Customer satisfaction with council tops 90 per cent - again

Overall customer satisfaction with key council services remained unchanged at a record 91.4 per cent for a second year.

An annual National Research Bureau survey of 500 Hutt residents found nearly all respondents were either satisfied or very satisfied with 26 services and facilities supplied or maintained by council.

Last year’s result was the first time council had broken through 90 per cent – an extraordinary grade – and this year’s survey repeated that outcome.

Areas rated by respondents included water and sewerage services, libraries, recycling and rubbish collection, swimming pools, parks and gardens and roads.

Among key findings:

The performance of the mayor and councillors was given a tick by 96 per cent of respondents, and of council staff 95 per cent.
Eight-nine per cent of respondents were satisfied with how their rates were spent.
Nearly 40 per cent of respondents used the council website to obtain information or made payments online.
Eighty-nine per cent were satisfied with how council consulted with the community.

Areas where respondents were not satisfied included the enforcement of parking restrictions, public toilets and dog control.

The findings will be used to benchmark council’s performance against that of similarsized councils throughout the country.