RESIDENTS in Ryedale say a better public transport system is the number one priority for the vast rural area, with more facilities for young people a close second.

Members of the district council's overview and scrutiny committee were told that the issues had come top in a survey of 1,200 people on the council's citizens' panel who were questioned by professional pollsters and it is now likely they will be included in the council's corporate plan.

Assistant chief executive Sue Redfern said on the question of what would make Ryedale a better place to live in, the highest response was for more and better public transport, while more facilities for young people was followed by the need to curb the amount of litter, and for flood defences to be built.

Overall the panel gave a big thumbs-up to the council's performance with 78.3pc saying they rated it either good or fairly good.

They were also asked about the council's objectives and whether they felt they were being met.

On good housing for everyone, 74.9pc of those questioned said it was important, but only 47.4pc felt it was being achieved. On reducing crime and disorder, 88.3pc said it was vital, and 54.9pc that it was being achieved.

The council also ranked highly on its policy of sustaining and developing the local economy, with 72.1pc saying it was important, and 50pc that it was succeeding.

However, on tourism, where 53.8pc of those questioned said it was important, 62.2pc said the aim was not being achieved.

Just over 40pc knew the name of their local councillor and nearly 67pc knew how to contact them, although nearly 88pc had not done so in the past year. A massive 86pc said it would be a good idea if councillors held surgeries.

The perception survey was welcomed by the chairman of the committee, Coun Debbie Aubrook. "The council spends a lot of money on this research and it is important that we study the findings."

She said there was possibly need for a better communication strategy in view of the large percentage of people who did not know their councillor and over 30pc being unaware how to contact them.

Coun Allin Jenkins said that while the results overall were good the council could not be complacent.

The committee agreed that the findings of the survey should be passed to the council's policy and resources committee to guide policy on corporate aims and objectives for the future.

Updated: 09:59 Thursday, December 27, 2001