On the 27th of February 96k Community Reporter volunteers carried out, hopefully the first of many consultations in the borough.
Community Reporters Julie Smith and Lisa Davies carried out the survey in Gorleston high street, Morrison’s, Great Yarmouth College, a resident’s home and a local Public House asking a series of questions regarding the Norfolk’s Big Conversation and how the cuts are affecting local people.
Lisa and Julie would like to thank all those who took part
Julie:
“We went into the community to ask the public if they had heard of the government’s Big conversation, some people didn’t have the time to answer the questions but those that did seemed to have the view that they had given up on the government, that they no longer trusted, were angry about the cuts, and they felt the cuts was mainly aimed at the working class or the vulnerable.”
Below are the questions I put to them and their responses:
Q1 Have you heard about Norfolk County Councils ‘Big Conversation’?
Q2 If yes, have you contributed’?
Q3 Do you feel enough information?
Q4 Do thinks that you, or someone close to you, will be affected?
Q5 Do you think that the cuts will cause particular people hardship?
Q6 what services do you think will be affected by the cuts?
Q7 Do you feel that the cuts are the right way to precede?
Q8 If you could ask a question about the cuts what would it be?
Peoples Responses:
Person1
Q1. Have you heard about Norfolk county councils ‘Big Conversation’’?
Yes
Q2. If yes have you contributed?
Haven’t bothered government will go ahead regardless.
Q3. Do you feel like you have enough information?
No
Q4. Do you think that you, or someone close to you, will be affected?
Myself and cutbacks on my job at school.
Q5. Do you think the cutbacks will cause particular people hardship?
Working class vulnerable people and the next generation.
Q6. What services do you think will be affected by the cuts?
School higher education and outside agencies.
Q7 Do you feel that the cuts are the right way to procede?
No because they are cutting back on the wrong things.
Q8. If you could ask a question about the cuts what would it be?
Are they going to make cuts that I will benefit from?
Venue – public house publican
Q1. Have you heard about Norfolk county councils ‘Big Conversation’’?
Yes
Q2. If yes have you contributed?
No don’t care because whatever you do won’t matter
Q3. Do you feel like you have enough information?
Yes beach radio
Q4. Do you think that you or someone close to you will be affected?
Yes a friend of mine is stressed because he feels he will be made redundant
Q5. Do you think the cut backs will cause particular people hardship?
Yes I feel that the council are being victimised and with the police cut backs more crime and problems will occur.
Q6. What service do you think will be affected by the cuts?
Local government and local community
Q7. Do you feel that the cuts are the right way to proceed?
No because it’s driving the country to bankruptcy
Q8. If you could ask a question about the cuts what would it be?
Why
Venue - Great Yarmouth College
Q1. Have you heard about Norfolk county councils ‘Big Conversation’’?
No
Q2. If yes have you contributed?
N/A
Q3. Do you feel like you have enough information?
No
Q4. Do you think that you, or someone close to you, will be affected?
Yes threat of redundancy and closure of crèche.
Q5. Do you think that the cuts will cause particular people hardships?
Yes I think it will affect all the working class
Q6. What services do you think will be affected by the cuts?
Education, postal services, health, policing, armed forces, public transport,
Q7. Do you feel that the cuts are the right way to proceed?
No
Q8. If you could ask a question about the cuts what would it be?
What will the government do with the money they are saving?
Venue – Residents home nr30
Q1. Have you heard about Norfolk county councils ‘Big Conversation’’?
No
Q2. If yes have you contributed?
N/A
Q3. Do you feel like you have enough information?
No
Q4. Do you think that you, or someone close to you, will be affected?
Yes obviously
Q5. Do you think that the cuts will cause particular people hardships?
Yes; poor people
Q6. What services do you think will be affected by the cuts?
The welfare state schools and hospitals
Q7. Do you feel that the cuts are the right way to proceed?
No
Q8. If you could ask a question about the cuts what would it be?
Why is it always the poor who have to tighten their belts and why is there always such a big gap between the rich and poor in this country?
Venue- Morrison’s
Q1. Have you heard about Norfolk county councils ‘Big Conversation’’?
No
Q2. If yes have you contributed?
No because not heard of it.
Q3. Do you feel like you have enough information?
No
Q4. Do you think that you, or someone close to you, will be affected?
Yes job cuts, also the prison services, too many prisoners and need more officers not less.
Q5. Do you think that the cuts will cause particular people hardships?
Yes lots of jobs. Don’t feel secure with my job, but cuts may lead to all kind of problems
Q6. What services do you think will be affected by the cuts?
Prison services plus all civil servants
Q7. Do you feel that the cuts are the right way to proceed?
Yes to get rid of national debt
Q8. If you could ask a question about the cuts what would it be?
How long will these cuts last for? Don’t think I can do anything because no one will do anything, won’t give name, but working at blunderston prison.
Venue- high street nr31
Q1. Have you heard about Norfolk county councils ‘Big Conversation’’?
No
Q2. If yes have you contributed?
N/A
Q3. Do you feel like you have enough information?
A little bit of information from conversations
Q4. Do you think that you, or someone close to you, will be affected?
From the information I have been given I am lucky the cuts haven’t affected me as yet
Q5. Do you think that the cuts will cause particular people hardships?
Of course it will
Q6. What services do you think will be affected by the cuts?
All the working class people
Q7. Do you feel that the cuts are the right way to proceed?
Leave the vulnerable people alone and make the cuts aimed more at fat bureaucrats
Q8. If you could ask a question about the cuts what would it be?
Why aren’t they clamping down on all those falsely claiming incapacity benefit, like drugs dealers many claiming benefits while selling drugs also the lack of policing will encourage more dealers and scroungers and crime?
Venue- Residents House NR30
Q1. Have you heard about Norfolk county councils ‘Big Conversation’’?
Yes been to lots of meeting, one at my work. Which is at centre 81
Q2. If yes have you contributed?
Wrote letter to Norfolk county council, made recommendations, if they change the eligibility criteria people will not get services, so a lot more people will become critical.
Q3. Do you feel like you have enough information?
Yes got information from work, internet and letters
Q4. Do you think that you, or someone close to you, will be affected?
Yes they are trying to shut all day centres being Norfolk’s county councils but not private as they can only shut what they own, I know this as I work with vulnerable people
Q5. Do you think that the cuts will cause particular people hardships?
Yes all vulnerable people
Q6. What services do you think will be affected by the cuts?
Adult social care
Q7. Do you feel that the cuts are the right way to proceed?
Changes should be made to middle management and white collar workers
Q8. If you could ask a question about the cuts what would it be?
Why are they affecting people on the streets who need services rather than all the people in the offices who sort it out?
James Paget Hospital psychiatric nurse
Q1. Have you heard about Norfolk county councils ‘Big Conversation’’?
No, not seen it on the news, in local papers or on the radio. MPs should inform the public.
Q2. If yes have you contributed?
N/A
Q3. Do you feel like you have enough information?
No because never heard of it
Q4. Do you think that you, or someone close to you, will be affected?
Quality of services to the general public
Q5. Do you think that the cuts will cause particular people hardships?
Can’t comment as I don’t know what the big conversation is
Q6. What services do you think will be affected by the cuts?
Policing, schools. The cuts they are introducing are affecting everybody
Q7. Do you feel that the cuts are the right way to proceed?
No cut the bonuses for the men at the top, as this will lead to the middle and lower classes will be worse off
Q8. If you could ask a question about the cuts what would it be?
Why can’t the public decide when the cuts are, because the people at the top are making cuts where they want, we pay the council tax so the cuts should be for us to decide.
Venue- high street nr31 6bg fork lifter/crane driver
Q1. Have you heard about Norfolk county councils ‘Big Conversation’’?
No
Q2. If yes have you contributed?
N/A
Q3. Do you feel like you have enough information?
No only just heard because this lady from 96k talkback stopped me in the street to speak to me about it
Q4. Do you think that you, or someone close to you, will be affected?
Yes example. Child benefits, mates work as civil servants job centre not enough staff
Q5. Do you think that the cuts will cause particular people hardships?
Yes working class, single parent’s job, losses in the private sector, ie lolly pop people, leading children safety
Q6. What services do you think will be affected by the cuts?
National Health Service, police, education, low income families, disability, losing day to day care with disability assistance
Q7. Do you feel that the cuts are the right way to proceed?Taxing higher wage people instead of middle and lower class, aiming more more at the upper class and not middle or lower class
Q8. If you could ask a question about the cuts what would it be?
Is Britain going to be a safer place, i.e. people coming out of prison, hospital cuts, housing
Venue Gorleston high st
Q1 Have you heard about Norfolk County Councils ‘Big Conversation’?
1st persons answer Yes
2nd : : Publican Yes
3rd : : Worker Gt. Yarmouth college No
4th person Home NR30 4 NF No
5th person Out-side Morrisons No never heard of it
6th person High St. No
7th person. At my home Yes Been to lots of there meetings one of them at my work which is centre 81
8th person. Hospital psychiatric nurse No because not been on News, radio, local paper. Local M.P should let public know
9th person High St. No, not on news or local paper
(Q 2) 1st person Haven’t bothered government will go ahead
Regardless
2nd person No don’t care whatever you do doesn’t matter to the
Government
3rd person N/A
4th person N/A
5th person No cause ever heard of it.
6th person No
7thperson I Wrote letters to Norfolk county council with recommendations
People will not get services they need
Resulting in a lot more people having critical needs
8th person N/A
9th person No cause never heard of it.
Q3 1st person No
2nd person
96kproject team "well done Lisa and Julie for some excellent work" - If you agree when reading this please take the time to comment (Note you will need to be registered with 96ktalkback to make a comment)
