4 sites (smaller ones), maintain remainder to minimum standard, and provide no events/ educational programmes or volunteer opportunities. No maintenance of Ouse Valley Way 15 Countryside Parks including Hinchingbrooke Country Park, Ouse Valley Way and Paxton Pits. Volunteer and training opportunities, educational programmes, and events 6Play Areas Close all existing Council maintained areas unless Town and Parish Councils or other groups can take them over Reduce inspections and litter picking to once per week. No new play areas Play areas maintained by the Council are inspected twice per week and litter picked 0124 0236 0 0 0 0 12 6 8 1012 3 2 Unacceptable

8.  Each resident asked to ‘spend’ 4 lots of points totalling 80.  One point = approx. £50,000  Current service = 120 points  Left hand side of grid = approx. £6m saving to council.

9. 1Grants to Community Groups Only 1000 housebound/ disabled residents able to get advice. Less than half of charities and voluntary groups supported About 9,000 people able to get advice. Fewer charities and voluntary groups helped. About 12,000 people able to get advice. Less money for charities and voluntary groups. No Shopmobility or volunteer cars The Council provides grants for advice services, such as the CAB and for charities and voluntary groups for schemes like Shopmobility and volunteer cars (16,000 people) 2Local Transport Schemes Stop supporting all local transport schemes (no new cycleways, bus shelters, etc.) Reduce the schemes supported and stop grants to community bus schemes Reduce the range and number of schemes supported (no new safety schemes) Provide cycleways, safe routes to schools, bus shelters and community transport groups (Dial- A-Ride) 3Improving Health Stop health-related exercise classes; exercise-referral appointments; health walks halved. No activities for young people. Stop “Hunts for Good Food”, Health Eating Schools Programme 200 fewer classes; 250 fewer doctor’s referral appointments pa; 100 fewer Health Walks. 60% reduction in activities for young people. Stop all disability- sport sessions. No support for clubs and coaches Exercise classes (650); doctor’s referrals (765); Health Walks (465); activities for young people; holiday schemes; after-school clubs; street sports. Support for clubs and coaches. Health eating scheme 4Leisure Centres Close 3 swimming pools (the remaining services will continue to be provided, e.g. Gym, sports hall, etc.) Reduce opening hours and facilities, e.g. Creches, sauna/ steam 5 leisure centres, providing a wide range of sports and leisure activities 5Countryside Parks Hinchingbrooke Country Park and Paxton Pits maintained to minimal standards, other sites maintenance of footpaths only. No events/ educational programmes and volunteer opportunities for special needs groups Close 4 sites (smaller ones), maintain remainder to minimum standard, and provide no events/ educational programmes or volunteer opportunities. No maintenance of Ouse Valley Way 15 Countryside Parks including Hinchingbrooke Country Park, Ouse Valley Way and Paxton Pits. Volunteer and training opportunities, educational programmes, and events 6Play Areas Close all existing Council maintained areas unless Town and Parish Councils or other groups can take them over Reduce inspections and litter picking to once per week. No new play areas Play areas maintained by the Council are inspected twice per week and litter picked 0124 0236 0 0 0 0 12 6 8 1012 3 2 Cost Constrained (20) First Priorities

10. 1Grants to Community Groups Only 1000 housebound/ disabled residents able to get advice. Less than half of charities and voluntary groups supported About 9,000 people able to get advice. Fewer charities and voluntary groups helped. About 12,000 people able to get advice. Less money for charities and voluntary groups. No Shopmobility or volunteer cars The Council provides grants for advice services, such as the CAB and for charities and voluntary groups for schemes like Shopmobility and volunteer cars (16,000 people) 2Local Transport Schemes Stop supporting all local transport schemes (no new cycleways, bus shelters, etc.) Reduce the schemes supported and stop grants to community bus schemes Reduce the range and number of schemes supported (no new safety schemes) Provide cycleways, safe routes to schools, bus shelters and community transport groups (Dial- A-Ride) 3Improving Health Stop health-related exercise classes; exercise-referral appointments; health walks halved. No activities for young people. Stop “Hunts for Good Food”, Health Eating Schools Programme 200 fewer classes; 250 fewer doctor’s referral appointments pa; 100 fewer Health Walks. 60% reduction in activities for young people. Stop all disability- sport sessions. No support for clubs and coaches Exercise classes (650); doctor’s referrals (765); Health Walks (465); activities for young people; holiday schemes; after-school clubs; street sports. Support for clubs and coaches. Health eating scheme 4Leisure Centres Close 3 swimming pools (the remaining services will continue to be provided, e.g. Gym, sports hall, etc.) Reduce opening hours and facilities, e.g. Creches, sauna/ steam 5 leisure centres, providing a wide range of sports and leisure activities 5Countryside Parks Hinchingbrooke Country Park and Paxton Pits maintained to minimal standards, other sites maintenance of footpaths only. No events/ educational programmes and volunteer opportunities for special needs groups Close 4 sites (smaller ones), maintain remainder to minimum standard, and provide no events/ educational programmes or volunteer opportunities. No maintenance of Ouse Valley Way 15 Countryside Parks including Hinchingbrooke Country Park, Ouse Valley Way and Paxton Pits. Volunteer and training opportunities, educational programmes, and events 6Play Areas Close all existing Council maintained areas unless Town and Parish Councils or other groups can take them over Reduce inspections and litter picking to once per week. No new play areas Play areas maintained by the Council are inspected twice per week and litter picked 0124 0236 0 0 0 0 12 6 8 1012 3 2 Cost Constrained (20) Second Priorities

11. Satisfaction with Personal Choice Scenarios Very Unhappy Slightly Unhappy Uncertain Quite Pleased Very Pleased Extremely Pleased Base 65%27%6%1%0% +20 Points 20%34%23%21%1%0% +40 Points 4%19%30%42%6%0% +60 Points 1%10%15%53%21%0% +80 Points 0%3%9%47%38%3% Current 2%6%17%53%21%2% Few unhappy at their 3rd priorities of 60 points, a £3m saving. Only 8% unhappy with the current service – one of the lowest ‘dissatisfaction’ rates ever recorded on 130 studies over 7 years.

12. “Service Benefits/Tax Level” Trade Off Choice Black circles PLUS red arrows 1 PLUS black arrows, do you think this is a good use of a further £ 1m of council budget equivalent to an extra £ 20/year council tax 2 PLUS green arrows, do you think this is a good use of a further £ 1m of council budget equivalent to an extra £ 40/year council tax 3 PLUS blue arrows, do you think this is a good use of a further £ 1m of council budget equivalent to an extra £ 60/year council tax 4

13. Scenarios Chosen When Informed of Council Tax Impact Scenario: +20 Points+40 Points+60 Points+80 Points Budget Equivalent -£5m-£4m-£3m-£2m Tax Equivalent, ignoring inflation Base£20 premium £40 premium £60 premium Total30%27%25%18% Under 40 27%25%26%21% 40 - 60 26% 22% Over 60 36%28%24%12% 70% willing to pay at least £20 more tax to avoid largest cuts. Elderly least keen on paying extra tax for less savings.

14. Scenarios Chosen When Informed of Council Tax Impact Scenario: +20 Points+40 Points+60 Points+80 Points Budget Equivalent -£5m-£4m-£3m-£2m Total30%27%25%18% Urban 30%24%31%15% Rural 29% 21% Only minor area differences.

15. Scenarios Chosen When Informed of Council Tax Impact Scenario: +20 Points+40 Points+60 Points+80 Points Budget Equivalent -£5m-£4m-£3m-£2m In-home residents 30%27%25%18% Web residents 28%25%20%27% Web staff 17%28%27%28% Web ‘business, stakeholders’ 26% 18%29% Web staff more keen to avoid largest service cuts.

16. Example Summary Data No investigation 0 100 investigations 2 As now, over 300 investigations 4 Priority 80 10%8%82% Priority 60 20%10%70% Priority 4035%11%54% Priority 2059%11%30% Unacceptable54%10%0% Attribute 7) Nuisance investigation

17. Dissatisfaction with Alternative “Consensus” Budgets Budget change %

18. Most Preferred Individual Improvements Service Attribute ChangeIndex Margin- al Cost (7) Nuisance investigation None  100 672 (2) Local transport Stop support  Reduce 632 (3) Health activities Stop support  much less 601 (2) Local transport Reduce support  no new 601 (6) Play areas Close  Reduce support 602 (7) Nuisance investigation 100  As now, over 300 572 (20) Business support Stop support  Reduce 562

19. % Choice Prediction Between Consensus Optimum Budgets Budget Change£5mLess£4mLess£3mLess£2mLess£1mLess Extra tax equivalentNone £20 more £40 more £60 more £80 more Total2921201713 Under 40 3015221913 40-60 2722201813 61 + 28 191312 Urban 3020211613 Rural 2923201712 71% predicted to pay at least £20 extra tax avoid largest service cuts scenario. Little difference between samples.

20. % Choice Prediction Between Consensus Optimum Budgets Budget Change£5mLess£4mLess£3mLess£2mLess£1mLess In-home2921201713 Web residents 3515161519 Web staff 3614131621 Web ‘business, stakeholders’ 2817181720 Little difference between samples.

21. Should local-specific services be the responsibility of the ‘local council’ or Hunts DC? Scenario: Local councilHunts DC Total in-home62%38% Under 40 64%36% 40 – 60 59%41% Over 60 63%37% Urban 59%41% Rural 64%36% Web residents 61%39% Web staff 71%29% Web ‘business, stakeholders’ 71%29%

22. In principle, should users of services pay for their usage or should Hunts DC pay for them? Scenario: User paysHunts DC Total in-home40%60% Under 40 31%69% 40 – 60 35%65% Over 60 53%47% Urban 35%65% Rural 42%58% Web residents 48%52% Web staff 62%38% Web ‘business, stakeholders’ 65%35%

23. Summary 1 - Information To maintain the current levels of these services, council tax would need to increase by more than Central Government guidelines Only 8% of residents were dissatisfied with the current service they received from Huntingdonshire Council. (One of the lowest dissatisfaction measures recorded in over 130 similar consultations for other councils)

24. Summary 2 – Payment for services 70% of respondents were willing to pay £20 or more per year extra tax to minimise the potential cuts the council could introduce. Faced with the choice of 5 optimally deduced budget service allocations, 71% were predicted to chose the four of these that incurred at least a £20 increase in council tax and avoided the largest service cuts scenario.

25. Summary 3 – Service Reductions Causing Least Displeasure. Saving up to £2m. Council magazine – Stop, electronic only Council website – 75% fewer pages Planning services – ‘Bare minimum’ Council access – Reduce opening hours Affordable homes grants – Reduce by 17 Grounds maintenance – cut 8 times / year Climate change – reduce environment schemes CCTV – Record only Town centres – Halve grants Countryside parks – Close 4 small ones

26. Summary 4 – Further Service Reductions Causing Least Displeasure. Saving up to £3m. Voluntary grants – Only 9000 get advice Leisure centres – reduce hours Play areas – reduce inspections Licensing – Minimum service Homelessness – 400 get advice Saving up to £4m Local transport – No new safety schemes Countryside parks – Minimum standards CCTV – Cease Fraud investigation – Reduce Council access – Close 4 service centres Homes quality – Stop help to owners Affordable homes – 34 fewer Business support – Reduce

27. Summary 5 – Services which should not be reduced if at all possible Healthy activity support Anti-social behaviour, nuisance prevention Home grants for disabled persons Street cleaning