Satisfaction in council above national average

Satisfaction with Cornwall Council is nearly 20% above the national average according to the results of a survey

People in Cornwall are more satisfied with the local council than those in other parts of the county, according to a recent survey.

Trust in Cornwall Council was found to be 18% higher than the national average, but satisfaction levels in some services including highways, fire and rescue, and waste collections had declined since last year.

A Cornwall Council spokesperson said poor results in respect of several areas reflected the "financial situation" and the national picture.

The spokesperson said the results "taken as a whole" showed residents recognised "the council that cares about them" and was "standing up for Cornwall".

'Reflected the national picture'

They added the council's circumstances were "just made worse by getting less money than anticipated from the Government" which would impact on its ability to provide perceived "value for money" and led to "reduced satisfaction levels in respect of the majority of services".

Cornwall Council has been carrying out the Residents Survey since 2018.

Other areas that have dropped this year include value for money (down 5%), happiness with waste collections (down 9%) and satisfaction with library services (down 8%).

Satisfaction with highways dropped 13% year-on-year, while support for the fire and rescue service had gone down 10%.

In total 68% of respondents had a "great deal" or a "fair amount" of trust in the council - up from 67% in 2023.

National figures from a Local Government Association survey showed 50% for this question - the lowest since polling began in 2012.

The Cornwall Council spokesperson said the figures "reflected the national picture" with similar surveys "showing far greater declines in satisfaction with public services across the country".

"That isn't necessarily the case in Cornwall, notably in areas where the council has focused its financial and vocal support including services and support for vulnerable adults, and children and young people," they said.

The spokesperson said the results provided "feedback on what is important to people" and would help "inform our future work, highlighting both best practice and areas for improvement".

A total of 3,002 Cornwall residents aged over 16 were interviewed between September and November 2024 by telephone and face-to-face.