ANNEX B LOCAL AUTHORITY QUESTIONNAIRE
Introduction
Local authority chief executives were recently advised by the Scottish Executive that its evaluation of the process and operation of the Quality of Life Fund is underway. SQW Ltd has been commissioned to undertake this evaluation and its findings will also inform the development of Local Outcome Agreements. To help us to evaluate the Fund we would be very grateful if you would complete this short questionnaire regarding Quality of Life Fund investment in your area.
At the bottom of question pages there is a 'finish later' option which allows respondents the option of returning to the survey at a later date. By clicking on the 'continue' option this submits the page and takes you on to the next section. At the end of this questionnaire we require confirmation that this survey response has been approved by the Council's Director of Finance, or equivalent.
This survey is being carried out by independent consultants, SQW Ltd. Please note that the information that you provide will be treated in confidence and will be non-attributable. We would be grateful if you could submit your response by 5pm on Friday 23rd February. If you have any queries regarding the survey, please contact John Nolan at SQW Ltd on 0131 225 4007 or email jnolan@sqw.co.uk
Project activity
Q1: Can you indicate actual Quality of Life Fund expenditure for the four financial years since the Fund was launched in 2002 according to the two main themes outlined below?
| 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 |
a. Improving the local environment | | | | |
b. Increasing opportunities for children and young people | | | | |
Q2: Can you indicate the number of Quality of Life Funded projects for the four financial years according to the two main themes outlined below?
| 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 |
a. Improving the local environment | | | | |
b. Increasing opportunities for children and young people | | | | |
Q3: Please can you identify and provide information on the three largest projects (in financial terms) funded under the theme of improving the environment? Within the project description, please highlight any related initiatives or funding streams.
| Project name | Project description | Start date | No. of years funded | Amount of Quality of Life funding | Amount of other funding |
a. Project 1 | | | | | | |
b. Project 2 | | | | | | |
c. Project 3 | | | | | | |
Q4: Please can you identify and provide information on the three largest projects (in financial terms) funded under the theme of increasing opportunities for children and young people? Within the project description, please highlight any related initiatives or funding streams.
| Project name | Project description | Start date | No. of years funded | Amount of Quality of Life funding | Amount of other funding |
a. Project 1 | | | | | | |
b. Project 2 | | | | | | |
c. Project 3 | | | | | | |
Financial management
Q5: Have there been any significant changes (+/-10%) between allocated and incurred expenditure under the improving the local environment theme over the years?
| Please tick one |
Yes | |
No | |
Don't know | |
If "Yes", please explain the reasons for these changes | |
Q6: Have there been any significant changes (+/-10%) between allocated and incurred expenditure under the children and young people theme over the years?
| Please tick one |
Yes | |
No | |
Don't know | |
If "Yes", please explain the reasons for these changes | |
Q7: Once received from the Scottish Executive, how is the funding distributed by the Council?
| Please tick one |
Allocated to the relevant Council department or partner agency at the start of the financial year | |
Held in a central account into which Council departments or partner agencies bid | |
Held in a central account and claimed back retrospectively | |
Don't know | |
Other (please specify) | |
Decision-making process
Q8: What were the main reasons for the balance of Quality of Life expenditure between the two main themes of improving the local environment and increasing opportunities for young people? For example, why was more funding spent in one theme rather than the other?
Q9: To the best of your knowledge, to what extent have local partners and community representatives been involved in the allocation of Quality of Life funding for improving the local environment projects over the four years since the Fund started (1 = minimal involvement, 5 = high involvement)
Please tick one for each year | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Don't know |
a. 2002-03 | | | | | | |
b. 2003-04 | | | | | | |
c. 2004-05 | | | | | | |
d. 2005-06 | | | | | | |
Q10: To the best of your knowledge, to what extent have local partners and community representatives been involved in the allocation of Quality of Life funding for increasing opportunities for children and young people projects over the four years since the Fund started (1 = minimal involvement, 5 = high involvement)
Please tick one for each year | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Don't know |
a. 2002-03 | | | | | | |
b. 2003-04 | | | | | | |
c. 2004-05 | | | | | | |
d. 2005-06 | | | | | | |
Q11: What process was undertaken to decide on the allocation of funding between the themes and the projects within the themes?
| Please tick one |
Project allocations decided in Council Committee ( e.g. Policy and Resources Committee) | |
Project allocations decided within Community Planning Partnership framework | |
Both of the above | |
Don't know | |
Other (please specify) | |
Q12: Has the decision making process changed during the four years of the Fund?
| Please tick one |
Yes | |
No | |
Don't know | |
If "yes", please explain how the process has changed | |
Lessons for the future
Q13: What do you consider to be the main strengths of the Quality of Life Fund?
Q14: What do you consider to be the main weaknesses of the Quality of Life Fund?
Q15: What has this funding achieved which would not have otherwise taken place? For example, has the funding had an impact on the scale or timing of projects?
Q16: How could the delivery and monitoring of the Fund be improved (by the Scottish Executive and local authorities)
Q17: Any other comments
Confirmation
Please confirm your name and contact details and that these answers have been approved by the Council's Director of Finance or equivalent.
Q18: Respondent's name
Q19: Respondent's contact details
Q20: Name of person who has signed off this questionnaire response (Council Finance Director or equivalent)
End of questionnaire
Thank you for completing this survey.
As part of the next stage of the evaluation, we will be in contact with a number of local authorities to discuss further some of the issues on the process and operation of the Quality of Life Fund.