The Place Survey
Place Survey Conference
On Thursday 12th of November 2009, the Devon County Council Strategic Intelligence team hosted a conference at the Coaver Conference Facility entitled; "What Matters - Using Information to Prioritise in Tough Times". The conference sought to highlight Devon's results from the Place Survey 2008 as well as summarise the importance of customer satisfaction across a wide range of organisations throughout Devon.
The conference itself was well supported, with over 50 delegates from all over the county, including representatives from Devon County Council partners in both local government and the third sector. Delegates were able to observe 5 presentations as part of the conference agenda 
(48KB - pdf help) that included the following presentations:
Customer Satisfaction – Exeter City FC
Exeter City FC Chief Executive Norrie Stewart gives an insight into customer satisfaction in the world of Football as well as retail. His presentation outlines how Exeter City Football Club has delivered customer satisfaction to all of its customers whether fans or footballers.
Norrie Stewart is currently the interim Chief Executive of Exeter City Football Club and has a very experienced background in retail management. He has worked in consultancy and both wholesale and independent retail. Working for Sears during the late eighties and Internacionale Ltd in the mid nineties. Currently Norrie is advising a leading clothing manufacturer on the re-launch of an eighties' superbrand.
Place Survey in Devon; the findings
This presentation by Pip Tucker covers the findings of the Place Survey on what is important to people in Devon and what they most what to see changed. It will reveal the differences between the county’s communities and the factors behind satisfaction with “place” and public authorities.
Pip Tucker has been Head of Strategic Intelligence at Devon County Council since 2007, with responsibilities including statistics, consultation and data protection. He was formerly an academic geographer, undertaking research in the Sudan and Transylvania. He has worked in the field of local government since 1998, previously at Somerset County Council and the South West Observatory.
Ilfracombe; narrowing the gap
In this presentation, Gary Smith explains why resident empowerment works in narrowing the gap in Ilfracombe.
Gary Smith is the Neighbourhood Manager of the Transform project in Ilfracombe (appointed 2004). Prior to this he managed welfare services for the North West Coalfield where he led the regeneration of disadvantaged coalfield communities. Gary also has background in Social Services having worked previously in both Staffordshire and Cheshire.
The Watermark, Ivybridge: Meeting Needs, Raising Aspirations
Keith Brown and Angela King from the Devon Reinvestment Service (DRS), outline the work of the Watermark Centre in Ivybridge, as well as other projects in the area including the Dutchy Square Arts Centre in Princetown.
DRS is a partnership between Devon County Council, the Wessex Reinvestment Trust and Business in the Community which provides technical and professional skills to support the development of key community projects, with a focus on community assets.
Working with the Third Sector
Speakers Frank Bennett and Aran Richardson explain how third sector agencies can make a difference in communities. Their presentation outlines the role of local street pastors, and gives a brief history of the street pastor project (LSPP). In addition, their presentation lists the aims of the LSPP and details how the project impacts on the local community, as well as outlining the importance of partnership working to the success of the project
Aran Richardson is the Senior Minister at the Riverside Christian Centre and is a co-ordinator for the Exeter Street Pastors. Aran has 18 years experience in the voluntary sector (Youth, Drugs and Faith groups) and was a police officer for 6 years serving with Hertfordshire Constabulary and Devon and Cornwall Constabulary. He has worked as a Prison Chaplin for HMP Exeter and as a Police Chaplin for Devon and Cornwall Constabulary.
Frank Bennett is a retired Police Inspector after 30 years with Devon and Cornwall Constabulary. Roles have included Uniform Patrol, CID, and latterly as Force Training Support Manager. Now recently working on a part time basis to assist Ascension Trust Representatives to develop Street Pastors across the Devon and Cornwall area. He is a Christian and attends Riverside Church where Aran Richardson is the Senior Pastor.
The Strategic Intelligence team would like to thank each of the speakers at this year's conference, and would like to offer our sincerest thanks to everybody who attended. If you have any comments about this year's conference please feel free to email us at strategicintelligence@devon.gov.uk or write to us at; Devon County Council, Strategic Intelligence, County Hall, Room L10, Topsham Rd, Exeter, Devon, EX2 4QD.
The Devon County Council Strategic Intelligence team is currently in the process of completing a set of profiles for each of the 29 Devon Town Areas in the county. These profiles will summarise key issues highlighted from Devon's results from the Place Survey. To view these profiles, and for more information on the Place Survey please visit www.devon.gov.uk/placesurvey
