Community Research in Blyth Valley Borough Council Area 2003
Research Study Conducted for The Boundary Committee for England
October 2003
Contents
Introduction 1 Executive Summary 4 Local Communities 6 Defining Communities 6 Identifying Communities 6 Identity with the Local Community in the Blyth Valley Borough Council Area 7 Overall Identity 7 Effective Communities 9 Involvement 13 Affective Communities 16 Bringing Effective and Affective Communities Together 17 Local Authority Communities 19 Belonging to Blyth Valley Borough Council Area 19 Belonging to Northumberland County Council Area 22 Knowledge and Attitudes towards Local Governance 25 Knowledge of Local Governance 25 Involvement with Local Governance 26 Administrative Boundary Issues 26 Appendices 1. Methodology – Quantitative 2. Methodology - Qualitative 3. Sub-Group Definitions 4. Place Name Gazetteer 5. Qualitative Topic Guide 6. Marked-up Questionnaire
Community Research in Blyth Valley Borough Council Area 2003 for The Boundary Committee for England Introduction
Research Aims This report presents the findings of research conducted by the MORI Social Research Institute on behalf of The Boundary Committee for England (referred to in this report as "The Committee") in the Blyth Valley Borough Council area. The aim of this research is to establish the patterns of community identity in the area.
Survey Coverage MORI has undertaken research in all 44 two-tier district or borough council areas in the North East, North West and Yorkshire and the Humber regions. The research covers two-tier local authority areas only; the results may however identify issues which overlap with adjacent areas. Reports and data for other two-tier areas are provided separately.
Blyth Valley Borough Council (Northumberland CC)
Wansbeck DC Castle Morpeth BC (Northumberland CC) (Northumberland CC)
Blyth Valley BC (Northumberland CC) Data is available from two-tier authorities in these County Council areas: Cheshire Durham Cumbria Lancashire Northumberland North Yorkshire North Tyneside MBC Key: Newcastle-upon- BC = Borough Council DC = District Council Tyne City Council CC = County Council MBC = Metropolitan Borough Council Source: MORI
Methodology Both quantitative and qualitative research has been carried out in the Blyth Valley Borough Council area, as in each two-tier district council area in the North East region.
Quantitative research seeks to answer the question of ‘what’ residents think, by measuring their attitudes on a range of pre-set questions in the context of an interview, rather than holding an in-depth discussion on the issues involved. It provides statistically robust data.
1 Community Research in Blyth Valley Borough Council Area 2003 for The Boundary Committee for England
Within each two-tier district or borough council area, some 300 quantitative face- to-face interviews were carried out in-home between 19th June and 31st August 2003. A total of 1,835 interviews took place across all two-tier authorities in the Northumberland County Council area, with 307 interviews being conducted in the Blyth Valley Borough Council area. Quotas were set by age, gender and work status using 2001 Census data. Data have been weighted back to the known demographic profile of each district or borough council area by age and gender, and for aggregate county, regional and overall findings by the population size of each individual district or borough council area. Full computer tabulations have been provided separately.
Qualitative research helps probe the thinking processes and feelings of residents, and attempts to answer the question as to ‘why?’ residents might feel the way they do.
In the Blyth Valley Borough Council area, a qualitative discussion group was held to establish how residents feel about their local community. The findings from this group were analysed within the context of the findings from discussion groups in the other 43 district or borough council areas under consideration by this study. Discussion groups do not seek to offer statistical validity from a representative sample, but seek to explore attitudes and opinions in greater depth than the quantitative research allows. It should also be borne in mind that, in order to get an overview of the in-depth feelings in each area as well as explore linkages across the region, only one discussion group was held in each district or borough council area. The findings from each group should therefore be viewed in the context of the other discussion groups which have taken place, as well as the quantitative findings. This is because the findings from participants from just one discussion group may be unrepresentative of general opinion, and misleading if viewed out of context.
Report Structure This report provides an overview of the findings from the research for the Blyth Valley Borough Council area level. Individual summary reports for the findings within each of the two-tier authorities in the North East region have been issued under separate cover.
Publication of the Data As part of our standard terms and conditions, the publication of the data in this report is subject to the advance approval of MORI. This would only be refused on the grounds of inaccuracy or misinterpretation of the findings.
2 Community Research in Blyth Valley Borough Council Area 2003 for The Boundary Committee for England
Contact Details The research was carried out by MORI for COI Communications, acting on behalf of The Boundary Committee for England.
Simon Atkinson, Research Director, MORI Emma Holloway, Senior Research Executive, MORI Jaime Rose, Senior Research Executive, MORI Neil Wholey, Senior Research Executive, MORI
79-81 Borough Road London SE1 1FY
Tel: 020 7347 3000 Fax: 020 7347 3800
Email: [email protected] Internet: www.mori.com
3 Community Research in Blyth Valley Borough Council Area 2003 for The Boundary Committee for England Executive Summary
• Residents in the Blyth Valley Borough Council area identify most strongly with their local neighbourhood or village, and their town or nearest town. They show less identity with the administrative areas of the local two-tier councils. This is not an unusual finding, as people will generally identify with the immediate area where they have made their home, rather than a large geographical area.
• The Blyth Valley Borough Council area is a mixture of urban and rural, with activity concentrated on the town of Blyth itself. Over half of residents most associate themselves with the town of Blyth, with nearly one in five associating with Cramlington. Nearly one in ten most associate themselves with Newcastle, in the neighbouring Newcastle- upon-Tyne Met Council area.
• "Effective Communities" are the sense of place created by visiting practical locations which cater for shopping or leisure needs, work place, or where parents take their children to school. Blyth is a particularly key destination for clothes and household shopping for C2s and DEs, with ABs and C1s more concentrated around visiting Newcastle-upon-Tyne for clothes and household shopping. The two combinations are fairly close to each other and there is a relatively strong link between these two areas.
• As has been found in other district and borough council areas nearby, Newcastle-upon-Tyne is a local focal point - especially for clothes and household shopping. However, few residents actually feel that Newcastle-upon-Tyne is the area or community they most belong to. This suggests that it may be a good place to visit, but does not form lasting community ties.
• "Affective Communities" are the sense of place created by residents forming an emotional attachment to a community. Identity with the local neighbourhood is naturally stronger for those who take part in community activities. It is also interesting that those who stay in the local Blyth Valley Borough Council area for their leisure and sporting activities feel a closer bond with the Council area. This has not come across strongly in other district or council areas in the vicinity apart from in the Castle Morpeth Borough Council area.
• Overall, 88% of Blyth Valley Borough Council residents feel they belong to a local area or community within this council area. This is in line with other district or borough council areas in the Northumberland County Council area.
4 Community Research in Blyth Valley Borough Council Area 2003 for The Boundary Committee for England
Interpreting the Findings • Neither the qualitative nor the quantitative research should be taken in isolation of the other, and nor should the findings of one district, borough, county or region be taken in isolation of the overall perspective provided by research in other areas. Just as residents themselves are at the centre of a number of different communities, so this research is at the centre of a wider body of research that provides context and a sense of place to the individual findings for each area.
©MORI/18710 Simon Atkinson Emma Holloway Jaime Rose Neil Wholey
5 Community Research in Blyth Valley Borough Council Area 2003 for The Boundary Committee for England Local Communities
Defining Communities Communities, in the context of this research, are a sense of place. The strength of this sense of place is related to the involvement residents have in their communities, whether with people in their own immediate neighbourhood, or with places further afield through, for example, shopping trips or work.
For residents there are a number of different and overlapping communities:
• Administrative Communities: the sense of place created by local council administrative boundaries.
• Effective Communities: the sense of place created by visiting practical locations which cater for shopping or leisure needs, or are a place of work, or where parents take their children to school.
• Affective Communities: the sense of place created by residents forming an emotional attachment to a community. This is defined as where residents feel they most belong, the town or area they most identify with, and if they met someone from outside their region, where they might say they came from.
The aim of this study is to gain insight into the effective and affective communities of residents in the Blyth Valley Borough Council area, and how these might relate to administrative boundaries.
Identifying Communities Multifaceted communities require a multifaceted approach to identifying them. In both the qualitative and quantitative research, residents were asked to identify the communities in which they felt they belonged and, from the different perspectives of these methodologies, to obtain a rounded picture of these communities. Neither the qualitative nor the quantitative research should therefore be taken in isolation of the other, and nor should the findings of one district, borough, county or region be taken in isolation of the overall perspective provided by research in other areas. Just as residents themselves are at the centre of a number of different communities, so this research is at the centre of a wider body of research that provides context and a sense of place to the individual findings for each area.
6 Community Research in Blyth Valley Borough Council Area 2003 for The Boundary Committee for England Identity with the Local Community in the Blyth Valley Borough Council Area
Overall Identity Past research conducted by MORI shows that residents often feel they belong most strongly with the community that forms their own immediate neighbourhood or village, with a slightly less strong identity with the town as a whole or the nearest town. In the Blyth Valley Borough Council area, two in five residents (40%) feel that they very strongly belong to their neighbourhood or village, a further two in five residents feeling they fairly strongly belong (38%). Across all the qualitative groups the discussions centred around local geographical areas. In the Blyth Valley Borough discussion group all respondents identified with their immediate village or neighbourhood. In addition, several of the respondents indicated a strong identification with their town or the nearest town.
Belonging to Neighbourhood, Village or Town Q22 How strongly do you feel that you belong to each of the following areas? a. This neighbourhood (asked in urban areas)/this village or the nearest village (asked in rural areas) b. This town (asked in urban areas)/the nearest town (asked in rural areas) 46% 40% 38% 36%
17% 16%
4% 2% 0% 0% Very strongly Fairly strongly Not very Not at all No opinion strongly strongly Base: 307 Blyth Valley Borough Council Residents 18+, 19 Jun-31 Aug 2003 Source: MORI
7 Community Research in Blyth Valley Borough Council Area 2003 for The Boundary Committee for England
The table below shows the differences across the two-tier council areas in the Northumberland County Council area.
Q22 How strongly do you feel that you belong to each of the following areas? Very Fairly Not very Not at all No opinion strongly strongly strongly strongly Base: c.300 residents in each two-tier %%%%% authority
This neighbourhood (asked in urban areas)/ village/or the nearest village (asked in rural areas)
Alnwick DC 29 45 24 2 0 Berwick-upon-Tweed BC 36 38 24 2 0 Blyth Valley BC 40 38 17 4 0 Castle Morpeth BC 31 48 20 1 * Tynedale DC 46 43 11 1 0 Wansbeck DC 30 44 22 2 1
This town (asked in urban areas)/the nearest town (asked in rural areas)
Alnwick DC 16 48 33 3 0 Berwick-upon-Tweed BC 23 44 31 2 0 Blyth Valley BC 36 46 16 2 0 Castle Morpeth BC 20 50 27 2 1 Tynedale DC 23 45 24 8 0 Wansbeck DC 22 45 30 3 *
Source: MORI
8 Community Research in Blyth Valley Borough Council Area 2003 for The Boundary Committee for England
Effective Communities For the purpose of this research we have defined "Effective Communities" as the sense of place created by visiting practical locations which cater for shopping or leisure needs, workplace, or where parents take their children to school. In the quantitative survey, respondents were asked to identify, unprompted, the towns or areas they visit for practical reasons, and therefore form the basis of their effective communities.
Main food shopping: Nearly three quarters of residents (74%) do their main food shopping inside the Blyth Valley Borough Council area, the most popular destinations being the town of Blyth itself (53%) and Cramlington (20%). Blyth is visited in particular by those who have been resident in the Blyth Valley Borough Council area for more than 10 years (60%).
Whitley Bay (in North Tyneside MBC) is the most popular destination outside the Blyth Valley Borough Council area, visited by one in twelve residents (8%). There is a difference by social grade, with those in higher social grades more likely to shop there, ABs1 (15%) and C1s2 (14%).
Those who are involved a great deal or a fair amount in the community are significantly more likely to remain in the Blyth Valley Borough Council area for their food shopping than those who are not as involved (84% versus 70%). Those who identify with the nearest town are also more likely to shop in the Blyth Valley Borough Council area (79%) than those who do not (52%).
Clothes and household goods shopping: A third of residents (33%) stay within the Blyth Valley Borough Council area for clothes and household goods shopping. However, Newcastle-upon-Tyne is the most popular destination for this kind of shopping, with over a half of all residents visiting the city (55%). This is a finding common across neighbouring district or borough areas. It is particularly popular among residents in social grades AB (66%) and C1 (74%).
Blyth is the second most popular destination for clothes and household goods shopping with a quarter of all residents (25%) visiting the town for this kind of shopping. It is a particularly common destination among those in social grades C23 (35%) and DE4 (38%) and for those residents who do not own a car (41%).
Leisure and Sporting Activities: Over half of residents (56%) remain in the Blyth Valley Borough Council area for their leisure and sporting activities. Blyth itself is the most commonly visited destination for this type of activity with two in five residents going there (38%). Those who have been living there for 11 years or more are more likely to stay in Blyth for this kind of activity (45%) compared to residents who have been living there for a shorter period.
1 AB: professionals such as doctors, senior managers/executives, upper grades of services - i.e. those on the highest income. 2 C1: skilled non-manual workers. 3 C2: skilled manual workers. 4 DE: semi-skilled and unskilled manual workers, the unemployed and state pensioners.
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Cramlington is the second most frequently visited town for leisure and sporting activities with one in six of all residents visiting there (17%). Residents with children are particularly likely to visit Cramlington for their leisure and sporting activities (26%).
Places of work: Over half of our sample in the Blyth Valley Borough Council area are in full or part time work (58%). Of those in work, two in five stay in the Blyth Valley Borough Council area (38%). The second most popular work location is the Newcastle-upon-Tyne City Council area (26%), consisting mainly of one in five (21%) residents working in Newcastle-upon-Tyne itself. The second most popular town to work in is Blyth itself with nearly one in five residents working there (18%).
A similar picture is seen when residents as a whole were asked where other adults in the household work. It should be noted that two in five households have no other adult in the household (20%), or no other adult who is working (21%). Among households where someone else is in work, two in five do so in the Blyth Valley Borough Council area (42%), and a significant minority have work in the city of Newcastle-upon-Tyne (28%).
School: Just over a quarter of our sample in the Blyth Valley Borough Council area have school aged children (aged 5-16) living in their household (26%). Nine in ten of the children in these households (91%) go to school within the Blyth Valley Borough Council area, the most prominent places being Blyth (49%) and Cramlington (28%). A significant minority have children who attend schools in Seaton Delaval (10%).
10 Community Research in Blyth Valley Borough Council Area 2003 for The Boundary Committee for England
Q Which town or area do you generally go for/to…. % of residents identifying Q4: Main Q5: Shop Q11: Q9: Main Q10: Other Q7: Child’s town or area (where at least food for clothes Leisure & place of adults school (3) 3%) shopping & house- sporting work (1) place of hold goods activities work (2) Base: Blyth Valley Borough (307) (307) (307) (135) (160) (71) Council Residents %%%%%% Inside Council Area Blyth 532538182649 Cramlington 20 8 17 14 15 28 Seaton Delaval 1 * * 3 4 10 Seaton Sluice 1 0 * 1 0 7 Seghill 000104
Outside Council Area Ashington 0 0 1 4 4 0 Bedlington*01435 Gateshead 0 4 * 1 2 0 Gosforth 20*430 Killingworth 7 1 1 2 1 0 Newcastle-upon-Tyne 2 55 15 21 28 2 North Shields 3 1 5 * 4 1 Sunderland000410 Wallsend 0 1 0 2 3 2 Whitley Bay 8 1 9 4 4 0
Don't know 0 1 10 * 2 1 None 014000
(1) Asked only of workers (2) Households with someone else in work (3) Asked only of those with school aged children * Response between 0 and 0.5% Source: MORI
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The table below builds on the data provided on the previous page, by summarising the towns identified in the above table into the different two- or single- tier authorities in which they reside.
Q Which town or area do you generally go for/to…. % of residents identifying Q4: Main Q5: Shop Q11: Q9: Main Q10: Other Q7: Child’s town or area (where at least food for clothes Leisure & place of adults school (3) 3%) shopping & house- sporting work (1) place of hold goods activities work (2) Base: Blyth Valley Borough Council (307) (307) (307) (135) (160) (71) Residents %%%%%%
Blyth Valley Borough 74 33 56 38 42 91 Council
Other Northumberland County Two-Tier Authorities Wansbeck DC*02895
Other Authorities Gateshead MBC04*120 Newcastle-upon-Tyne 5 561625312 City Council North Tyneside MBC2131610162 Sunderland City Council000410
(1) Asked only of workers (2) Households with someone else in work (3) Asked only of those with school aged children * Response between 0 and 0.5% Source: MORI
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Involvement Past research conducted by MORI shows that involvement is a key element in helping to understand communities5. Not only do residents have to visit places, they have to feel involved and part of that community because of it. In the Blyth Valley Borough Council area, 6% of residents feel that they are involved a great deal in their local community, one in five a fair amount (18%), over a half not very much (53%) and 22% not at all.
Q19 Overall, how involved do you feel in your local community? A great deal A fair Not very Not at all Don't know amount much Base: c.300 residents in each two-tier %%%%% authority Alnwick DC 9 35 44 10 * Berwick-upon-Tweed BC 7 35 47 11 0 Blyth Valley BC 6 18 53 22 1 Castle Morpeth BC42853151 Tynedale DC73944100 Wansbeck DC 2 22 57 18 1 Source: MORI
Out of all the different reasons for visiting places, significant differences between those who feel involved in their community and those who do not occurs when discussing shopping for food and shopping for clothes and household goods. Two-thirds of those who feel involved in the community, do their main food shopping in Blyth (65%), compared to only half of those who are not involved in the community (50%). Those who are involved in the community are significantly more likely than those who are not to shop for clothes and household goods in the Blyth Valley Borough Council area (43% versus 30%).
Seven in ten of those who feel involved in their community carry out their leisure and sports activities within the Blyth Valley Borough Council area (71%), compared to half of those who do not feel involved (51%).
On this measure of involvement there are few significant differences by the key sub-groups, such as age, gender and social grade. The most interesting is that three in ten of those in social grades DE and C2 feel involved in their local community, compared to 10% of ABs and 18% of C1s.
5 Young, K., Gosschalk, B. & Hatter, W. In Search of Community Identity - MORI analysis conducted for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation 1995/96.
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Feeling involved in the local community in general, is naturally higher for those who take part in local activities. Nearly two in ten residents across the Blyth Valley Borough Council (18%) state that they are a member of an organised group (e.g. sports club or team, religious organisation, tenants' or residents' association), rising to three in ten (31%) of those who either feel involved a great deal or a fair amount in their local community.
Again there is a difference by social grade, with two thirds of ABs (66%) taking part in some kind of activity and 28% being involved with organised groups - well ahead of the levels registered by other residents.
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The table below shows the breakdown of the types of activities different groups take part in.
Q18a People do different types of activities in their communities. Have you recently been involved in any of the activities listed on this card?
Any None
Informal/ Organised Presenting unorgani- groups your views sed activity Base: Overall (307) % 49 (33) (18) (11) 51 Age 18-24 (31) % 32 (26) (12) (3) 68 25-34 (40) % 60 (39) (23) (13) 38 35-54 (108) % 46 (30) (17) (8) 54 55-64 (57) % 60 (51) (15) (23) 40 65-74 (44) % 42 (22) (18) (9) 58 75+ (27) % 40 (22) (22) (11) 60 Social grouping AB (58) % 66 (45) (28) (13) 34 C1 (81) % 49 (31) (17) (11) 51 C2 (63) % 44 (33) (14) (14) 56 DE (105) % 39 (28) (13) (8) 60 Identify with neighbourhood Very/fairly strongly (247) % 51 (36) (19) (11) 48 Not very/not at all (60) % 39 (22) (12) (13) 61 strongly Involved in community Great deal/fair amount (77) % 68 (56) (31) (14) 32 Not very much/nothing (227) % 43 (26) (13) (10) 57 Length of residency Under 2 years (41) % 43 (25) (16) (11) 55 3-10 years (73) % 47 (32) (16) (11) 53 11 or more years (193) % 51 (36) (19) (11) 49
Source: MORI
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Affective Communities For the purpose of this research we have defined "Affective Communities" as the sense of place created by residents forming an emotional attachment to a community. This is defined as where residents feel they most belong, the town or area they most identify with, and if they met someone from outside their region, where they would say they came from.
The impact of friends, family and friendly neighbours watching out for and supporting people can be considerable and was raised in the qualitative discussion groups. This helps develop an effective community into an affective one.
Over half of Blyth Valley Borough Council residents (53%) identify most with Blyth, with nearly two in ten identifying with Cramlington (17%) and nearly one in ten with Newcastle-upon-Tyne (8%). As noted above, Newcastle (which is outside the Blyth Valley Borough Council area) was also the most popular destination for visits such as shopping trips. This should not be surprising as it is the major city in the area.
Association with Town Q3 Overall, which town do you currently most associate yourself with? UNPROMPTED Top seven mentions of towns inside Blyth Valley Borough Council area Blyth 53% Cramlington 17% Seaton Sluice 3% Seaton Delaval 3% Seghill 3% Holywell 2% Nelson 1% Top three mentions of towns outside Blyth Valley Borough Council area Newcastle upon Tyne 8% Whitley Bay 4% North Shields 1%
Base: 307 Blyth Valley Borough Council Residents 18+, 19 Jun-31 Aug 2003 Source: MORI
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A slightly different picture is seen when residents are asked what area or community they feel they most belong to. This question was asked after the bank of questions on effective communities, where people shopped etc. Nine in ten residents identify most with an area within the Blyth Valley Borough Council area (88%), with a much lower proportion of residents identifying with the Newcastle- upon-Tyne City Council area (4%).
It is interesting that few residents say they most identify with Newcastle-upon- Tyne, despite frequent visits there, in particular for clothes and household goods shopping. This suggests that it may be a good day out, but is not an integral bond with the people of the Blyth Valley Borough Council area. It is a similar pattern to findings from other district or borough council areas nearby.
Association with Area or Community Q20 People sometimes say that they belong to more than one local area or community. Which one area or community do you now feel you most belong to? UNPROMPTED Top seven mentions of area or community inside Blyth Valley Borough Council area Blyth 51% Cramlington 19% Seaton Sluice 6% Seghill 3% Seaton Delaval 3% Holywell 2% Nelson 1% Top five mentions of area or community outside Blyth Valley Borough Council area
Newcastle upon Tyne 4% Whitley Bay 3% Northumberland 1% North Shields 1%
Base: 307 Blyth Valley Borough Council Residents 18+, 19 Jun-31 Aug 2003 Source: MORI
Bringing Effective and Affective Communities Together The research shows that many of the effective and affective communities overlap and are strongly related to each other. Residents have identified a range of villages and towns across the Blyth Valley Borough Council area of which a simple question can now be asked: does the administrative area in which residents live match the effective and affective communities that they have identified?
Staying with the quantitative survey (Q20), the following map shows the areas with which residents identify outside their own administrative district or borough council area (this includes data from areas outside the Blyth Valley Borough Council area). As discussed, nine in ten residents (88%) identify with areas inside Blyth Valley Borough Council area boundaries, with 4% identifying with the Newcastle-upon-Tyne City Council area.
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Blyth Valley Borough Council - Quantitative Area Identity 88% of Blyth Valley BC residents identify with local area/community within the Council area
Wansbeck DC Castle Morpeth BC 3% (Northumberland CC) (Northumberland CC)
*% Blyth Valley BC (Northumberland CC) 1% Data is available from two-tier authorities in these County Council 4% 5% areas: Cheshire Durham Cumbria Lancashire Northumberland North Tyneside North Yorkshire MBC Newcastle-upon- Key: Tyne City Council BC = Borough Council DC = District Council CC = County Council MBC = Metropolitan Borough Council Base: c.300 Council Residents in each Borough or District Council area 18+, 19 Jun-31 Aug 2003 Source: MORI
The quantitative survey shows a relatively strong relationship between the Blyth Valley Borough Council area and North Tyneside MBC and Newcastle-upon- Tyne City areas, although this was not evident in the qualitative group. Overall, most residents in both approaches stayed within the bounds of the Blyth Valley Borough Council area.
Blyth Valley Borough Council - Qualitative Area Identity
Wansbeck DC Castle Morpeth BC (Northumberland CC) (Northumberland CC)
Blyth Valley BC (Northumberland CC) Data is available from two-tier authorities in these County Council areas: Cheshire Durham Cumbria Lancashire Northumberland North Tyneside North Yorkshire
MBC Key: Newcastle-upon- BC = Borough Council Tyne City Council DC = District Council CC = County Council MBC = Metropolitan Borough Council Source: MORI
18 Community Research in Blyth Valley Borough Council Area 2003 for The Boundary Committee for England Local Authority Communities
Belonging to Blyth Valley Borough Council Area Identity with district or borough council names vary across the region. The qualitative research shows that people do not always relate to the name, and that the length of time the Council has been established could play a key role in name recognition.
One in eight (13%) residents identifies very strongly with the Blyth Valley Borough Council area, with two in five (43%) saying their identity is fairly strong. This is balanced by either feeling not very strongly (38%) or not at all strongly (5%) attached to the area.
Identification with Blyth Valley Borough Council area Q22c How strongly do you feel that you belong to the Blyth Valley Borough Council area?
No opinion/not stated 1% Very strongly Not at all strongly 5% 13%
Not very strongly 38%
43% Fairly strongly
Base: 307 Blyth Valley Borough Council Residents 18+, 19 Jun-31 Aug 2003 Source: MORI
Q22c How strongly do you feel that you belong to the (Borough or District Council) area? Very Fairly Not very Not at all No opinion strongly strongly strongly strongly Base: c.300 residents in each two-tier %%%%% authority Alnwick DC 4 53 40 2 * Berwick-upon-Tweed BC 5 33 51 2 9 Blyth Valley BC 13 43 38 5 1 Castle Morpeth BC 4 51 40 4 1 Tynedale DC 13 44 33 10 1 Wansbeck DC 6 51 38 5 1 Source: MORI
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The table below shows the differences between different types of residents. Particularly important are identity with area in general and involvement in the community. This suggests that residents who feel more involved in their local community are more likely to identify with the Blyth Valley Borough Council area.
Q22c How strongly do you feel you belong to the Blyth Valley Borough Council area? Very Fairly Not very Not at No strongly strongly strongly all opinion strongly Base: Overall (307) % 13 43 38 5 1 Length of residency Under 2 years (41) % 84833110 3-10 years (73) % 15 33 49 3 0 11 or more years (193) % 14 46 35 4 1 Social grouping AB (58) % 935534 0 C1 (81) % 16 43 33 6 1 C2 (63) % 13 49 35 0 2 DE (105) % 14 44 35 7 0 Identify with neighbourhood Very/fairly (247) % 17 44 35 3 1 strongly Not very/not at (60) % 039519 0 all strongly Involved in community Great deal/ fair (77) % 15 54 28 2 1 amount Not very much/ (227) % 13 39 42 6 1 nothing Source: MORI
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Involvement in the community is more important than satisfaction with services provided by Blyth Valley Borough Council in determining a sense of identity with the Council area. Those residents who rate council services least well, are no less likely to identify with the council area. Among those very or fairly satisfied with Blyth Valley Borough Council services two thirds (62%) identify very or fairly strongly with the area it represents, the same proportion as identify among those who are dissatisfied with council services (63%).
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Belonging to Northumberland County Council Area The picture is slightly different for identity with the Northumberland County Council area, although few residents place themselves at the extremes of the scale. The proportion strongly identifying with the County Council area is very similar to that recorded for the Borough Council area. However, the County Council area registers a slightly smaller proportion who identify fairly strongly. In the discussion group there was little identification with Northumberland, with respondents in the group relaxed about potential changes to the current structure.
Identification with Northumberland County Council area Q22d How strongly do you feel that you belong to the Northumberland County Council area?
No opinion/not stated Very strongly Not at all strongly 4% 4% 12%
Not very strongly 44% 37% Fairly strongly
Base: 307 Blyth Valley Borough Council Residents 18+, 19 Jun-31 Aug 2003 Source: MORI
Q22d How strongly do you feel that you belong to the Northumberland County Council area? Very Fairly Not very Not at all No opinion strongly strongly strongly strongly Base: c.300 residents in each two-tier %%%%% authority Alnwick DC 3 50 43 3 * Berwick-upon-Tweed BC 2 27 59 4 7 Blyth Valley BC 12 37 44 4 4 Castle Morpeth BC 4 57 33 3 2 Tynedale DC 16 40 33 10 1 Wansbeck DC 6 50 38 5 1 Source: MORI
22 Community Research in Blyth Valley Borough Council Area 2003 for The Boundary Committee for England
Again identity is slightly stronger for residents who identify with their neighbourhood. It is also stronger among residents in the ABC1 social grades.
Q22d How strongly do you feel you belong to the Northumberland County Council area? Very Fairly Not Not at No strongly strongly very all opinion strongly strongly Base: Overall (307) % 12 37 44 4 4 Length of residency Under 2 years (41) % 11 46 27 5 10 3-10 years (73) % 833542 4 11 or more years (193) % 13 36 43 5 3 Social grouping AB (58) % 15 35 44 4 2 C1 (81) % 13 45 35 2 6 C2 (63) % 12 28 50 5 5 DE (105) % 836476 4 Identify with neighbourhood Very/fairly (247) % 12 40 39 5 4 strongly Not very/not at (60) % 923611 6 all strongly Involved in community Great deal/ fair (77) % 13 38 39 4 6 amount Not very much/ (227) % 11 36 45 4 3 nothing Source: MORI
23 Community Research in Blyth Valley Borough Council Area 2003 for The Boundary Committee for England
Residents are slightly more likely to feel they very/fairly strongly identify with the borough than the county area.
Q22 How strongly do you feel that you belong to each of the following areas? Very Fairly Not very Not at all No strongly strongly strongly strongly opinion Base: 307 Blyth Valley residents % % % % % This neighbourhood (asked in urban 40 38 17 4 0 areas)/ village/or the nearest village (asked in rural areas) This town (asked in urban areas)/the 36 46 16 2 0 nearest town (asked in rural areas) Blyth Valley Borough Council area 13 43 38 5 1 Northumberland County Council area 12 37 44 4 4 Source: MORI
24 Community Research in Blyth Valley Borough Council Area 2003 for The Boundary Committee for England Knowledge and Attitudes towards Local Governance
Knowledge of Local Governance A third (32%) of residents across the Blyth Valley Borough Council area say that they know a fair amount about local councils and the services they provide, with a further 6% saying they know a great deal. The majority of residents either say they know not very much (54%) or nothing at all (7%). In general it is middle aged residents, and those in higher social grades, who say they have more knowledge about the services they provide.
Nearly seven in ten residents (69%) are, however, able to spontaneously name Blyth Valley Borough Council as responsible for local government services in their neighbourhood. This is particularly true for residents who strongly identify with the Blyth Valley Borough Council area (68%). Awareness of the correct name is lowest among ABs (60%).
Fewer residents spontaneously mention Northumberland County Council as responsible for local government services in their neighbourhood (25%).
Overall, a third of residents fail to spontaneously name correctly either of the full council names (27%). Seven percent of residents fail to mention any council name. Both of the questions on identity were asked after respondents were asked to spontaneously name the councils responsible for services in their area.
Research by MORI in recent years has shown low awareness of council services, but when prompted, the majority correctly identify the responsibilities of Blyth Valley Borough Council as rubbish collection (85% identify the Borough Council as responsible), street cleaning (85% correct), council housing (76% correct) and Council Tax benefit/housing benefit (68% correct). A similar level of knowledge is seen for the responsibilities of Northumberland County Council: schools/education (76% correct), fire service (66% correct), libraries (63% correct), social services (69% correct).
25 Community Research in Blyth Valley Borough Council Area 2003 for The Boundary Committee for England
Involvement with Local Governance As the discussion groups showed in general, and in line with MORI's experience in local government research, people tend to stop short of wanting to get involved in the work of local authorities - unless they identify serious problems or concerns with what the council is doing. Over a half (54%) of residents like to know what local councils are doing, but are happy to let them get on with their job. The findings are consistent across different types of residents.
Interest in Local Governance Q14 Which of the statements on this card comes closest to your own view of the councils in this area? I’m not interested in what local councils do, or whether they do 4% their job I’m not interested in what local councils do, as long as they do 19% their job I like to know what local councils are doing, but I’m happy to let them 54% get on with their job I would like to have more of a say in what local councils do and the 17% services they provide I already work for, or am involved with, local councils and 5% the services they provide
Don’t know 2%
Base: 307 Blyth Valley Borough Council Residents 18+, 19 Jun-31 Aug 2003 Source: MORI
Administrative Boundary Issues The qualitative research focused on issues for reorganisation. Across all the discussion groups, some people struggled with concepts regarding issues for reorganisation, as it is not within the usual scope of reference or experience. We know that there is a general lack of knowledge about the effects and impact of reorganisation, and we need to bear this in mind when thinking about the research.
In the Blyth Valley Borough Council area discussion group residents concentrated on keeping the boundaries of local authorities as near to the local community it serves as possible. In the quantitative survey residents saw the quality of services (24%) as the single most important consideration if boundaries were to change, closely followed by responding to local people’s wishes (23%).
26 Appendices
1. Methodology – Quantitative 2. Methodology - Qualitative 3. Sub-Group Definitions 4. Place Name Gazetteer 5. Qualitative Topic Guide 6. Marked-up Questionnaire
Appendix 1: Methodology - Quantitative
Overview Quantitative research seeks to answer the question of ‘what’ residents might think, by measuring their attitudes on a range of pre-set questions in the context of an interview, rather than holding an in-depth discussion on the issues involved. It provides statistically robust data.
Within each two-tier district or borough council area, some 300 quantitative face- to-face interviews were carried out in-home between 19th June and 31st August 2003, some 1,835 interviews across all two-tier authorities in Northumberland County Council area, with 307 interviews being conducted in the Blyth Valley Borough Council area. Quotas were set by age, gender and work status using 2001 Census data. Data have been weighted back to the known demographic profile of each district or borough council area by age and gender, and for aggregate county, regional and overall findings by the population size of each individual district or borough council area. Full computer tabulations have been provided in a separate volume.
Interpretation of the Data It should be remembered that a sample, not the entire population of the Blyth Valley Borough Council area, has been interviewed. Consequently, all results are subject to margins of error, which means that not all differences are statistically significant. In addition, care should be taken in interpreting the results, because of the small number of respondents in some sub-groups, to ensure that the findings are statistically significant.
Unless otherwise stated, the base size for each question is provided. Where results do not sum to 100%, this may be due to multiple responses, computer rounding or the exclusion of ‘don’t know/not stated’ response categories. An asterisk (*) represents a value of less than half of one per cent, but not zero.
Ideally, every subgroup base will be at least 100 to allow apparent differences between subgroups to be taken as real. Where the base number is very low (<50) it is not advisable to make any inferences about that sub-group. Statistical Reliability The sample tolerances that apply to the percentage results in this report are given in the table below. Strictly speaking, these only apply to a perfect random sample, although in practice good quality quota samples have been found to be as accurate. This table on the next page shows the possible variation that might be anticipated because a sample, rather than the entire population, was interviewed. As indicated, sampling tolerances vary with the size of the sample and the size of the percentage results. Approximate sampling tolerances applicable to percentages at or near these levels
10% or 90% 30% or 70% 50% Base: ±±±
Size of sample on which survey result is based
1,835 (e.g. total number of interviews in the 122 Northumberland County area) 1,500 2 2 3 1,000 2 3 3 750 2 3 4 c.300 (e.g. total number of interviews in each district 356 or borough council area) 100 6 9 10 50 8 13 14 Source: MORI
For example, on a question where 50% of the people in a weighted sample of 300 respond with a particular answer, the chances are 95 in 100 that this result would not vary by more than around 6 percentage points, plus or minus, from a complete coverage of the entire population using the same procedures. In other words, results would lie in the range 44% to 56%, but would be most likely to be 50%, the actual finding.
Tolerances are also involved in the comparison of results from different parts of the sample, and between two samples. A difference, in other words, must be of at least a certain size to be considered statistically significant. The following table is a guide to the sampling tolerances applicable to comparisons.
Differences required for significance at or near these percentages
10% or 90% 30% or 70% 50% Base: ±±± Size of sample on which survey result is based 750 and 750 3 5 5 c.300 and c.300 (e.g. when comparing between 578 district or borough council areas) 250 and 250 5 8 9 150 and 150 7 10 11 100 and 100 8 13 14 50 and 50 12 18 20 Source: MORI Appendix 2: Methodology – Qualitative
Overview Qualitative research helps probe the thinking processes and feelings of residents, and attempts to answer the question as to ‘why?’ residents might feel the way they do. Discussion groups do not seek to offer statistical validity from a representative sample. In the Blyth Valley Borough Council area, a qualitative discussion group was held to establish how residents feel about their local community. The findings from this group were analysed within the context of the findings from discussion groups in the other 43 district or borough council areas under consideration by this study. The dates and locations of the groups held in the Northumberland County Council area are listed below.
Discussion Group Timetable Location Date
Alnwick District Council Alnwick 23rd July 2003 Berwick-Upon-Tweed Borough Berwick-Upon-Tweed 23rd July 2003 Council Blyth Valley Borough Council Blyth 21st July 2003 Castle Morpeth Borough Council Morpeth 24th July 2003 Tynedale District Council Hexham 16th July 2003 Wansbeck District Council Ashington 24th July 2003 Source: MORI
Interpretation of the Data It should also be borne in mind that, in order to get an overview of the in-depth feelings in each area as well as explore linkages across the region, only one discussion group was held in each district or borough council area. The findings from each group should therefore be viewed in the context of the other discussion groups which have taken place, as well as the quantitative findings. This is because the findings from participants in one discussion group may be unrepresentative of general opinion, and misleading if viewed out of context.
Appendix 3: Sub-Group Definitions
The sub-groups discussed in this report (sometimes referred to as crossbreaks) can be found across the top of each computer tabulation (issued separately) as column headings and are typically the demographic sub groups: gender, age, social class etc. Viewing the results in this way can highlight any notable differences in the responses of these different types of respondent. Crossbreaks can also be used to show relationships to different questions. For example, there may be a relationship between identity with council area and the age of the respondent (a table is provided for this).
Crossbreaks provided for each question Title Sub-group Source Gender Male Demographics Female Demographics Age 18-24 Demographics 25-34 Demographics 35-54 Demographics 55-64 Demographics 65-74 Demographics 75+ Demographics Social Class AB Demographics C1 Demographics C2 Demographics DE Demographics Car(s) in household Yes Demographics None Demographics Children in household Yes Demographics No Demographics Length of residency Under 2 years Demographics 3-10 years Demographics 11 or more years Demographics Involvement in community Great deal/fair amount Q19 Not very much/nothing Q19 Identify with neighbourhood Very/fairly strongly Q22a Not very/not at all strongly Q22a Identify with town Very/fairly strongly Q22b Not very/not at all strongly Q22b Identify with district/borough council area Very/fairly strongly Q22c Not very/not at all strongly Q22c Identify with county council area Very/fairly strongly Q22d Not very/not at all strongly Q22d Quality of district/borough council services Very/fairly satisfied Q16 Very/fairly dissatisfied Q16 Quality of county councils services Very/fairly satisfied Q17 Very/fairly dissatisfied Q17 Correctly identify District/borough council Q12a/b County council Q12a/b Neither Q12a/b Area Urban Sample Point Rural Sample Point Location Periphery Sample Point Not in periphery Sample Point Source: MORI Crossbreak Definitions Although some crossbreaks are straightforward, such as gender and age, the following definitions should help in using the above crossbreaks.
Social Class: These are standard classifications used in research, and are based on occupation of the chief income earner in the household. They are defined as follows.
A Professionals such as doctors, surgeons, solicitors or dentists; chartered people like architects; fully qualified people with a large degree of responsibility such as senior editors, senior civil servants, town clerks, senior business executives and managers, and high ranking grades of the Armed Services.
B People with very responsible jobs such as university lecturers, hospital matrons, heads of local government departments, middle management in business, qualified scientists, bank managers, police inspectors, and upper grades of the Armed Services.
C1 All others doing non-manual jobs; nurses, technicians, pharmacists, salesmen, publicans, people in clerical positions, police sergeants/constables, and middle ranks of the Armed Services.
C2 Skilled manual workers/craftsmen who have served apprenticeships; foremen, manual workers with special qualifications such as long distance lorry drivers, security officers, and lower grades of the Armed Services.
D Semi-skilled and unskilled manual workers, including labourers and mates of occupations in the C2 grade and people serving apprenticeships; machine minders, farm labourers, bus and railway conductors, laboratory assistants, postmen, door-to-door and van salesmen.
E Those on lowest levels of subsistence including pensioners, casual workers, and others with minimum levels of income.
Area: This is a standard indicator. Urban and rural classifications are based on the population density of the ward where the sample point is located. Wards with less than 2.8 persons per hectare are classified as rural, and wards with more than 2.8 people per hectare are classified as urban wards.
Location: This is a new indicator designed specifically for this survey. Periphery is defined as any interview conducted in a sample point within three miles of the district/borough council border. All other interviews are classed as "Not in periphery". Appendix 4: Place Name Gazetteer
Below is a list of the towns and areas identified in the quantitative survey across questions 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 20 and 21, and the two-tier or single tier council area they are within. The list covers all towns and areas mentioned in the surveys covering the North East.
Gazetteer (A-B) Place Name Two-tier or Single-tier Council Area Acklington Alnwick District Council Acomb Tynedale District Council Albemarle Tynedale District Council Alnmouth Alnwick District Council Alnwick Alnwick District Council Amble Alnwick District Council Annfield Plain Derwentside District Council Ashington Wansbeck District Council Bamburgh Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council Bardon Mill Tynedale District Council Barnard Castle Teesdale District Council Beamish Chester-le-Street District Council Bedlington Wansbeck District Council Belford Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council Bellingham Tynedale District Council Benton North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council Berwick-upon-Tweed Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council Billingham Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council Binchester Wear Valley District Council Birtley Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council Bishop Auckland Wear Valley District Council Blackhall Easington District Council Blyth Blyth Valley Borough Council Boldron Teesdale District Council Bournmoor Chester-le-Street District Council Bowes Teesdale District Council Brampton Carlisle City Council Brandon Durham City Council Bristol Bristol City Council Burnhope Derwentside District Council Burnopfield Derwentside District Council Butterknowle Teesdale District Council Source: MORI Gazetteer (C-Gr) Place Name Two-tier or Single Tier Council Area Carlisle Carlisle City Council Castleside Derwentside District Council Catterick Richmondshire District Council Chester Chester City Council Chester-le-Street Chester-le-Street District Council Chilton Sedgefield Borough Council Choppington Wansbeck District Council Cockfield Teesdale District Council Coldstream Scotland Consett Derwentside District Council Copley Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council Cotherstone Teesdale District Council Coundon/Coundon Grange Wear Valley District Council Cowpen Blyth Valley Borough Council Coxhoe Durham City Council Cramlington Blyth Valley Borough Council Crook Wear Valley District Council Crookhall Derwentside District Council Darlington Darlington Borough Council Derwentside Derwentside District Council Durham Durham City Council Easington Easington District Council Edinburgh Scotland Edmondsley Chester-le-Street District Council Ellingham Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council Ellington Castle Morpeth Borough Council Escomb Wear Valley District Council Evenwood Teesdale District Council Felton Alnwick District Council Fencehouses Sunderland City Council Ferryhill Sedgefield Borough Council Ford Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council Frosterley Wear Valley District Council Gainford Teesdale District Council Garden Farm Estate, Chester-le-Street Chester-le-Street District Council Gateshead Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council Gateshead Metro Centre Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council Gilsland Tynedale District Council Gosforth Newcastle-upon-Tyne City Council Great Lumley Chester-le-Street District Council Source: MORI Gazetteer (Gu-Me) Place Name Two-tier or Single Tier Council Area Guidepost Wansbeck District Council Haltwhistle Tynedale District Council Hamsterley Derwentside District Council Hartlepool Hartlepool Borough Council Haswell Easington District Council Haydon Bridge Tynedale District Council Hebburn South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council Heddon Castle Morpeth Borough Council Herrington Sunderland City Council Hesleden Easington District Council Hexham Tynedale District Council Holy Island Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council Holywell Blyth Valley Borough Council Horden Easington District Council Horsley Tynedale District Council Houghton-le-Spring Sunderland City Council Humshaugh Tynedale District Council Hunwick Wear Valley District Council Ingleton Teesdale District Council Jarrow South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council Jesmond Newcastle-upon-Tyne City Council Kelloe Durham City Council Keswick Allerdale Borough Council Killingworth North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council Kingston Park Newcastle-upon-Tyne City Council Kirk Merrington Sedgefield Borough Council Lanchester Derwentside District Council Langley Moor Durham City Council Langley Park Derwentside District Council Leadgate Derwentside District Council Leeds Leeds City Council Leeholme Wear Valley District Council Lesbury Alnwick District Council Long Houghton Alnwick District Council Longbenton North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council Longframlington Alnwick District Council Lowick Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council Lynemouth Castle Morpeth Borough Council Manchester Manchester City Council Meadowfield Durham City Council Source: MORI Gazetteer (Me-Se) Place Name Two-tier or Single Tier Council Area Metro Centre Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council Middlesbrough Middlesbrough Borough Council Middleton in Teesdale Teesdale District Council Moorside Derwentside District Council Morpeth Castle Morpeth Borough Council Murton Easington District Council Nelson Blyth Valley Borough Council New Field Chester-le-Street District Council Newbiggin-by-the-Sea Wansbeck District Council Newbrough Tynedale District Council Newburn Newcastle-upon-Tyne City Council Newcastle-upon-Tyne Newcastle-upon-Tyne City Council Newton Aycliffe Sedgefield Borough Council Newton Hall Durham City Council Norham Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council North Shields North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council North Tyneside North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council Northallerton Hambleton District Council Oakenshaw Wear Valley District Council Old Eldon Sedgefield Borough Council Ouston Chester-le-Street District Council Ovingham Tynedale District Council Pegswood Castle Morpeth Borough Council Pelton Chester-le-Street District Council Pelton Fell Chester-le-Street District Council Perkinsville Chester-le-Street District Council Peterlee Easington District Council Piercebridge Darlington Borough Council Ponteland Castle Morpeth Borough Council Prudhoe Tynedale District Council Quarrington Hill Durham City Council Richmond Richmondshire District Council Roddymoor Wear Valley District Council Roseberry Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council Rothbury Alnwick District Council Rowlands Gill Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council Ryton Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council Sacriston Chester-le-Street District Council School Aycliffe Sedgefield Borough Council Seaham Easington District Council Source: MORI Gazetteer (Se-Wa) Place Name Two-tier or Single Tier Council Area Seahouses Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council Seaton Delaval Blyth Valley Borough Council Seaton Sluice Blyth Valley Borough Council Sedgefield Sedgefield Borough Council Seghill Blyth Valley Borough Council Shilbottle Alnwick District Council Shildon Sedgefield Borough Council Shotton Sedgefield Borough Council Slaggyford Tynedale District Council South Church Wear Valley District Council South Shields South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council Spennymoor Sedgefield Borough Council St Helens, Auckland Wear Valley District Council Staindrop Teesdale District Council Stakeford Wansbeck District Council Stanhope Wear Valley District Council Stanley Derwentside District Council Startforth Teesdale District Council Stocksfield Tynedale District Council Stockton-on-Tees Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council Stonehaugh Tynedale District Council Sunderland Sunderland City Council Sunny Brow Wear Valley District Council Swarland Alnwick District Council Tanfield Lea Derwentside District Council Teesdale Teesdale District Council The Cheviots Alnwick District Council Thornaby Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council Thornley Wear Valley District Council Throckley Newcastle-upon-Tyne City Council Tow Law Wear Valley District Council Trimdon Sedgefield Borough Council Trimdon Grange Sedgefield Borough Council Tweedmouth Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council Tynedale Tynedale District Council Tynemouth North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council Ushaw Durham City Council Wallsend North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council Wansbeck Wansbeck District Council Wark Tynedale District Council Warkworth Alnwick District Council Source: MORI Gazetteer (Wa-Z) Place Name Two-tier or Single Tier Council Area Washington Sunderland City Council Wear Valley Wear Valley District Council West Auckland Wear Valley District Council West Pelton Chester-le-Street District Council West Rainton Durham City Council Westgate Wear Valley District Council Wheatley Hill Easington District Council Whickham Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council Whitley Bay North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council Whitton Park Wear Valley District Council Wickham Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council Widdrington Castle Morpeth Borough Council Willington Wear Valley District Council Wingate Easington District Council Winston Teesdale District Council Witton Gilbert Durham City Council Witton Park Wear Valley District Council Wolsingham Wear Valley District Council Woodham Sedgefield Borough Council Woodland Teesdale District Council Wooler Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council Wylam Tynedale District Council York City of York Council Source: MORI Appendix 5: Qualitative Topic Guide
Communities and local government Topic Guide for COI/BCFE discussion groups in the North West, North East and Yorkshire and the Humber regions
Final version
For the moderator: background and overall objective of discussion groups
The Government has announced that referendums will take place in 2004 in these three regions on whether there should be elected regional assemblies. The Boundary Committee has been directed by the Government to undertake reviews of local government in each region and to put forward proposals for potential patterns of unitary local government. As part of the referendum, voters will be given the opportunity to select their preferred unitary pattern at the same time as voting on an elected regional assembly. The preferred unitary pattern would replace the current two tiers of county and district councils in the event of an elected regional assembly being introduced.
To help it formulate its initial proposals for consultation, the Boundary Committee has (through the COI) asked us to undertake surveys in each region and to hold a discussion group in each of the affected district council areas.
The objective of the discussion groups is to assess residents’ attitudes towards their local areas, their sense of community identities and interests, and issues which may impact on, and help to explain, their attitudes to local authority boundaries.
Elements of discussion needed to achieve objective
1. To identify overall attitudes to their area, what is good and bad, what areas people identify with. 2. What people consider to be important factors in deciding local government boundaries, and why. 3. Awareness of current local authorities, who does what, and their boundaries. 4. How people identify with existing local communities and boundaries, and why. 5. Preferences for local authority boundaries.
Note. We should not volunteer the name of the client. But, if pressed, we may say that say we are undertaking this research for an independent organisation. If asked, we can explain we have not been commissioned by local councils for this work. Maps
The Boundary Committee has prepared a number of maps to assist the discussion:
• For placing on the wall before groups starts, Map 1a is an A0-sized county (+ surrounding area) map with main geographical features, county boundaries, but no district boundaries.
• Map 1b is the same map except that it also shows district council boundaries. This should be placed underneath Map 1a so that it can be used in the latter part of the discussion. These maps need to be looked after because they will be used in all the groups.
• Map 2 is an A2-sized county (+surrounding area) map with geographical features but no boundaries. You have been given seven copies. As the topic guide explains, you will give a map each to three ‘mini’ groups of participants so that they can draw on perceptual boundaries of communities, and later further copies to the three mini-groups to draw ‘new authority’ boundaries. The remaining map is for the moderator’s use.
• A4 district map will allow you to familiarise yourself with local place names/area before you do the group.
• You have also been provided with a road atlas in case you need it Topic guide
Our target is to cover all the ground in this topic guide. Sometimes, however, we will need to prioritise. Issues which are essential to cover are therefore italicised.
Note that participants will be asked to compete a short questionnaire before and after their group.
Section Objective Time
1. Introduction
Outline purpose of discussion – looking at what you Establish group, get 10 mins think about your local area and how public services overall perspective of should be provided and what you would like to see participants happen. Also acts as a warm- up Confidentiality Permission to tape record Set tape recorder
Ask group to introduce themselves, in pairs (log for Keep this very brief, future analysis – key points will also be available from as pick up some info the pre-group questionnaire). in pre/post questionnaires Personal history: -name, age, work, family. -how long have you lived in the area -where else have you lived -where is your family from -why did you move to this area -strength of continuing ties with previous areas -comparison of feeling towards current and previous areas.
Tell us about one good thing and one bad thing about living in the area (this will also be asked in the pre-group questionnaire).
MENTION OPPORTUNITY AT END TO COMPLETE SHORT QUESTIONNAIRE FOR ANY FURTHER THOUGHTS. 2. Mind map: How to define ‘community’
START BY ASKING ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE Word association 30 mins THINK OF WHEN THEY THINK OF THEIR provides way in to ‘COMMUNITY’. MODERATOR TO DRAFT topic + way to glean ‘MIND MAP’ ON FLIPCHART. NOTE ALL audience priorities/ ASSOCIATIONS BUT ALSO NOTE FIRST language + messages ASSOCIATIONS (TOP OF MIND). By exploring different responses, understand PROBE: what other types of community can you the range of factors at think of? work
Now looking at these ideas, which 3-4 aspects do you believe are most important for defining the community.
NOW ASK PARTICIPANTS TO THINK IN GEOGRAPHICAL TERMS. What areas do you identify with? What are their boundaries and how far do they extend? PARTICIPANTS TO REFER TO MAP 1a IF NEEDED [Use map 1a] SPLIT INTO 2 or 3 MINI-GROUPS AND ASK PARTICIPANTS TO DRAW AREAS ON MAP 2 (USE RED PENS) OUTLINING THE Gets participants thinking in terms of COMMUNITIES OR AREAS THEY FEEL THEY how different factors BELONG TO OR IDENTIFY WITH. differ spacially or MODERATOR TO SPLIT GROUPS BY AGE, SEG, coincide? OR AREA [AS APPROPRIATE] – LOG [Use map 2 – use red DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MINI-GROUPS. pens]
PROBE: GEOGRAPHY, ENVIRONMENT, PEOPLE, WORK, FACILITIES/AMENITIES (INCLUDING SHOPPING, LEISURE, EDUCATION ETC.)
THEN AS A WHOLE GROUP, BY USING THE MAPS AS A REFERENCE, PROBE WHY PARTICIPANTS DRAW BOUNDARIES WHERE THEY DO. ALLOW EACH GROUP TO OUTLINE THEIR PERSPECTIVE. THIS IS LIKELY TO DRAW OUT THE FOLLOWING FACTORS. IF NOT, PROBE:
How far does public transport/road links affect where you go?
How does this affect your identification with different areas? What other factors affect whether/how much you identify with different areas? Why? By how much?
PROBE: COMMUNITY CHARACTER, LOCAL ACTIVITY/MEMBERSHIP OF ORGANISATIONS, GEOGRAPHY, TOPOGRAPHY, LOCAL ACCENT, LOCAL HISTORY, TRADITIONAL AFFILIATIONS, POSTAL ADDRESSES. And which other areas do you identify with? PROBE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE DISTRICT/COUNTY. SIMILARITIES/DIFFERENCES TO OWN AREAS.
In the light of this further discussion, you may now want to amend the boundaries of the areas you identify with PARTICIPANTS TO DRAW BOUNDARIES ON SAME COPY OF MAP 2 (USE BLUE PEN) MODERATOR TO ENSURE PARTICIPANTS THINKING IN GEOGRAPHICAL TERMS HERE. Use map 2 again – but use blue pen this And are there any areas that you don’t identify with? time] Some resps may not change their original [HALF WAY POINT – MOVE ON IF boundary – not a NEEDED] problem Ask if this hasn’t come up already.
3. Exploring service delivery
GIVE RESPONDENTS A COPY OF LIST OF Assess understanding 10 mins PUBLIC SERVICES CURRENTLY PROVIDED and awareness of public services and AND DISCUSS WITH PARTICIPANTS. local governance. Ask if there were any surprises in terms of which type of council provides which service.
Which services are provided well? Introduction of And which services are not provided so well? factors which may [Be brief – this is here to maintain participants’ impact later on perceptions of engagement.] boundaries. ASK FOR BOTH DISTRICT COUNCIL AND COUNTY COUNCIL. Do you know where the Councils are based? PROBE FOR DC & CC Have you visited or contacted them recently? 4. Preferences for local government boundaries
Explain that system may change. REFER TO Refer to moderator 35 mins MODERATOR NOTES FOR EXACT WORDING notes showcard section a) which explains review PROMPT FOR SIZE OF AUTHORITY How big do you think the new authority should be? Note that there is no set size for new authority type – they NEXT SECTION COVERS ATTITUDES should tell you what TOWARDS TWO TIER/UNITARY SYSTEM: they feel is sensible NOTE: YOU MUST USE EXACT WORDING HERE TO AVOID BIAS/LEADING. Note: moderator can be flexible here on WRITE UP ON FLIPCHART how much we cover What are the pros and cons of a two tier system (i.e. this section on two types of council – District and County) that exist one/two councils at the moment? Note: this is to get resps thinking about WRITE UP ON SAME FLIPCHART existing system vs new Can you tell me the pros and cons of having just one system, but we don’t council providing all services for your area? need to dwell on pros Probe on impact of this on quality, cost, effectiveness and cons etc.
THEN EXPLORE IMPACT ON LIVES OF HAVING A UNITARY COUNCIL How do you think having one council would impact the lives of people living around here? What do you think the main changes would be?
Do local authority boundaries are important ? Why? What is more important; quality of services, or who provides them?
What impact do boundaries have on a council’s functions? Probe for having the most appropriate boundaries for services, efficiency, effectiveness, convenience, reflecting communities etc.
What are the kind of issues which should inform local authority boundaries? PROBE: ECONOMIES OF SCALE, EASE OF CONTACT, ACCOUNTABILITY, HISTORICAL OR TRADITIONAL PLACE NAMES, COST OF SERVICES, LEVEL OF INFORMATION, ACCESS TO COUNCILLORS, QUALITY OF SERVICES, RESPONDING TO PEOPLE’S WISHES, SENSE OF LOCAL COMMUNITY, SIZE OF POPULATION, RURAL/URBAN FACTORS, OTHER FACTORS (TRADITION, CHANGE ETC). [NOTE: IT IS IMPORTANT TO TEASE OUT THESE FACTORS] SPLIT INTO 2 OR 3 SUB-GROUPS: Ask respondents to draw on new copy of map 2 where they think a new authority’s boundaries should be [use red pens]. Note issue new copy [Note: if respondents stuck, they should choose an area at least of map 2 to each mini the size of their current district but are free to choose a bigger group [use red pens] area or to completely change current district boundaries].
ASK GROUPS TO PRESENT BACK THEIR MAPS TO THE GROUP AS A WHOLE AND EXPLAIN THE REASONS BEHIND THEIR CHOICES.
ALSO PROBE ANY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE MINI-GROUPS, E.G. GENDER? AGE? WHERE PEOPLE CURRENTLY LIVE? FOLLOWING CURRENT BOUNDARIES?
NOW LOOK AT MAP1b (WITH DISTRICT BOUNDARIES ON) [Take down map 1a to How do district boundaries relate to the local community show map use 1b which was boundaries drawn earlier? underneath] And how do they relate to the boundaries just drawn?
Do the current boundaries make sense? PROBE FOR CURRENT BOUNDARIES WHICH RESPONDENTS FEEL ARE INAPPROPRIATE/DON’T MAKE SENSE How would you feel about one authority covering the whole County area?
ATTACHMENT
How would you feel if the county council no longer existed? Why? PROBE: AFFINITY TO DIFFERENT AREAS, TRADITION, CIVIC PRIDE ETC
DISCUSS ATTACHMENT TO NAME VS SERVICE PROVISION NOTE: important to emphasise difference in County Council no longer existing vs the historic county Refer to moderator notes section b) for (which would still exist) – e.g. the county area/name info would still exist for civic reasons, i.e. county cricket would still exist
Explore County name – how would they feel if still there but with north/south/east/west X County (choose as appropriate)? What would they feel comfortable with their county area being called? Why? What would they not want it to be called? Why? DRAW MAP ON FLIPCHART OF COUNTY AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES.
Explore what it means to be from that particular county and how the county identity varies to Get respondents to neighbouring counties. help you draw ‘map’ by shouting out the How would you feel if the district council no longer adjacent county names existed? Why? – see example at end PROBE: AFFINITY TO DIFFERENT AREAS, of topic guide TRADITION, CIVIC PRIDE ETC PLUS ATTACHMENT TO NAME VS SERVICE PROVISION
IF APPROPRIATE: REFER TO MAP 1b SHOWING DISTRICT AND SURROUNDING DISTRICTS What does it mean to be from your District and how does that very when compared to neighbouring Districts? Thinking about adjacent districts, where are the community links strongest or weakest with this district?
5. Final messages
Thinking about what we have been discussing – people’s sense of Identification of key 5 mins community and how this relates to local authority boundaries: arguments - what are most/least relevant arguments which should be made for where local authority boundaries should be? - What is the one key message you would want us to take away from this group?
DISTRIBUTE POST-GROUP QUESTIONNAIRE COVERING ATTITUDES AND AWARENESS FOLLOWING SESSION. ALSO PROVIDES OPPORTUNITY FOR ANY FURTHER THOUGHTS. Example of County and surrounding Counties ‘map’ to draw at section 4:
Get participants to shout out which counties surround the county you are working in. Don’t worry if drawing is not accurate in terms of size/shape etc! Is just to gauge awareness and lead onto county identity probes and comparison with surrounding counties.
Northumb- erland
Cumbria Tyne and Wear Durham
North Yorkshire Public services prompt (copy in pack to give to each participant)
County councils: District councils: • Education • Housing • Social Services • Council tax • Libraries • Electoral registration • Fire • Allotments • Registration (births, marriages and • Cemeteries and crematoria deaths) • Smallholdings • Planning (strategic, minerals and • Planning (local plans, planning waste planning, highway dev. applications) control, historic buildings etc) • Transport (public transport, highways, traffic management, • Transport (offstreet parking, street transport planning etc) lighting etc) • Environmental services (rubbish disposal) • Environment services (rubbish collection, building regulations, • Recreation and art street cleaning etc) • Economic development (tourism • Recreation and art promotion) • Economic development (tourism • Consumer protection (trading promotion) standards, public analysis, • Consumer protection consumer advice) (environmental health) Appendix 6: Marked-up Questionnaire