Local Government Reports and think pieces

Ipsos MORI were recently commissioned to undertake a comprehensive analysis of Best Value Performance Indicator (BVPI) data for London, in combination with other recently completed frontiers work, to present a detailed picture of Londoners' views on quality of life, community and local authority services. Analysis is based on more than 42,000 responses, covering all 33 London Boroughs.  If you would like to order a copy of the London Life report please contact a member of the Local Government Unit. It is free to Ipsos MORI clients and £200 for non clients. 

 Frontiers of Performance in Local Government IV: Place shapers or shaped by place? - July 2007

This report builds on Ipsos MORI's three previous Frontiers of Performance in Local Government reports to provide the latest and most meaningful analysis available of public perceptions around the performance of local authorities. We look at performance in light of the local context in which individual councils are operating, and to then establish accurate and realistic parameters for public satisfaction ratings in each authority, based on the performance of other authorities operating in similar circumstances.

If you would like to order a copy of this report please contact a member of the Local Government Unit. It is free to Ipsos MORI clients and £200 for non clients.
 

What Distinguishes The Best Leaders In Local Government? - November 2006

Our latest report for the IDeA highlights the management and leadership styles associated with CPA performance, based on 1,000 telephone interviews with staff across a range of different authorities, and personal interviews with 20 chief executives and leaders.

The Reputation of Local Government pdf, 1mb - November 2008

The LGA is initating the ‘My Council' campaign to raise public awareness of the services local authorities provide. To coincide with this, Ipsos MORI were commissioned to examine public perceptions of local government and why people think what they do about their council. This report draws on a decade of research into the factors behind local authorities' reputation such as public knowledge of the council compared with other institutions, awareness of council services and the portrayal of local government in the media.

What Do People Want From Public Services? pdf, 385KB - April 2006

Today's public services have to meet customer expectations; they have to be customer-driven. But how well are their expectations and priorities understood? Ben Page shows that listening to what citizens really think will help public sector leaders to shape their services differently.

The Business Case For The Reputation Project pdf, 236KB - 27 February 2006

At its 2005 Annual Conference the LGA and IDeA launched a five-year strategy for addressing the sector's reputation problem. The scale of the challenge means that this is not a task to be undertaken lightly or half heartedly — a simple advertising campaign will not work. The challenge we face is like rebuilding the reputation of the US army after Abu Ghraib. We have to change behaviours locally, as well as raise our game as a sector. Otherwise any money spent on marketing will be wasted. While one of local government's great strengths is its diversity, on some aspects of performance it is too diverse. This long-term strategy will challenge media, public and Government perceptions of the sector, but will also challenge the sector itself. This report outlines the core strategy for the project, and the rationale and data behind it.

How is Local Government Reported in the Press - 5 February 2006

This latest report produced by Ipsos MORI and test Research is linked to the Local Government Association's Reputation Project. Based on a complex media evaluation study, the report assesses the nature and extent of media coverage of local government. It seeks to help the local government community understand the challenges in generating positive media coverage.

Improving the Reputation of Local Government - 25 January 2006

The Local Government Research Unit has been working closely with the LGA and the IDeA on the drivers of reputation in local government. Working with the LGA Executive, and sounding boards of the best and brightest councils on the two key areas of initial focus for improvement - communications and liveability - the project has now launched 10 key actions that all authorities are being asked to adopt. These were launched in a plenary speech by Ben Page at the LGA annual conference in 2005.

Physical Capital: Liveability in 2005

Ipsos MORI's report on liveability shows that public concerns about quality of life remains focused on street crime. The first report in 2002, "The Rising Prominence of Liveability - Are we condemned to a life of grime?", reviewed what really mattered to people about the areas where they live. It showed basic problems such as litter, kids hanging around on street corners, dumped vehicles and vandalism having a significant, damaging effect on quality of life.

Three years on, Ipsos MORI has revisited the liveability issue - and its analysis is encouraging. Ipsos MORI's research suggests work by central and local government over the past four years is now being recognised by the public - but there is still a long way to go.

If you would like to order a copy of this report please contact a member of the Local Government Unit. It is free to Ipsos MORI clients and £100 for non clients.