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 2025, our provider DJS Research undertook a survey on behalf of the Council with a representative sample of 1,000 Reading residents, via a mixed methodology of telephone and face to face surveys. 

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

The headline results are as follows: 

 Satisfaction with the Council 

·    63% were satisfied with the way the Council runs things overall 

This compares to 60% in 2024 and 56% in the LGA’s national survey. 

·    45% agreed that Reading Borough Council provides value for money  

This compares to 47% in 2024 and 36% in the LGA’s national survey. 

·    53% thought that the Council acts on the concerns of local residents  

This compares to 54% in 2024 and 53% in the national LGA survey. 

·    64% thought that the Council we keeps residents very or fairly well informed 

This compares with 63% in 2024 and 47% in the national LGA survey. 

·    The Council service with the highest level of satisfaction was parks & green spaces at 79%. This compares with 77% in 2024 and 74% in the national LGA survey. 

·    The Council service with the highest level of dissatisfaction was road maintenance at 40%.  This compares with 46% in 2024 and 57% in the national LGA survey. 

Satisfaction with Reading as a place 

·    79% were satisfied with Reading as a place to live 

This compares with 77% in 2024 and 74% in the national LGA survey. 

Respondents were also asked to identify from a list of options the top three things that most need improving. The most frequently cited issues were as follows: 

• road and pavement repairs (36%) 
• affordable decent housing (34%) 
• the level of crime (33%) 
• the level of traffic congestion (30%) 
• clean streets (20%). 

Key results compared with LGA survey