Service Charging Survey

Charging for services is an option open to councils in a number of ways - this research aimed to gain an understanding of the current trends in local government in terms of charging, as well as future plans. The survey sought to consider specific services, and examine the motivations for charging for these, as well as the barriers to doing so.

Ipsos's poll for the accountancy firm BDO LLP reveals that nearly three in four councils (72%) predict their revenues from service charging will increase over the next three years. Our interviews among 163 senior personnel within English local authorities also show that the service areas most likely to be affected are transport, adult education and day care services.

The survey also asked whether councils had considered setting up a seperate trading company, one possible way of dealing with restrictions placed on councils in terms of the services for which they can charge. Around one in six have already set up a trading company (15%), although the same proportion have considered doing so and subsequently rejected the idea. A further quarter of authorities (25%) are thinking about taking this move.

Please contact Andy Byrom160or Matt Barnes160for further information, including full topline results.

Technical details

Ipsos interviewed senior executives across 163 English local authorities by CATI (Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing) between 24 May and 9 June 2010. The majority of these were with chief executives and assistant chief executives (122), with the balance made up of heads of finance (41). Data are unweighted.

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