From 16 July to 14 August, we asked our local communities to tell us how COVID-19 had affected their lives and what they thought our priorities should be moving forward.

We'd like to thank the 1467 people who filled in the survey and 100 who took part in 8 virtual 'community conversations' focus groups. The views given will help build a stronger and more resilient Falkirk Council area.

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Key findings

As a council, we want to create a greener and more economically vibrant area with healthier, stronger and more prosperous communities that are digitally enabled and empowered to make key decisions for themselves – and broadly speaking, you agree that's what we should be aiming for.

From the results of both the survey and focus groups, you said we need to:

  • Simplify our priorities, as a number overlap
  • Help people to live their best lives – from supporting our most vulnerable to creating safe education and living environments
  • Treat communities equally and fairly and make them safe and sustainable places to live
  • Help businesses get back on track, create jobs and investment opportunities
  • Be more innovative and less bureaucratic in how we operate

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on our communities and economy, creating many financial and social challenges. It's also highlighted the good that can be achieved when the Council, its partners and residents work together towards a common goal – supporting and caring for those in need and delivering services essential to all.

That partnership working needs to continue, as we look to create new and innovative ways to deliver services against an increasingly difficult financial backdrop. That is why this survey was launched - to strengthen ties and gather your views to inform our way forward.

Next steps

We asked. You responded. We listened and now need to act on what you have said. We'll do this by reviewing feedback to help:

  • Strengthen our priorities to ensure we are focusing on the right things
  • Shape our recovery by underpinning our Business Plan and Corporate plan, documents that will guide decision-making across the Council over the next 5 years
  • Support our services to review and improve day-to-day operations

Survey results

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The impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic

Respondents could choose more than one option, with almost half (49.8%) listing wellbeing and mental health as a concern closely followed (44.6%) by worry for their own or their family members future.

What has affected you most during the COVID-19 Pandemic

ChoiceNumber of responses
Worrying about my own or my family members future655
Worrying about how to support friends and family who need help562
Social isolation feeling lonely540
Stress from working or learning at home469
Worrying about health treatment needed416
Worrying about job security, losing job or being furloughed398
Stress from family members being at home more352
Not feeling safe in my community305
Finding it difficult to supporting others to learn at home303
Loss of Income291
Shielding206
Lack of availability of daily essentials such as food, medicine204
Pressure on how to learn at home with limited support179
Lack of availability safety of public transport156
Not having the right internet access or devices to work or learn online or access other services online145
Other126
Worrying about the future of my business108
Worrying about housing issues or homelessness88
Not feeling safe at home79

Did you contact us for support with any of the issues listed above?

The vast majority (90.9%) did not contact the Council for support.

ChoiceNumber of responses
Yes132
No1321

Priority 1: People in our Communities are supported to live their lives well

94.6% of respondents said this priority was very important or important to them.

Respondents were asked to tell us how important all the services listed under priority 1 were to them. Response rates to very important and important were:

  • Supporting vulnerable children, young people and adults (94%)
  • Housing & Homelessness (85.4%)
  • Welfare benefits (76.1%)
  • Making our communities digitally enabled (73.7%)
  • Concession services (60.6%)

Key points from the feedback given include:

  • Build resilience and capacity within communities
  • Communities do not want to be marginalised; they want fairness not favouritism
  • Strengthen digital access but not at the expense of other forms of communication
  • Invest in green spaces and safe and active travel options
  • Support the recovery of local business

People in our communities are supported to live their lives well

ChoiceNumber of responses
Very important962
Important414
Low importance36
Not important16
No opinion26

This means that we will consider offering the following services to support people to live their lives well. Please tell us how important each of the following is to you:

Housing and Homelessness

ChoiceNumber of responses
Very important737
Important507
Low importance100
Not important47
No opinion65

Welfare Benefits

ChoiceNumber of responses
Very important567
Important532
Low importance188
Not important76
No opinion82

Making our Communities Digitally Enabled

ChoiceNumber of responses
Very important415
Important657
Low importance258
Not important81
No opinion43

Supporting vulnerable Children, Young People and Adults

ChoiceNumber of responses
Very important989
Important382
Low importance49
Not important21
No opinion18

Concession services, such as Blue Badges, National Entitlement Card, Taxi Card

ChoiceNumber of responses
Very important350
Important532
Low importance368
Not important131
No opinion75

Priority 2: Enable everyone to fulfil their potential

95.3% of respondents said this priority was very important or important to them.

Respondents were asked to tell us how important all the services listed under priority 2 were to them. Response rates to very important and important were:

  • Creating safe education and living environments (96.8%)
  • Creating employment opportunities (95.6%)
  • Providing opportunities for young people, modern apprenticeships, higher and further education, training, voluntary work, employment (94.5%)
  • Providing services which support mental and physical wellbeing (94.1%)
  • Re-opening of our schools (90.2%)

Key points from the feedback given include:

  • Greater resources in education
  • Enable third sector agencies and communities to support employment opportunities
  • Focus on early intervention for children and families in need of support
  • Encourage individual personal resilience
  • Provide opportunities for upskilling and support for older workforce facing redundancy not just young adults

Enable everyone to fulfil their potential

ChoiceNumber of responses
Very important864
Important518
Low importance40
Not important10
No opinion18

This means that we will consider offering the following services to enable people to fulfil their potential. We asked how important each of the following was.

Re-opening our schools

ChoiceNumber of responses
Very important932
Important389
Low importance72
Not important34
No opinion37

Creating safe education and living environments

ChoiceNumber of responses
Very important1108
Important303
Low importance20
Not important9
No opinion18

Creating employment opportunities

ChoiceNumber of responses
Very important942
Important455
Low importance31
Not important9
No opinion24

Providing services which support mental and physical wellbeing

ChoiceNumber of responses
Very important943
Important425
Low importance57
Not important11
No opinion18

Providing opportunities for young people, modern apprenticeships, higher and further education, training, voluntary work, employment

ChoiceNumber of responses
Very important924
Important455
Low importance46
Not important15
No opinion20

Priority 3: Help businesses to thrive and make the area more prosperous

93.6% of respondents said this priority was very important or important to them.

Respondents were asked to tell us how important all the services listed under priority 3 were to them. Response rates to very important and important were:

  • Supporting businesses, job creation and investment opportunities (92.8%)
  • Maintaining a good road network (89.5%)
  • Support and training for job seekers (88.3%)
  • Running sustainable public and active transport initiatives (including school transport) (86.4%)
  • Creating opportunities to do business with Falkirk Council (80.6%)

Key points from the feedback given include:

  • Invest in safe active travel infrastructure
  • Sell or re-purpose empty council builds as they make the area look rundown
  • Support business with local grant schemes
  • Encourage people to use town centres more - open for events, community activities, coming together to network and support each other
  • Support infrastructure, roads, green spaces, keeping the area tidy
  • Cut bureaucracy and focus on good quality service delivery

Helping businesses to thrive and make the area more prosperous

ChoiceNumber of responses
Very important817
Important537
Low importance62
Not important14
No opinion17

This means that we will consider offering the following services to help businesses to thrive and make the area more prosperous. We asked how important each of the following was.

Supporting businesses, job creation and investment opportunities

ChoiceNumber of responses
Very important772
Important584
Low importance61
Not important17
No opinion27

Creating opportunities to do business with Falkirk Council

ChoiceNumber of responses
Very important564
Important615
Low importance175
Not important50
No opinion58

Support and training for job seekers

ChoiceNumber of responses
Very important651
Important634
Low importance111
Not important21
No opinion38

Maintaining a good road network

ChoiceNumber of responses
Very important704
Important601
Low importance123
Not important16
No opinion14

Running sustainable public and active transport initiatives (including school transport)

ChoiceNumber of responses
Very important672
Important588
Low importance138
Not important33
No opinion28

Priority 4: Enable and empower our communities to live healthier, safer and more sustainable lives

93.7% of respondents said this priority was very important or important to them.

Respondents were asked to tell us how important all the services listed under priority 4 were to them. Response rates to very important and important were:

  • Supporting attractive places to live with clean, open spaces (93.3%)
  • Involving communities in making council decision (91.8%)
  • Involving communities in participatory budgeting, where communities influence where money is spent (86.1%)
  • Housing and building repairs (85.4%)
  • Promoting energy efficiency and carbon reduction initiatives (78.5%)
  • Making our community facilities available for lets and potentially run by communities for communities (77.4%)

Key points from the feedback given include:

  • Easy access financial support for community groups as they provide a tremendous bridge in mitigating cuts and offer real opportunities for communities to improve and grow
  • Educate/involve communities on council budget challenges
  • Participatory budgeting should mean communities participating and making informed choices on how the budgets are spent
  • Offer green spaces to communities to grow their own produce for their communities

Enable and empower our communities to live healthier, safer and more sustainable lives

ChoiceNumber of responses
Very important829
Important529
Low importance63
Not important7
No opinion22

This means that we will consider offering the following services to help businesses to thrive and make the area more prosperous. We asked how important each of the following was.

Involving communities in making council decisions

ChoiceNumber of responses
Very important811
Important530
Low importance79
Not important24
No opinion17

Involving communities in participatory budgeting, where communities influence where money is spent

ChoiceNumber of responses
Very important684
Important571
Low importance131
Not important45
No opinion26

Making our community facilities available for lets and potentially run by communities for communities

ChoiceNumber of responses
Very important587
Important549
Low importance210
Not important47
No opinion59

Promoting energy efficiency and carbon reduction initiatives

ChoiceNumber of responses
Very important609
Important534
Low importance222
Not important52
No opinion39

Supporting attractive places to live with clean, open spaces

ChoiceNumber of responses
Very important858
Important500
Low importance66
Not important7
No opinion24

Housing & Building repairs

ChoiceNumber of responses
Very important677
Important565
Low importance139
Not important43
No opinion37

Priority 5: Become an innovative and entrepreneurial council, providing effective leadership to help transform outcomes

84.4% of respondents said this priority was very important or important to them.

Respondents were asked to tell us how important all the services listed under priority 5 were to them. Response rates to very important and important were:

  • A review of council owned assets (85.2%)
  • Services that support communities to do more for themselves (77.1%)
  • More digital and online services (77%)
  • Using schools as 'community hubs' for other services to be delivered (71.4%)

Key points from the feedback given include:

  • Reduce the number of buildings and ensure access to services can be achieved online
  • Review council resources and use them more effectively and efficiently
  • Ensure resources remain for those who can't access online services e.g. elderly, homeless, or vulnerable people
  • Co-location of services to help reduce building costs and promote social cohesion within communities

Becoming an innovative and entrepreneurial council, providing effective leadership to help transform outcomes

ChoiceNumber of responses
Very important627
Important593
Low importance138
Not important32
No opinion55

This means that we will consider offering the following services in ways that are innovative and entrepreneurial to help transform outcomes. We asked how important each of the following was.

More digital and online services

ChoiceNumber of responses
Very important430
Important693
Low importance240
Not important59
No opinion36

Services that support communities to do more for themselves

ChoiceNumber of responses
Very important453
Important664
Low importance224
Not important47
No opinion60

Using schools as 'community hubs' for other services to be delivered eg health, leisure, advice services

ChoiceNumber of responses
Very important484
Important552
Low importance230
Not important127
No opinion57

A review of Council owned assets e.g. buildings to make sure they meet community needs and that they are affordable

ChoiceNumber of responses
Very important679
Important562
Low importance135
Not important44
No opinion36

Community Conversations

Background

Community Conversations were held to help us better understand the attitudes, feelings, beliefs, experiences and reactions of service users and potential customers, giving us firsthand feedback from a cross-section of our communities.

Community Conversations were attended by representatives from:

  • Falkirk Parent Forum
  • Community groups
  • Third Sector & charities
  • Communities representing equalities
  • Service and School Improvement
  • Falkirk Council

During these virtual focus groups representatives were asked three set questions:

  • What are the most important things you need the Council to do in the next 6 to 18 months?
  • What can the Council do different/stop doing?
  • How are these reflected in the Council priorities?

Community Conversation Summary (listed by priority)

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People in our communities are supported to live their lives well

  • Help people to live their best lives – be all they can be.
  • The challenges of lockdown. The Council needs to find ways to listen to the community.
  • Make all services available online.

Enable Everyone to fulfil their potential

  • Make sure the most vulnerable people get help – support with poverty, food, gas and electricity.
  • Communities to have equal access to services and opportunities – including health and wellbeing and digital services.
  • Keep schools open and safe.
  • Help our communities become more digitally enabled – digital is a basic utility now.

Help Business Thrive and make Falkirk more prosperous

  • Get businesses back on track.
  • Help people train / re-train for jobs.
  • Help with job creation.
  • Make sure investment zone projects meet people's needs.
  • Help town centre regeneration.
  • Tackle transport issues & support access routes for cycle travel.
  • Improve environmental sustainability and support climate change initiatives.
  • Make change happen & make decision making transparent. (eg planning).
  • Take ideas from the public on how to save money by being more efficient.

Working with communities to be healthier, safer and more sustainable

  • Communication – and listening – needs to improve between Council & Communities.
  • Speak to people in plain simple terms.
  • Community Conversations – follow is important try eg a "you said, we did" approach to show
  • Progress with participatory budgeting for communities to make decisions for themselves.
  • Communities are ready to work more as partners and become more involved in decision making eg Participatory Budgeting.
  • Communities can be more than just consultative groups. They can be treated as partners and as equal stakeholders.
  • Community groups, charities and third sector are ready to do more – Council doesn’t need to do everything it did before lockdown from providing support to grass cutting.
  • Our communities need to be sustainable.
  • Ask communities what facilities they need.
  • Improve joint working between key partners eg Police, Falkirk Council, Social Work, Housing Officers and Resolution Team.
  • Does Falkirk Council need to do everything? Others can deliver services (front and back office) on their behalf to make sure people get the best support possible.

An innovative and Entrepreneurial Council

  • Simplify the priorities so we know what Council is aiming for.
  • We don’t expect the Council to be perfect – but it needs to be more innovative and have less bureaucratic ways of working. Be open to ideas.
  • Improve web pages. Improve pages for communities so that people know what’s happening and being discussed in eg Community Council or from other groups.
  • Be open to letting Partners sit in shared space – once appropriate – and create common virtual platforms for engagement.