Almost all panel members at some time give away goods to second hand or charity shops, switch off lights when leaving a room and switch off appliances rather than leaving them on or on standby.
Around three-quarters claim to buy products made from recycled materials and buy foods that have been produced in North Lincolnshire.
Overall 62% look at energy efficiency ratings on products and 57% use low energy light bulbs.
Fewer than half compost kitchen and garden waste at home (47%).
The majority of panel member’s homes have loft insulation (90%), hot water tank insulation (83%) and double glazing (83%). Less than half, however have cavity wall insulation (44%), and very few use radiator foil (16%).
Currently 13% of panel members are attending an adult learning course; with a further 43% having attended adult learning courses at some time.
More than half have heard of On-Line Learning (58%), though only 3% have ever accessed it.
If they were looking for information about adult learning opportunities, a local college (mentioned by 32% of panel members), or the library (23%) would be the most frequently used sources.
The majority of panel members rate the opportunities available for adult learning as being good (72%), though 21% had no opinion on the matter.
When asked what barriers or difficulties would stop them from taking up learning opportunities, 28% of panel members simply said that they had no interest in taking courses. A further 37% cite time commitments, and 11% felt they were too old.
Whilst 9% had problems with transport and 5% problems with childcare, 9% felt that the times at which courses were held was not suitable for them (these often being evening shift workers).
Around half felt that not charging for courses, as well as help with the cost of taking a course; would encourage them to some extent to take up learning opportunities; 30% would also find help with the cost of transport useful.
Another group felt that more conveniently located or more conveniently timed courses might encourage them (46% in each case); 31% specifically mentioning weekends.
Overall, 71% of panel members have heard of Local Link Offices, though only 27% have ever visited one, and 18% have done so in the last three months.; 22% felt that Saturday morning opening might encourage them to use Link offices more, and 16% might do so in the evenings.
Around 40% have access to the internet and email, primarily from home, around a quarter of these use them every day.
Twelve percent have visited the Council’s web site, albeit infrequently. Very few have had any direct contact with the web site - 24 people having asked for information, 19 provided information and 1 who had made a payment via the web site.
A third feel that the council currently does enough to give local people the opportunity to influence important decisions, with 42% believing that the council does not do enough.
Furthermore, more than 70% claim to know little (48%) or nothing (23%) about the way the council reaches decisions.
Only 16% could correctly state which of the three options had been selected for the new political management structure for North Lincolnshire.
In the event of reporting an incident to the police, the majority would prefer to be kept informed about the progress of their enquiry by telephone (55%), or by personal visit to their home (29%).
Around three-quarters were in favour of using empty shops as neighbourhood police stations (73%) and around two-thirds were in favour of having more local police stations (68%) or using Local Link offices (67%).
The idea of using empty council houses as police stations was less well received. In fact 28% felt that this was a poor idea.
Crime and disorder hot spots are considered to be the primary area for police attention, with 57% naming this as their top priority.
Town centre shopping arcades and precincts takes the highest vote for second priority with 32% of panel members, followed by residential streets put in second position by 23%.
Three-quarters of panel members indicated that they find the surveys interesting to take part in and 62% feel they are making a contribution to council decisions. The vast majority disagree with the statement ‘being a panel member is a waste of time’ (81% scoring either 1 or 2 on the rating scale).
A small proportion feels the interviews are too long (5% strongly agreeing with a score of 5 and 12% scoring 4).
The vast majority of panel members read the Panel Views publication (87%), though 5% claim never to have received one.
The area where most problems were experienced was with faulty goods or services - 20% of panel members having had a problem in this area. In many cases, the respondents dealt with the problem themselves (139 of the 225 who had a problem) rather than seeking any help or advice. Where advice was sought it tended to be with the local council via the Trading Standards Department.
None of the other problems were experienced by more than 8% of respondents.