Cutting-edge Research into How the Public Really Values Public Services
Highland public agencies will be breaking new ground this week when they launch an innovative new survey asking people how they value eight core public services. The research is believed to be the first time that such a broad range of local public services have been investigated in this way. Using a technique called a Discrete Choice Experiment, the study provides a quantitative measure of how strongly people value selected public services. The principal objective of the study is to explore better ways of finding out what people want from the public sector, and given that resources are always limited, what services the public are most prepared to pay for. As well as helping the public sector become more adept at understanding the community’s needs, the research should also reveal the strength of public support for specific core services.
More than 1,000 Ross and Cromarty residents, chosen at random, will receive a questionnaire through the post. The questionnaire imagines that a group of public agencies have jointly achieved savings which can either be used for improving public services or returned to the public through a £300 reduction in Council Tax. Each question asks people to choose from three “mixed baskets” of possible improvements, each with an associated cost.
As it is impossible to investigate every service provided by the seven public agencies forming Highland’s Community Planning partnership - the Wellbeing Alliance - the subjects were chosen on the basis of responses given by the public. Issues covered include: improved access to NHS dentists; more police officers; an improved commuter train link; better recycling services; improved library access; an enhanced youth service; additional after-school transport; and support for arts events.
The work is being carried out by Resource Dimensions, an economics consultancy based at Stirling, and also operating in the United States. The lead researcher, Ariel Bergmann, has recently conducted research into public feeling over wind-farm and forestry projects.
The work forms one element of an innovative project developing new approaches to Community Planning. Project Manager, Andy Dorin, explained: “Community Planning is about public agencies working more closely together, and listening to what the public want and need. It is sometimes hard for organisations to think beyond their own responsibilities or to consider what would happen if they had freedom to use resources without being trapped by their traditional roles.”
“This study breaks through these barriers. It explores what value people put on each of the services identified –rather than simply looking at what it might cost us to deliver them, and regardless of who provides them. It therefore offers us very valuable information. If something is cheap to deliver but very highly valued by the public, we might want to put more resources into the service. Conversely, we might consider reducing services if an expensive service is little valued.
“Also, because we look across organisational barriers, we can consider the potential for switching resources between services, even between organisations – between health, police or the council for example.”
A final report for the pilot study will be completed in August 2005.
ENDS