Residents' Survey

The purpose of the Council’s Residents’ Survey is to gauge levels of satisfaction with the local area, the Council, and the services it provides. 

In August and September 2024, our provider DJS Research undertook a survey on behalf of the Council with a representative sample of 1,001 Reading residents, via a mixed methodology of telephone (714 interviews) and face to face surveys (287 interviews). 

Where possible, results are compared with the Local Government Association’s national survey of local authorities from June 2024. 

Summary of results 

The headline results are as follows: 

 Satisfaction with the Council 

• 60% were satisfied with the way the Council runs things overall 

This compares to 60% in 2023 and 55% in the LGA’s national survey. 

• 47% agreed that Reading Borough Council provides value for money  

This compares to 42% in 2023 and 38% in the LGA’s national survey. 

• 54% thought that the Council acts on the concerns of local residents  

This compares to 5% in 2023 and 47% in the national LGA survey. 

• 63% thought that the Council we keeps residents very or fairly well informed 

This compares with 61% in 2023 and 52% in the national LGA survey. 

• The Council service with the highest level of satisfaction was public transport at 77%. 
• The Council service with the highest level of dissatisfaction was road maintenance at 45%.  

This compares with 36% in 2023 and 27% in the national LGA survey. 

Satisfaction with Reading as a place 

• 77% were satisfied with Reading as a place to live 

This compares with 77% in 2023 and 75% in the national LGA survey. 

• 71% felt that they belong to their immediate neighbourhood 

This compares with 70% in 2023 

• 31% thought that people not treating each other with respect and consideration is a very or fairly big problem  

This compares with 31% in 2023 

Respondents were asked to identify from a list of options the top three things most important in making somewhere a good place to live and the top three things that most need improving. The most frequently cited issues were as follows: 

Important in making somewhere a good place to live:  

• the level of crime (42%) 
• affordable decent housing (27%) 
• good schools (26%) 
• public transport (23%) 
• health services (22%) 

Needing improvement:  

• road and pavement repairs (36%) 
• the level of crime (30%) 
• the level of traffic congestion (27%) 
• affordable decent housing (25%) 
• clean streets (24%). 

Key results compared with LGA survey