Place Survey

Place Survey FAQs

• Why are we carrying out the Place Survey?
• Why is it called the Place Survey?
• When will the Place Survey be carried out?
• How is the Place Survey to be undertaken?
• Who will receive questionnaires?
• Can residents who don't receive a survey request one?
• In two tier areas will there be 2 Place Surveys i.e. one for the District/ City Council and one for the County Council?
• Are we carrying out the Place Survey in house or is a research company undertaking the work for us?
• Is this a one off survey?

Why are we carrying out the Place Survey?
Firstly, we have to. From April 2008 the Government introduced a new set of national performance indicators. 18 of these national indicators will be measured using the Place Survey. Therefore, all Councils have to carry out a Place Survey in their area.

However, aside from the statutory requirement we are genuinely interested in what our residents have to say about us and about North Norfolk. If we know what people think about the district and what people's concerns are, then we can work with our various partners to make improvements and ensure the people of North Norfolk enjoy a high quality of life where the unique and attractive environment is sustained into the future.

Why is it called the Place Survey?
It is called the Place Survey because primarily it is a survey about people's perceptions of the place in which they live rather than a survey about North Norfolk District Council's services.

When will the Place Survey be carried out?
Questionnaires will be sent out on the 25th/ 26th September. Up to 2 reminders will be sent to non-responders and the last date for return of questionnaires will be in the middle of December.

How is the Place Survey to be undertaken?
The Place Survey is a postal questionnaire.

Who will receive questionnaires?
The CLG provide authorities with a sample of 6,000 addresses from the Postal Address File (PAF). We need to get 1,100 responses to give us the required statistical reliability for our results. Based on past response rates in North Norfolk we are therefore sending the questionnaire out to a random sample of 3,000 households (drawn from the 6,000 addresses referred to above).

Can residents who don't receive a survey request one?
To ensure the results are representative of all residents in North Norfolk the sample is drawn randomly from all addresses in the district. This methodology and the sample to be used are set out by the CLG and Audit Commission so we can't send out extra questionnaires to residents who request one and include their views in our results.

In two tier areas will there be 2 Place Surveys i.e. one for the District/ City Council and one for the County Council?
The Guidance recommends that Councils in two tier areas work together to carry out the Place Survey. That is what is happening in North Norfolk and across Norfolk. One survey is being carried out in each of the district council areas in Norfolk and these results will be combined to produce an overall county result too.
All the Councils in Norfolk have worked together as a consortium to set up the Place Survey and procure a contractor to undertake the work on our behalf.

Are we carrying out the Place Survey in house or is a research company undertaking the work for us?
Ipsos MORI have been contracted to carry out the Place Survey for all councils in Norfolk. They are the market leader for this type of work and have worked with us before on the fore-runner of the Place Survey, the Best Value General Survey, and other residents surveys.

Is this a one off survey?
We will be required to carry out the Place Survey every two years. This will help us to track people's changing perceptions and help us to see whether interventions made in an area have had the right outcomes for local people - i.e. do people feel happier, healthier, safer?

If you have any questions about the Place Survey please contact Helen Thomas Tel. 01263 516214, email: Helen.Thomas@north-norfolk.gov.uk