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Questionnaires were distributed during June and July 2009 via the Area Forums, Residents Panel, Parish Councils and could be accessed via the Borough Council and Community Partnership Website. We had responses from 205 people.

The majority of people responding thought the priorities for the Community Strategy were the right ones. A few people made suggestions for priorities they thought were missing. These included enterprise, broadband, infrastructure issues, community amenities and different arrangements for local government.

People were asked to identify the main issues/problems under each of the five proposed themes for the strategy. A summary of the main issues raised is attached. The most common issues raised overall were:-

Prosperous Communities: The need for more, better quality jobs, diversification of the economy and lack of high speed broadband.
Safe and Healthy Communities: facilities for young people, underage and anti-social drinking, affordable housing.
Inclusive and Vibrant Communities: Need for sport and leisure facilities in the south of the Borough, an improved swimming pool in Scarborough, lack of facilities for young people, increase public involvement in decisions.
Quality Environments: dog fouling, litter
Accessible Communities: More evening bus services, improved frequency of train services (all routes), A64 improvements, broadband issues.

A number of respondents thought that some parts of the questionnaire were confusing to complete.

The questionnaire was designed to get a snapshot of the issues that local people thought were important and which should be reflected within the Community Strategy. Comments have been taken into account in the drafting of the new Community Strategy. All of the most significant issues raised as listed above are included within the draft strategy. The majority of other issues identified by respondents are included, although not all of the very local detail has been included.

A small minority of issues are not reflected in the strategy and this is where issues were very local and specific or where there was not a consensus of opinion. For example a number of respondents felt that weekly bin collections should be reinstated, however others felt that recycling arrangements were working well and that fortnightly collections were about right. There are, however, targets to increase levels of recycling and reduce landfill included as part of the “Quality Environments” theme (1.1).

Enterprise, broadband issues and infrastructure issues are included within the strategy. The economic section is now titled economy and enterprise (2.1) and broadband issues are included within the accessible communities theme (5.2). The importance of community facilities is included within the inclusive and vibrant communities theme (section 4.4)

The comments about the layout of the questionnaire have been taken on board and future consultations will aim for greater clarity to avoid confusion.

Further consultation on the Draft Community Strategy will be undertaken during November/December 2009. The final Community Strategy Will be in place by 1 March 2010.