North Northamptonshire Council publishes first Residents’ Satisfaction Survey results

13 October 2025

North Northamptonshire Council has published the results of its first comprehensive Residents’ Satisfaction Survey, marking a significant step forward in its commitment to listening to and engaging with local communities.

Commissioned in response to recommendations from the Local Government Association’s Corporate Peer Challenge, the survey was carried out by independent research company Yonder Data Solutions in July 2025. Using nationally recognised methodology, the survey captured the views of 500 residents across the area through telephone interviews, providing a robust and representative snapshot of public opinion.

In addition to the commissioned survey, the council also ran its own online survey to ensure that all residents had the opportunity to share their views. Together, these surveys offer valuable insights into how residents perceive their local area, council services, and communication efforts.

Key Findings:

68% of residents are satisfied with their local area as a place to live.
77% expressed satisfaction with waste collection services. This is in line with the latest national satisfaction figures of 76%.
41% are satisfied with how the council runs things, with older residents and women reporting higher satisfaction. This is lower than the latest nationally surveyed figure of 56%.
33% of residents feel well-informed about Council services, which is lower than the latest nationally surveyed figure of 47%.
78% of residents said they trust local councillors to decide how services are provided in the local area, which is significantly above the latest nationally surveyed figure of 70%.

The residents’ satisfaction survey also asked respondents to indicate what they felt the future focus of the council and its partners should be for the next 5 to 10 years.

The top three future priority areas identified were:

Safer area with lower crime and antisocial behaviour
More homes to live in that local people can afford
More jobs, businesses and investment

The council has used the feedback from the residents’ satisfaction survey to help shape its ambitious strategic plan for the future which it has set out in its new draft Corporate Plan which will be considered in public by the Executive in November.

This survey is a milestone for North Northamptonshire Council. It gives us a clearer understanding of what matters most to our residents and where we can improve.

It was important that we carried out this survey quickly as we wanted to find out what our residents felt about their council and public services. I felt it was vitally important that we established the facts and perceptions in the early days following the May election.

The first four years of any new unitary council will naturally be challenging, and North Northamptonshire Council has been no exception. The results of the residents’ satisfaction survey in many ways reflect this.

I am working hard with my Executive colleagues to build a happy and constructive working environment and one that puts the needs of our residents at the very heart of everything we do.

By doing this survey early in our administration, we have been able to use the results to shape our new plan for the future, set out in our new Corporate Plan.

I would like to thank all residents who took the time and effort to take part in the survey and to help the shape the future of public services in North Northamptonshire.Leader of the Council, Cllr Martin Griffiths

Next Steps

The Corporate Scrutiny Committee will consider the survey findings at its meeting on 21 October 2025.

The Executive will consider the draft Corporate Plan on 11 November.

For more information and to view the full survey report, visit the council website.