Cheshire East Council thanks residents for census response

Cheshire East Council is saying a big thank you to all its residents for their outstanding response to this year’s census, which was held on March 21st.

Despite the many challenges in delivering a census during a global pandemic, the response rate in Cheshire East has exceeded the national average. Overall, the census – delivered by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) once every ten years and supported by councils in England and Wales – has been a huge success nationally.

Jane Burns, executive director of corporate services for Cheshire East Council, said: “It was difficult to predict how the response to the census would go this year with the numerous challenges that the pandemic presented in organising a national survey of this scale.”

“I can only give my sincerest thanks to our residents for taking the time to complete the census. The responses that have been given will go a long way to shaping the services that we provide and the way that we deliver them.”

A very small selection of households nationwide will also receive a visit from a field officer at the ONS in May, who will go through a census coverage survey with them. This is not a compulsory survey, however the answers given by residents that respond to this request will help us check the accuracy of the census. 

If you missed Census Day, there is still time to complete your census. Every household is required by law to complete it and even though Census Day has been and gone, it is not too late to complete a questionnaire. This can be done either online or on the paper version. There has been a great response to the census so far, but everyone needs to respond as soon as possible to avoid a fine.

Pictured - Jane Burns, executive director of corporate services for Cheshire East Council.