Results from the yearly Community Satisfaction Survey show Horsham Rural City Council has improved in all core measures across the past 12 months.
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The survey was received and passed by Horsham Rural City Council at the July, 26 meeting.
"We've turned a corner," Councillor Ian Ross said, as the overall score was much higher than previous surveys.
The survey was conducted by an independent research company, where 400 residents were randomly selected for the interview and was conducted in February and March.
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Chief Executive Officer Sunil Bhalla said Council scored an overall index score of 54.
"This score is nine points up on last year's result and, although it remains below the statewide average of 61, it is a very encouraging result," Mr Bhalla said.
"An increase in satisfaction with consultation and engagement from 41 to 48 was particularly significant because it has been a priority area for us, based on feedback from previous surveys.
"The best performing core measures were customer service with a score of 68 compared to 61 last year and a newly-added category for waste management scored 70.
"The overall council direction and sealed local roads continue to be our lowest performing areas. But, encouragingly, they were better than the previous year with overall council direction up by 12 points and sealed roads up by eight."
The survey participants also highlighted roads they found needed work.
Of the 187 roads named, 62 per cent were under the control of Regional Roads Victoria (RRV) and 33 per cent were council roads.
The council road with the most mentions was Albert Street and Brimpaen-Laharum Road. The RRV roads most reported were Kalkee Road and Dooen Road.
Sealed local roads and overall council direction received the lowest score of 47. Second lowest was community decisions and consultation and engagement, which received scores of 48.
The second highest was customer service, with a score of 68. Waste management was the highest scoring category of 70.
Mayor Robyn Gulline thanked residents who shared their opinions.
"Each year this survey helps lets us know what residents think we are doing well and where we need to work harder," Cr Gulline said.
"It gives us hard data that we can carry through into operational and policy decisions and budget allocations."
Other councillors spoke about how they wanted to continue with high community engagement.
"Council has improved meeting the communities needs," Councillor David Bowe said.
"Community and council need to move forward so the community can be the best it can be."
Councillor Haenel pointed out that there was still some ways to go to meet the state average.
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