Your views matter

More than 6,000 households across the city will get the chance to give their views about the council this month. It's part of a key inspection being carried out by the government.

How satisfied are you with Hull City Council?
How satisfied are you with the many services it provides - from street lighting to sports fields, from museums to meals of wheels?
If you have children, how satisfied are you with Hull schools?
If you are a council tenant, how satisfied are you with Hull Housing services?
If you are elderly and receive support, how satisfied are you with that support?

Have your say

These are just some of the types of questions which are be asked in a key government survey this month.
It will involve questionnaires being sent to more than 6,000 household across the city.
"If your household receives one of the questionnaires, we would urge you to fill it in and return it as soon as possible," says Hull City Council leader Carl Minns.
"It's your opportunity to have your say, and tell us whether the council is performing up to a decent standard and about the issues that concern you."
Specific questions on the survey include "What makes somewhere a good place to live?" and "Have you made a complaint in the last 12 months?"

Key test for the council

Last time a similar survey was carried out - three years ago - a total of 73 per cent of respondents said they were generally satisfied with council services. This put Hull City Council in the top ten local authorities in the country.
The survey forms part of a wider inspection of the council being carried out by the government - called the Corporate Assessment (CA), which also takes place every three years.
During the CA, which will take place over the next few months, government inspectors will carry out interviews with a wide range of local people, and also visit different parts of the city, in order to decide how well the council works for the public, how well it is managed, and how it works with its partners.
"They won't just be shown the good parts, they'll want to see everything - warts and all - to see what is really going on," says John Karavics, the council's lead officer in helping prepare for the CA.
"The inspectors will base themselves in Hull for several weeks, conducting interviews in the Guildhall, going on visits, and experiencing the whole city and all it has to offer.
"People they speak to could include anyone from voluntary associations, and tenants' forums to black and minority ethnic groups, and representatives from the police, fire and health services."

Further information

The CA is carried out on top of the Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA), which takes place annually. Together the two inspections form the council's overall rating. Currently the council has one star and is rated as "fair." The final report will be published on February 5 next year. Watch this space.

For more information about the survey or the inspection call 300300 or visit the website www.hullcc.gov.uk *