More than 1,000 Southampton residents were asked for their views on life in the city. Jamie Thompson looks at the results of this major poll...

IT'S the people's wishlist of their ideal Southampton - and a vote of confidence for underfire council chiefs.

Hundreds of residents were given the chance to become a Civic Centre leader for the day and say precisely where they wanted their money spent.

In one of the biggest ever polls of its type in Southampton, more than 1,000 householders were quizzed in a Mori survey to find out their thoughts on local services.

Last week the Daily Echo revealed 130 jobs were being axed at the council, along with a likely council tax rise of at least 9.9 per cent next year.

But 55 per cent of residents quizzed over the last three months said they were happy with the way the city was being run, compared to 21 per cent who expressed dissatisfaction.

Opposition parties branded the exercise as a waste of money in light of the recently-announced cuts.

Mori's involvement, which replaced previous postal surveys, came at an additional cost of £20,500.

The most common areas at which people targeted their displeasure in the survey were:

Pavement and road maintenance (53 per cent dissatisfied )

Street cleaning (40 per cent)

crime reduction (35 per cent)

Public conveniences (34 per cent)

When it came to the services most popular with residents, their replies proved to be - a load of rubbish.

Topping the chart, with 85 per cent of those satisfied, was refuse collection.

Praise was also given to:

Access to green spaces (81 per cent)

Street lighting (79 per cent)

Libraries (65 per cent)

Council bosses said the results were already being used to determine which services were priorities and which could be reduced to allow more spending elsewhere.

The ruling Labour group at the Civic Centre have spent the last few weeks desperately trying to balance the books after unveiling a four-year-plan highlighting proposed service spending.

They have now identified nearly £7m worth of savings across various departments for the next financial year.

It will include a ten per cent cut in grants to voluntary groups, reducing grass cutting at cemeteries and even scrapping mayoral buffets.

Residents themselves found it a tough task when they were asked where to make savings.

The only area singled out by more than one in ten people as a potential target for cutbacks was museums and galleries, which 29 per cent of those responding gave as their answer.

Forty-five per cent of people failed to highlight where any savings could be made.

But they were more vocal when it came to splashing the cash.

Crime reduction was on most people's agenda.

Forty-two per cent of those who took part in the project said tackling crime, including CCTV and anti-social behaviour teams, should receive more money.

Other areas targeted for increased funding, were schools, activities for teenagers and road maintenance and repairs.

Council leader councillor June Bridle said: "There's a lot to think about in the results of this survey but overall it's very pleasing to know that most people think we're doing a good job for them and that, as a result, they like living here.

"Last week we launched our budget proposals and a number of the ideas we've put forward tie in closely with what local people think.

"We've moved away from the stage where people elect a councillor and then have no say over what the council does until the next election.

"We're making considerable efforts to find out the priorities of local people and then reflect these in our spending and service plans, to make this city and its council even better."

Councillor George Melrose, leader of the Liberal party, said: "I know crime does attract a lot complaints - people tell me every day about their worries.

"Street repairs are also a big issue, and some parts of the city have not seen a council workman for decades."

Councillor Paulette Holt, from the Tory group, said: "There are absolutely no surprises in this but it comes in the wake of making people redundant.

"I think it's a complete waste of money and could have gone towards services people want improving."

Councillor Adrian Vinson, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said: "I think it's important that the council tests public opinion on the quality and range of its services.

"On first sight, it appears to give more detailed evidence than the traditional system.

"I am delighted to see that the majority of our citizens think Southampton, by and large, is a reasonable place to live in."

When residents were asked where they obtained most of their information about the city council, the majority of those polled - 43 per cent - named their local newspaper the Daily Echo as the main source.

The Advertiser gained 41 per cent, the same as the council's own publication, City View.

Television and radio scored 38 per cent between them.