The latest survey from Communities and Local Government on the extent to which people trust their local councils shows that levels of trust have risen to 60 per cent. There has been a steady increase from 2001 when the figure was 52 per cent.

Levels of trust vary by ethnicity, with higher levels of trust amongst people from Asian backgrounds. 79 per cent of Bangladeshi people, 73 per cent of Pakistani, and 73 per cent of Indian people trusted their local council ‘a lot’ or ‘a fair amount’, compared with 59 per cent of White people. Black African people also have a higher level of trust in their local council than White people, 73% compared with 59%.

Trust in the local council was lowest among those in the middle age groups, with 53 per cent of those aged 50-64 saying they trusted their local council, compared with 54 per cent of 16-24 year olds and 70 percent of those aged over 75. Levels of trust in the council did not vary by gender.