The National Indicator Set launched by government in April 2008 contains a number of indicators which draw on the citizen's perspective. Most of these have been appointed for collection through the Place Survey, designed to be implemented by local authorities.
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 are as follows:
- NI 1 % of people who believe people from different backgrounds get on well together in their local area
- 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 27 Understanding of local concerns about anti-social behaviour and crime by the local council and police
- 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
Deleted in April 2010:
- NI 2 % of people who feel that they belong to their neighbourhood
- NI 3 Civic participation in the local area
- NI 23 Perceptions that people in the area treat one another with respect and consideration
- NI 37 Awareness of civil protection arrangements in the local area
- NI 140 Fair treatment by local services
The Place Survey in 2010
Communities and Local Government (CLG) (external link) is currently considering the future role of the Place Survey in the context of the new government's agenda. The Department wrote to local authorities on 11 June with the recommendation not to proceed with any further preparation for this autumn's Survey for the time being. It has undertaken to provide a more detailed update to contacts in local authorities as soon as it can.
Queries about the Place Survey
All queries about the Place Survey should be directed to CLG at PlaceSurvey@communities.gsi.gov.uk.
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.
The Audit Commission handles queries about National Indicator definitions. This includes queries about the definitions of the indicators specified for collection through the Place Survey. If you have an enquiry of this nature and the National Indicator Information Portal has not helped, feel free to contact us using our online enquiry form.
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.