Young people happier with council services after travel card launch

The number of 16-24 year olds saying they were satisfied with county council services rocketed from 48 per cent questioned in May to 70 per cent questioned in August 2011.

The increase coincided with the launch of the Your Staffordshire travel card, with well over 20,000 already issued.

Ian Parry, deputy leader of the council said: “By any stretch of the imagination the increase in satisfaction levels among young people is remarkable. I believe this is down to the county council’s new emphasis on delivering affordable local services tailored to Staffordshire communities based on careful research.

“Finding out exactly what people think and want is more important than ever if we are to spend taxpayer’s money in the most cost-effective way. We want to concentrate on what directly makes a difference to people’s lives, and if these decisions are not based on research then they are little better than a stab in the dark.

“The launch of the Your Staffordshire Card was directly linked to research that showed access to public transport was a key priority for young people. Without that knowledge we would not have launched the scheme. But we now have real hard evidence that it is helping to making a difference.”

The Your Staffordshire Card gives people aged 11-20 access to bus travel for only £1 per journey starting in the county. Well over one-third of 16-year-olds in Staffordshire now have one.

The card was supported by Staffordshire’s Youth Action Kouncil (YAK), which is an elected group representing young people.

Maddy Rogers, YAK member said: “The Your Staffordshire Card has been a great initiative and young people have been very receptive towards it. It offers young people independence and the ability to access education, job and community services at a more economical price. Staffordshire County Council’s support for this initiative has really made it happen.”

County councillor Parry added: “The take-up of the card has been exceptional, but has not come as a surprise because we had doen such solid groundwork. This is based entirely upon existing budgets and will deliver the long-term savings we need by getting more people onto the buses and reducing the need to subsidise little-used routes.

“This new Staffordshire approach is a complete contrast to the way local government used to run – when Whitehall told councils what to provide, and that’s what people got, like-it-or-not.

“The Your Staffordshire Card is making huge changes and will provide exceptional value for money.”

Parry added: “ All the evidence is that young people are the most difficult age group for councils to target, and we aim to sustain this leap in satisfaction among the young and replicate it among all age groups.

“In Staffordshire we are proving that councils may have less money to spend, but if they spend it wisely they can make a much greater difference to people’s lives.”

For more information
Web: www.staffordshire.gov.uk