Our third annual countywide survey launches this week to understand and track residents’ views across Cambridgeshire.
Initially launched in 2023, the annual survey, tracks the responses over time so local feedback not only gives councillors and decision makers vital insight when they make business planning decisions, it also means we can see how changes to decisions and policies – and the work of other public sector bodies in the county – affect people’s views across Cambridgeshire.
The online and telephone-based survey seeks the feedback of 5,500 residents and is being run in partnership with Cambridge Ahead, the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority and South Cambridgeshire District Council.
The 20min online and telephone survey is run by an independent market research company, Thinks Insight. The company aims to speak to 1,100 people over the age of 18 living in each of the five Cambridgeshire five district areas.
The survey asks residents about their views on topics such as life and community, transport, health and wellbeing, children and young people, the council, and its services. In previous years, the survey has highlighted most residents feel happy, safe and have a sense of belonging, with residents believing that Cambridgeshire is a good place to raise children. However, it also highlighted that roads and pavement maintenance, the cost of living and mental health and loneliness are areas of concern.
The information gathered from the Quality of Life survey has already been used to feed into the council’s Business Plan and Budget processes and allows us to benchmark and track the impact of the council’s seven Strategic Framework ambitions over time. This year, for 2025, there are two questions to help introduce the concept of Local Government Reorganisation to residents and provide an early indication of awareness.
There is an opportunity for everyone to take part if they want to, with the survey available via the County Council’s website: www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/quality-of-life-survey
The survey will remain open into the summer, and it will close on Monday, 21 July. The responses will then be collated and fed back to councillors and the public in the autumn. The results will help inform council meetings and priorities for the years ahead.
If you are approached, the market research team’s commissioned service ‘Team Search’ will identify themselves as working on behalf of Cambridgeshire County Council and will give contact details which allow people to check their purpose. No one will be asked for identifying personal details, or any financial information.
