Priorities for communities

Top five

• speeding, inc. lorry movements/enforcement (80%)

• highway matters - communications and maintenance (67.50%)

• planning inc. large developments/projects (53.16%)

• managing community assets inc. funding (43.04%)

Operational challenges for councils

Top five

• Community engagement and/or interest in work of the council (93.67%)

• Recruiting or retaining volunteers (71.25%)

• Capacity (67.11%)

• Funding (56.42%)

• Managing expectations from other agencies (40.51%)

Programme of specialist training suggested

Top five 

• Planning (all aspects) 69.62%

• Successful funding applications (53.16%)

• using social media (37.97%)

• Website accessibility (34.18%)

• Recruiting and managing volunteers (27.85%)

• Data Protection (27.85%)

• Neighbourhood plans (27.85%)

Open ended comments

• working with only a quorum causes issues

• climate change is a big topic

• budget restrictions makes it difficult to fund all training requirements especially in an election year due to current economy difficulties

• templates like health and safety and homeworking

• up to date model clerk contract

• communicating with residents

• improving play areas, developing museum facilities, strategic plan for River Waveney

• managing burial grounds and speeding

• climate change

• budget restrictions to cover all training requirements especially in election year

• rules relevant to parish meetings

• Allotment management

• Vexatious complainants

• legal advice for smaller councils

• investment advice

• working with other tiers and vice versa

• management of burial grounds

Who has participated?

Total of 80 councils  (approx. 22% of SALC members)

• East Suffolk (39.74%%) 31 responses

• West Suffolk (21.79%) 17 responses

• Mid Suffolk (24.36%) 19 responses

• Babergh (14.10%) 11 responses

• Three respondents skipped the question identifying district