Official Statistics

Community and Engagement Survey 2025/26 - influencing local decisions: report

Updated 14 August 2026

Applies to England

This report summarises the key findings for influencing local decisions in the Community and Engagement Survey (CES) for 2025/26.^{[footnote 1]} Reports for other sections within the CES are available on the annual web page. 

The CES asked respondents how much they agree that they can personally influence local decisions. This report looks at the proportion of people who felt that they could personally influence decisions affecting their local area, how important people reported it was to them to be able to personally influence decisions affecting their local area, and people’s level of involvement in decisions made by their council that affect the local area.

The CES is representative of people aged 16 and over in England. For simplicity, we will sometimes refer just to “people” in our reporting.

For information on how to use and interpret these statistics see the note available on the supplementary documents page.^{[footnote 2]}

Key findings

Headline 

26% of people aged 16+ “definitely” or “tended” to agree that they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area, a 3 percentage point increase from 2024/25 (24%).

By local authority, there was a 22 percentage point difference in the proportion of people who felt like they could personally influence decisions in their local area, ranging from 38% in Haringey to 15% in Gosport.

59% of people aged 16+ reported that it was “very important” or “quite important” to personally be able to influence decisions affecting their local area, an 8 percentage point increase from 2024/25 (50%).

By ITL2 areas, there was a 12 percentage point difference in the proportion of people who reported it is important to feel that they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area, ranging from 64% in North Somerset, Somerset and Dorset to 52% in South Yorkshire.

29% of people aged 16+ said that they would like to be more involved in decisions made by their council that affect the local area, a 1 percentage point increase from 2024/25 (28%).

By local authority, there was a 25 percentage point difference in the proportion of people who wanted greater involvement in decisions made by their council that affect the local area, ranging from 42% in Haringey to 17% in the City of London. 

Influencing local decisions

Timeseries

As shown in Figure 1.1, between 2017/18 and 2021/22 (25% to 28%), the proportion of people who agreed that they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area had remained relatively stable. Following a decrease in 2023/24 (23%) and 2024/25 (24%), the proportion of people who agreed that they can personally influence decisions increased to 26% in 2025/26. 

Note: There are considerable changes in the confidence intervals between each year due to the sample size of the survey. Where the sample has been boosted, the confidence intervals will narrow to reflect higher confidence in the estimates.

Figure 1.1: Percentage of people who agreed that they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area, England: 2017/18 to 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Demographics: who agreed that they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area

Demographic questions in the survey are voluntary and self-reported by the respondent

Age

As shown in Figure 1.2, compared with the average for people in England (26%), people aged 35 to 49 (28%) and 50 to 64 (27%) were more likely to agree that they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area. People aged 16 to 24 (25%) and 25 to 34 (24%) were less likely to agree that they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area, compared with the average for people in England (26%).

Figure 1.2: People who agreed that they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area, by age, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Disability status

As shown in Figure 1.3, non-disabled people (28%) were more likely to agree that they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area than disabled people (23%).

Figure 1.3: People who agreed that they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area, by disability status, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Sex^{[footnote 3]} 

As shown in Figure 1.4, males (27%) were more likely to agree that they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area than females (26%).

Figure 1.4: People who agreed that they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area, by sex, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Gender identity^{[footnote 4]} 

As shown in Figure 1.5, people whose gender identity was the same as their sex as registered at birth (26%) were more likely to agree that they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area than people whose gender identity was different from their sex registered at birth (23%).

Figure 1.5: People who agreed that they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area, by gender identity, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Sexual orientation^{[footnote 5]} 

As shown in Figure 1.6, people from the “Other sexual orientation” classification (32%) were more likely to agree that they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area than heterosexual or straight people (26%), gay or lesbian people (25%), and bisexual people (24%). 

Figure 1.6: People who agreed that they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area, by sexual orientation, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Religion

As shown in Figure 1.7, compared with the average for people in England (26%), Muslim people (40%), Hindu people (39%), Sikh people (38%), Buddhist people (37%), and Christian people (28%) were more likely to agree that they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area. People who reported having no religion (22%) were less likely to agree that they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area, compared with the average for people in England (26%). 

Figure 1.7: People who agreed that they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area, by religion, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Ethnicity

As shown in Figure 1.8, compared with the average for people in England (26%), people from the African (48%), Arab (42%), Pakistani (41%), Any other Asian background (39%), Indian (38%), Bangladeshi (37%), White and Black African (36%), Caribbean (34%), Any other ethnic group (33%), and Any other White background (30%) ethnic groups were more likely to agree that they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area. People from the White British^{[footnote 6]} (23%) ethnic group were less likely to agree that they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area compared with the average for people in England (26%). 

Figure 1.8: People who agreed that they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area, by ethnicity, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Socio-economic classification^{[footnote 7]} 

As shown in Figure 1.9, people from the never worked and long-term unemployed classification (31%) and the higher managerial, administrative and professional occupations classification (27%) were more likely to agree that they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area than people from the intermediate occupations (23%) and the routine and manual occupations (22%) classifications. 

Figure 1.9: People who agreed that they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area, by socio-economic classification, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Index of multiple deprivation^{[footnote 8]} 

As shown in Figure 1.10, people living in the most deprived areas (1st decile, 28%) were more likely to agree that they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area than those living in the least deprived areas (9th decile, 25%).

Figure 1.10: People who agreed that they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area, by Index of Multiple Deprivation, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Influencing local decisions by ITL1 and Local Authority area

Regional differences^{[footnote 9]}

As shown in Figure 1.11, compared with the average for people in England (26%), people living in the London ITL1 area (32%) were more likely to feel like they can personally influence decisions in their local area. People living in the South West (25%), Yorkshire and The Humber (25%), East Midlands (25%), and North East (24%) ITL1 areas were less likely to feel they can personally influence decisions in their local area compared with the average for people in England (26%).

Local authority differences^{[footnote 10]}

By local authority, there was a 22 percentage point difference in the proportion of people who felt like they could personally influence decisions in their local area, ranging from 38% in Haringey to 15% in Gosport. 

The proportion of people who felt like they could personally influence decisions in their local area was in line with the England average in 218 (74%) local authorities, higher than the England average in 32 (11%) local authorities, and lower than the England average in 45 (15%) local authorities.

Figure 1.11: People who agreed that they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area, by ITL1 and LA area, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Importance of being able to personally influence decisions affecting the local area

Time series

As shown in Figure 2.1, the proportion of people who felt that it was important to be able to personally influence decisions affecting the local area remained broadly consistent between 2017/18 and 2019/20 (56%-57%), before decreasing each year between 2019/20 and 2023/24 (57% to 50%). In 2025/26, the proportion of people who felt that it was important to be able to personally influence decisions affecting the local area increased by 9 percentage points between 2024/25 (50%) to 59%

Note: There are considerable changes in the confidence intervals between each year due to the sample size of the survey. Where the sample has been boosted, the confidence intervals will narrow to reflect higher confidence in the estimates.

Figure 2.1: Percentage of people who reported that it is important to feel they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area, England: 2017/18 to 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Demographics: Who agreed that it was important to feel that they could personally influence decisions affecting their local area?

Demographic questions in the survey are voluntary and self-reported by the respondent.

Age

As shown in Figure 2.2, compared with the average for people in England (59%), people aged 50 to 64 (65%), 65 to 74 (68%) and 75 and over (64%) were more likely to report it is important to feel that they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area. People aged 16 to 24 (44%) and 25 to 34 (51%) were less likely to feel it is important to feel like they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area, compared with the average for people in England (59%).

Figure 2.2: Percentage of people who reported that it is important to feel they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area, by age, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Disability status

As shown in Figure 2.3, disabled people (61%) were more likely to report it is important to feel that they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area than non-disabled people (59%).

Figure 2.3: Percentage of people who reported that it is important to feel they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area, by disability status, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Sex^{[footnote 3]} 

As shown in Figure 2.4, there were no significant differences observed in the proportion of males (59%) and females (59%) reporting that they felt it is important being able to personally influence decisions affecting their local area.

Figure 2.4: Percentage of people who reported that it is important to feel they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area, by sex, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Gender identity^{[footnote 4]} 

As shown in Figure 2.5, people whose gender identity was different from their sex registered at birth (69%) were more likely to report it is important to feel that they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area than people whose gender identity was the same as their sex registered at birth (59%).

Figure 2.5: Percentage of people who reported that it is important to feel they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area, by gender identity, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Sexual orientation^{[footnote 5]} 

As shown in Figure 2.6, there were no significant differences observed between the proportion of people from each sexual orientation group who agreed that it is important to feel they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area.

Figure 2.6: Percentage of people who reported that it is important to feel they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area, by sexual orientation, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Religion

As shown in Figure 2.7, compared with the average for people in England (59%), people from the Any other religion  classification (67%) and Christian people (64%) were more likely to report it is important to feel that they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area. People who reported having no religion (54%) were less likely to report it is important to feel that they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area than the average for people in England (59%).

Figure 2.7: Percentage of people who reported that it is important to feel they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area, by religion, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Ethnicity

As shown in Figure 2.8, compared with the average for people in England (59%), people from the Any other mixed or multiple ethnic background (67%), African (66%), Irish (65%), and Indian (63%) ethnic groups were more likely to report it is important to feel that they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area. People from the Chinese (44%) and White Gypsy or Irish Traveller (40%) ethnic groups were less likely to report it is important to feel that they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area, compared with the average for people in England (59%). 

Figure 2.8: Percentage of people who reported that it is important to feel they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area, by ethnicity, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Socio-economic classification^{[footnote 7]} 

As shown in Figure 2.9, people from the higher managerial, administrative and professional occupations classification (65%) and intermediate occupations classification (60%) were more likely to agree that it is important to feel they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area than people from the never worked and long-term unemployed classification (53%) and routine and manual occupations classification (51%).

Figure 2.9: Percentage of people who reported that it is important to feel they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area, by socio-economic classification, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Index of multiple deprivation^{[footnote 8]} 

As shown in Figure 2.10, people living in the least deprived areas (10th decile, 64%) were more likely to report it is important to feel that they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area than those living in the most deprived areas (1st decile, 51%).

Figure 2.10: Percentage of people who reported that it is important to feel they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area, by Index of Multiple Deprivation: England, 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Importance of being able to personally influence decisions affecting their local area by ITL1 and ITL2 areas

Regional differences

As shown in Figure 2.11, compared with the average for people in England (59%), people living in the London (61%) and the South East (61%) ITL1 areas were more likely to report it is important to feel that they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area. People living in the North East (55%) and Yorkshire and The Humber (54%) ITL1areas were less likely to report it is important to feel that they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area, compared with the average for people in England (59%) 

ITL2 area differences^{[footnote 11]}

By ITL2 areas, there was a 12 percentage point difference in the proportion of people who reported it is important to feel that they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area, ranging from 64% in North Somerset, Somerset and Dorset to 52% in South Yorkshire. 

Figure 2.11: Percentage of people who reported that it is important to feel they can personally influence decisions affecting their local area, by ITL1 and ITL2 area, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Level of involvement in local decisions

A question was asked on whether the respondent would like to be more involved in the decisions their local council makes which affect their local area. This question has been asked since 2012/13. Please note that data prior to 2021/22 on this measure is not comparable due to a change in the way the question was presented in the survey.^{[footnote 12]} 

Timeseries

As shown in Figure 3.1, the proportion of people who would like to be more involved in the decisions their local council makes which affect their local area has remained relatively stable since 21/22, showing a small increase of 1 percentage point since 2024/25 (28%) to 2025/26 (29%).

Note: There are considerable changes in the confidence intervals between each year due to the sample size of the survey. Where the sample has been boosted, the confidence intervals will narrow to reflect higher confidence in the estimates.

Figure 3.1: People who reported wanting more involvement in decisions affecting their local area, England: 2017/18 to 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Respondents were also asked how they would go about influencing decisions in their local area. The most common ways were to sign an online petition (50%) followed by contacting the local council or a council official (47%) and contacting the local councillor (46%). 

Respondents reported that if they knew what issues were being considered (47%) or if they could give their opinion online or by email (41%) it would make it easier for them to influence decisions in their local area.

Demographics: Who wanted more involvement in decisions affecting their local area

Demographic questions in the survey are voluntary and self-reported by the respondent.

Age

As shown in Figure 3.2, compared with the average for people in England (29%), people aged 25 to 34 (33%), 35 to 49 (36%) and 50 to 64 (31%) were more likely to want greater involvement in decisions made by their council that affect the local area. People aged 16 to 24 (23%), 65 to 74 (26%) and 75 and over (19%) were less likely to want more involvement in decisions made by their council that affect the local area, compared with the average for people in England (29%).

Figure 3.2: People who reported wanting more involvement in decisions affecting their local area, by age, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Disability status

As shown in Figure 3.3, disabled people (31%) were more likely to want greater involvement in decisions made by their council that affect the local area than non-disabled people (30%).

Figure 3.3: People who reported wanting more involvement in decisions affecting their local area, by disability status, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Sex^{[footnote 3]} 

As shown in Figure 3.4, males (32%) were more likely to want greater involvement in decisions made by their council that affect the local area than females (27%).

Figure 3.4: People who reported wanting more involvement in decisions affecting their local area, by sex, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Gender identity^{[footnote 4]} 

As shown in Figure 3.5, people whose gender identity was different from their sex registered at birth (40%) were more likely to want greater involvement in decisions made by their council that affect the local area than people whose gender identity was the same as their sex registered at birth (29%).

Figure 3.5: People who reported wanting more involvement in decisions affecting their local area, by gender identity, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Sexual orientation^{[footnote 5]} 

As shown in Figure 3.6, gay or lesbian people (38%), bisexual people (37%), and people from the “Other sexual orientation” classification (34%) were more likely to want greater involvement in decisions made by their council that affect the local area than heterosexual or straight people (29%).

Figure 3.6: People who reported wanting more involvement in decisions affecting their local area, by sexual orientation, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Religion

As shown in Figure 3.7, compared to the England average (29%), people from the Any other religion (40%), Hindu people (39%), Buddhist people (36%), Muslim people (36%), Sikh people (34%), and Christian people (30%) were more likely to want greater involvement in decisions made by their council that affect the local area. People who reported having no religion (27%) were less likely to want greater involvement in decisions made by their council that affect the local area compared with the average for people in England (29%).

Figure 3.7: People who reported wanting more involvement in decisions affecting their local area, by religion, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Ethnicity

As shown in Figure 3.8, compared with the average for people in England (29%), people from the African (44%), Any other ethnic group (40%), Any other mixed background (39%), Indian (38%), Arab (38%), Pakistani (37%), Any other White background (36%), White Irish (34%), and Any other Asian background (33%) ethnic groups were more likely to agree that they want greater involvement in decisions made by their council that affect the local area. People from the White British^{[footnote 6]} (27%) ethnic group were less likely to agree that they want greater involvement in decisions made by their council that affect the local area, compared to the average for people in England (29%).

Figure 3.8: People who reported wanting more involvement in decisions affecting their local area, by ethnicity, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Socio-economic classification^{[footnote 7]} 

As shown in Figure 3.9, people from the higher managerial, administrative and professional occupations classification (34%) were more likely to want greater involvement in decisions made by their council that affect the local area than people from the intermediate occupations classification (27%), people from the routine and manual occupations classification (26%) and people from the never worked and long-term unemployed classification (24%). 

Figure 3.9: People who reported wanting more involvement in decisions affecting their local area, by socio-economic classification, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Index of multiple deprivation^{[footnote 8]} 

As shown in Figure 3.10, no significant differences were observed between the most deprived areas (1st decile) and least deprived areas (10th decile) and wanting greater involvement in decisions made by their council that affect the local area.

Figure 3.10: People who reported wanting more involvement in decisions affecting their local area, by Index of Multiple Deprivation, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Level of involvement in local decisions by Local Authority area and ITL1 area

Regional differences^{[footnote 9]}

As shown in Figure 3.11, compared to the average for people in England (29%), people living in London (34%) ITL1 area were more likely to agree they want greater involvement in decisions made by their council that affect the local area. People living in the East of England (28%), South West (28%) and East Midlands (27%) ITL1 areas were less likely to agree that they want greater involvement in decisions made by their council that affect the local area, compared to the average for people in England (29%).

Local authority differences^{[footnote 10]}

By local authority, there was a 25 percentage point difference in the proportion of people who wanted greater involvement in decisions made by their council that affect the local area, ranging from 42% in Haringey to 17% in the City of London. 

The proportion of people who wanted greater involvement in decisions made by their council that affect the local area were in line with the England average in 247 (84%) local authorities, higher than the England average in 25 (8%) local authorities, and lower than the England average in 23 (8%) local authorities.

Figure 3.11: People who reported wanting more involvement in decisions affecting their local area, by ITL1 area and local authority, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

1. Questions within the Community pathway of the Community and Engagement Survey were asked to respondents from October 2025 to March 2026 only. ↩

2.   The majority of estimates in this report are rounded to the nearest whole number. As data are rounded, some changes may appear bigger or smaller than they are. The unrounded numbers are available in the corresponding data tables.  ↩

3.   This data is based on the respondent’s sex. The Community and Engagement Survey respondents were asked the question “What is your sex?”. The response options were ‘Male’, ‘Female’ and ‘Prefer not to Say’. This closely follows the ONS Census 2021 question for sex, where the target concept was certificated sex meaning a person’s sex at birth or as modified by a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC), but has been slightly amended to include a ‘Prefer not to Say’ option as we do for all demographic questions in the Community and Engagement Survey. ↩ ↩² ↩³

4.   This data is based on the respondent’s gender identity. The Community and Engagement Survey respondents were asked the question ‘Is the gender you identify with the same as your sex registered at birth?. The response options were ‘Yes’, ‘No, type in gender identity’ or ‘Prefer not to say’. This closely follows the ONS Census 2021 question for England and Wales, but has been slightly amended to include a ‘Prefer not to Say’ option as we do for all demographic questions in the Community and Engagement Survey. It should be noted that in the Census 2021 data for England and Wales, patterns were identified that suggest that some respondents may not have interpreted the question as intended, notably those with lower levels of English language proficiency. Analysis of Scotland’s Census 2022, where the gender identity question was different, has added weight to this observation. More information can be found in the ONS sexual orientation and gender identity quality information report and the additional guidance and quality information for users of gender identity estimates from Census 2021 in England and Wales. Similar respondent error may have occurred during the data collection for these statistics so comparisons between subnational and other smaller group breakdowns should be considered with caution. ↩ ↩² ↩³

5.  Sexual orientation is an umbrella term covering sexual identity, attraction, and behaviour. For an individual respondent, these may not be the same. For example, someone in an opposite-sex relationship may also experience same-sex attraction, and vice versa. This means the statistics should be interpreted purely as showing how people responded to the question, rather than being about whom they are attracted to or their actual relationships. ↩ ↩² ↩³

6.  The White British ethnic group includes adults from an English, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish or British ethnic group. ↩ ↩²

7.  This is a form of socio-economic classification based on the employment status and occupation of the respondent. ↩ ↩² ↩³

8.  The Index of Multiple Deprivation is a geographical measure which classifies the relative deprivation of an area. It combines seven indices to produce one overall measure for the area (rather than the individual). It takes into account income, employment, education, skills and training, health and disability, crime, barriers to housing and services, and living environment. For this commentary, the most and least deprived deciles have been compared. There may be some other significant differences between deciles in between which have not been commented on here. The analysis of the Index of Multiple Deprivation was conducted using the 2025 Index of Multiple Deprivation. ↩ ↩² ↩³

9. This data is also available by combined authority level and ITL2 area level in the corresponding data tables. ↩ ↩²

10. The 2025/26 Community and Engagement Survey includes over 175,000 responses, so confidence intervals are generally very narrow. Whilst this reflects a strength of the data, when highlighting differences, some local authorities may be shown to be above/below the England average, but are only a percentage point more or less than the average. There will be other local authorities who are much higher or lower than the England average, but will both be shown in the same shading within the map. ↩ ↩²

11.   This question was not asked to all respondents. This means that data are not available at LA level. Data are however available by ITL2 area level (summary commentary provided in this report) and by combined authority level in the corresponding data table. ↩

12. In 2021/22, the option ‘depends on the issue’ was presented alongside the options ‘Yes’ and ‘No’, whereas in the years 2016/17 to 2020/21 the options ‘Yes and ‘No’ were presented, and then the respondent could click onto the next page for more answer options. This change is likely to have increased the number of respondents selecting ‘depends on the issue’ in 2021/22 compared to previous years, however it is less clear how this would have impacted the other two response options. ↩