15 March 2000

Residents To Face Questions

Christchurch residents will be asked about the performance of the City Council in the annual residents’ survey that will start on Saturday.

Interviewing by the independent group, the National Research Bureau, will continue for a month and a report on residents’ views on a variety of topics will be available in the middle of June.

"We have a responsibility to measure how satisfied residents are with the Council’s performance," says City Council Corporate Planner, Rex Harrison.

"The research helps us plan for future developments by helping us identity which services, in the eyes of residents, should be our priorities."

People, in all 12 wards, will be picked at random by door-to-door interviewers, who will carry identification.

Questions will be wide-ranging about Council activities.

The survey has been held for the past eight years. "We want to stress that the interviews are entirely optional – residents approached can choose whether or not they feel comfortable to take part," Mr Harrison says.

He said the Council appreciated residents giving their time to surveyors and the Council took the results very seriously.

Rex Harrison: 941 8479.