The National Indicator Set launched by government in April 2008 contained a number of indicators which draw on the citizen's perspective. Eighteen of these (as listed below) were appointed for collection through the Place Survey, designed to be implemented by local authorities every two years starting in Autumn 2008. In April 2010, five of the indicators drawn from the Place Survey were removed from the set.
On 10 August 2010, the Minister for Housing and Local Government wrote to all local authority Chief Executives (opens in a new window) advising them of the cancellation of the Place Survey with effect from August 2010. Local authorities will no longer be expected to report against the National Indicators measured by this survey.
All queries about the Place Survey should be directed to CLG at PlaceSurvey@communities.gsi.gov.uk
National indicators specified for collection through the Place Survey
When the national indicator set was introduced in April 2008 it included 18 indicators specified for collection through the Place Survey. The number was reduced to 13 in April 2010. The National Indicator Information Portal provides more detailed information about the individual National Indicators.
The Place Survey indicators were as follows:
- NI 1 % of people who believe people from different backgrounds get on well together in their local area
- NI 2 % of people who feel that they belong to their neighbourhood (deleted in April 2010)
- NI 3 Civic participation in the local area (deleted in April 2010)
- NI 4 % of people who feel they can influence decisions in their locality
- NI 5 Overall / general satisfaction with local area
- NI 6 Participation in regular volunteering
- NI 17 Perceptions of anti-social behaviour
- NI 21 Dealing with local concerns about anti-social behaviour and crime by the local council and police
- NI 22 Perceptions of parents taking responsibility for the behaviour of their children in the area
- NI 23 Perceptions that people in the area treat one another with respect and consideration (deleted in April 2010)
- NI 27 Understanding of local concerns about anti-social behaviour and crime by the local council and police
- NI 37 Awareness of civil protection arrangements in the local area (deleted in April 2010)
- NI 41 Perceptions of drunk or rowdy behaviour as a problem
- NI 42 Perceptions of drug use or drug dealing as a problem
- NI 119 Self-reported measure of people's overall health and wellbeing
- NI 138 Satisfaction of people over 65 with both home and neighbourhood
- NI 139 The extent to which older people receive the support they need to live independently at home
- NI 140 Fair treatment by local services (deleted in April 2010)
The Audit Commission's role
The Audit Commission provided support and advice to local authorities during the first, 2008/09, round of the Place Survey, at the request of CLG. This included queries about the definitions of the indicators specified for collection through the Place Survey. Detailed definitions are available through National Indicator Information Portal.
Results from the Autumn 2008 Place Survey
CLG published the Place Survey: England - Headline Results 2008 report (external link) comprising results for all the national indicators and a small number of further statistics on 23 June 2009. Further results (external link) were published on 23 September 2009.