Welcome
As the Interim Chief Executive of Mid
and East Antrim
Borough Council, I would like to welcome you to our Performance Improvement Plan for 2024-2025.
As a council and as a community, we have experienced many challenges over the last number of years. This has presented the opportunity for us to take a closer look at our organisation, and to determine what we can do better, more effectively and more efficiently. We are in the process of designing and implementing significant change to achieve this and have made many adjustments over the past year.
Our annual Performance Improvement Plan is part of our arrangements to secure continuous improvement. This plan is based on our understanding of local needs and aims to improve the quality of life and environment for our ratepayers and communities over the next year and beyond.
This commitment is echoed in our new Corporate Plan, which takes us up to the year 2028. Over the four key pillars of People, Place, Planet and Performance, the Corporate Plan will focus on the provision of value for money services, building prosperity, developing empowered, safe, and inclusive communities, protecting and enhancing our environment, demonstrating effective governance, and strengthening our operational and financial resilience.
Our quest for improvement is ongoing, and we welcome the input of all of our stakeholders at any time throughout the year. If you have an idea for improvement, please get in touch with our Performance and Improvement Team at: performance@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk
I look forward to the year ahead, as we continue to work together to improve the quality of life for all.
Valerie Watts
Interim Chief Executive
Our Vision Mid and East Antrim will be a strong, vibrant, safe and inclusive community, where people work together to improve the quality of life for all
Duty to Improve
Under the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014, councils have a general duty to make arrangements to secure continuous improvement in the exercise of their functions.
Improvement in the context of the Act means more than gains in service output or efficiency, or in internal effectiveness.
Improvement means an activity that enhances the sustainable quality of life and environment for ratepayers and communities.
For each financial year, councils must set Improvement Objectives, and have the arrangements in place to achieve them.
These objectives must be framed to bring about improvement in at least one of the aspects of improvement outlined within the Act, as depicted below.
Arrangements to Secure Continuous Improvement
Our arrangements to secure continuous improvement are outlined within our Performance Management Framework. This framework drives performance at all levels within the organisation, and illustrates how our corporate strategies, aims and objectives, flow through the organisation to link to each employee’s individual work plan.
We use a series of measures to monitor our performance and to identify any improvements that we make.
Community Plan (2017-2032)
Corporate Plan (2024-2028) Performance Improvement Plan
Our arrangements are supported by a dedicated performance management system and are subject to an annual audit and assessment by the Northern Ireland Audit Office.
• 15 year vision for the borough
• Led by Council
• Developed in partnership with a range of stakeholders from the borough’s public, private and voluntary sectors
• 4 year strategic plan for Council
• Shapes our services
• Drives our annual business planning process
• Ensures everything we do is aimed at achieving our objectives and our vision
Annual Business Plans
Employee Personal Development Plan (PDP)
• Annual improvement plan
• Sets out key improvement objectives for the year ahead
• Helps meet the objectives of both the Community Plan and the Corporate Plan
• Each service area develops an annual business plan
• Objectives and performance indicators link directly to the Community Plan, Corporate Plan and Performance Improvement Plan
• Each employee develops a PDP annually
• Links employee's work, and learning and development needs, to the departmental objectives, the Corporate Plan, and ultimately the Community Plan.
Identifying our Improvement Objectives Setting our Objectives
Our priorities for improvement are based on a thorough, evidence-based understanding of the communities we serve, local needs, and an assessment of our capacity to meet those needs.
Our approach included:
• A review of legislation and statutory guidance.
• Self-analysis through our Performance Self-Assessment Report (2022-2023).
• Consideration of performance audit and assessment reports.
• Alignment with the priorities of the Programme for Government, updated Community Plan, and our new Corporate Plan (2024-2028).
• Consideration of citizens' top priorities for making the borough a better place to live in, identified through our Citizens Survey (2022).
• Analysis of the draft Performance Improvement Plan 2024-2025 public consultation results.
• Input and direction from Council Management and Officers.
• Equality, Rural, Climate and Sustainability, and Data Protection Impact Assessment Screening.
Our Improvement Objectives for 2024-2025 relate to improving our functions and services, and include:
Our objectives are:
Legitimate
They make a demonstrable contribution to one or more aspects of improvement defined in the Local Government Act (NI) 2014.
Clear
They set out the visible improvements that citizens can expect.
Robust
They have defined terms of success.
Deliverable
They have established links to individual service programmes and budgets.*
Demonstrable
They are capable of being supported by objective evidence.
Our plan also includes statutory indicators and standards, as specified by the Local Government (Performance Indicators and Standards) Order (NI) 2015, as well as any ongoing actions from previous year’s Performance Improvement Plans.
*Due to ongoing internal transformation activities, and high levels of external uncertainty, the actions described within this plan are subject to the availability of funding and finance throughout the year.
Place We will maintain and improve our local areas.
Planet We will reduce our environmental impact and improve sustainability. People We will work with partners to improve the lives of citizens.
You Told Us
We ran a public consultation on the three draft Improvement Objectives over a period of 12 weeks. A series of indicative actions were provided against each of the objectives.
The consultation ran from 9 January to 2 April 2024, and involved:
• A consultation document, which we published on our website and displayed at our main reception areas.
• An online survey.
• Face-to-face surveys within our three leisure centres.
Respondents were asked to review the objectives and indicate if they supported the Council in pursuing them. They had the opportunity to comment on each objective, and to submit their own ideas for improvement.
To maximise the response rate, we promoted the consultation through:
• Emails to local community groups.
• Emails to local businesses.
• Emails to our Section 75 consultee list.
• Emails to staff and Elected Members from our Interim Chief Executive.
• Regular social media posts.
• Local press and radio coverage.
• Council's intranet.
• Council’s Connections magazine.
216 people responded to our survey, and a high level of support was indicated for all three objectives, as illustrated below.
People: We will work with partners to improve the lives of citizens.
At 86%, there was a high level of support for this objective. The key priority groups identified were young people, people with disabilities, and the economically inactive. Respondents’ main areas of concern were the provision of opportunities for skills development, employment, and career progression, actions that address poverty and the cost-of-living, and health and wellbeing support. The Council must work with the right partners to meet citizens' needs, and service provision must be equal, accessible, and inclusive.
Place: We will maintain and improve our local areas.
At 88%, there was a high level of support for this objective. The key priority groups identified were young people and town centre businesses. Respondents’ main concerns were for investment in playparks and outdoor recreation, support and investment in the borough’s town centres, fair regional balance, and the provision of quality, inclusive, and accessible Council services. Value for money must be ensured.
Planet: We will reduce our environmental impact and improve sustainability.
At 86%, there was a high level of support for this objective. The main priorities focused on the Council leading by example, developing the electric vehicle charging network, the provision of an effective and efficient waste management service, support for biodiversity, and engagement and education on sustainability.
Suggestions for improvements. Half of respondents made a recommendation for improvement. They would like more communication and interaction with the Council, improvements to our Leisure Services, investment in provision for young people and town centres, and more open spaces. There were ideas to improve recycling and biodiversity. Concerns were raised about the Council rate, and our internal management and operations. More detail was sought on the actions to achieve the objectives, including partner details.
People
We will work with partners to improve the lives of citizens
By:
• Fostering local enterprise and economic growth.
• Supporting skills development and improving employment outcomes.
• Helping citizens lead healthy and active lives.
• Supporting people who are vulnerable or marginalised, and promoting an equal, diverse, inclusive, and accessible borough.
Who is responsible:
• Director of Community
• Acting Director of Development
• Interim Director of Corporate and Support Services
Why?
• The actions set out to achieve this objective align with the key priorities identified in the consultation. They support priority groupings, and provide opportunities for skills development and employment progression. They offer both health and wellbeing support and help to improve equality of opportunity, accessibility, and inclusivity.
• Developing skills and job prospects, and support to reduce poverty, were two of citizens' top five priorities for making the borough a better place to live in. Only 28% agreed the area is a good place for job opportunities (MEABC Citizens Survey 2022).
• This objective aligns with the Department for the Economy’s vision for Northern Ireland of creating jobs, increasing incomes, improving productivity, and providing opportunities for all.
• In terms of wellbeing, almost 50% of citizens said they want to see more support services for children and families, and/ or people with disabilities (MEABC Citizens Survey 2022).
• With the rising cost of living and the impact of the pandemic, the number of financially insecure households is increasing. Anecdotal evidence indicates that poverty is impacting families across the whole borough. Our Citizens Survey (2022) found on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being not at all satisfied, half of respondents rated their satisfaction level with financial health as being 5 or less.
• The issue of inclusion was highlighted during the review of the Community Plan (2022), particularly for people with disabilities and learning difficulties. People from ethnic minority backgrounds, young people, and older people were also identified as being ‘at risk’.
We will work with partners to improve the lives of citizens
What you will see:
• Opportunities to start your own business.
• An active Mid and East Antrim Manufacturing Task Force.
• Opportunities to take part in skills and employability programmes.
• Support to lead a healthy and active life.
• A borough that values, engages, and supports everyone.
• Collaboration with the Mid and East Antrim Poverty Action Group.
How we will measure improvement:
• 240 participants supported through start-up assistance via Go Succeed by 31/3/25.
• 107 jobs promoted through business start interventions by 31/3/25.
• At least 3 new Manufacturing Task Force members by 31/3/25.
• £40,000 of Task Force member’s in-kind time contributions by 31/3/25.
• 200 people participating in employment and skills programmes by 31/3/25.
• 100 participants gaining employment via employment academies by 31/3/25.
• 150 participants securing qualifications by 31/3/25.
• MEA Aqua Strategy and Year 1 Action Plan (including the expansion of toddler and disability sessions) delivered by 31/3/25.
• MEA Age-Friendly Strategy and Year 1 Action Plan launched by 30/6/24.
• An Older Person’s Forum established by 31/12/24.
• MEA Age-Friendly Year 2 Action Plan confirmed by 28/2/25.
• Autism-Friendly Action Plans implemented in 4 Council venues by 30/9/24.
• 4 additional Autism Champions developed within Council by 30/9/24.
• An Autism-Awareness initiative Communications Plan developed by 30/9/24.
• 4 arts and culture events delivered to address loneliness and improve accessibility by 31/3/25.
• 12 outdoor events to involve a wide range of abilities by 31/3/25.
• 8 Council-managed community centres connected to full-fibre broadband by 31/3/25.
• Attendance at Poverty Action Group meetings and support of initiatives.
Strategic Links:
Programme for Government:
• Everyone can reach their potential.
• People want to live, work, and visit here.
• Our economy is globally competitive, regionally balanced and carbon neutral.
• We all enjoy long, healthy, active lives.
• We have a caring society that supports people throughout their lives.
• We have an equal and inclusive society, where everyone is valued and treated with respect.
Community Plan:
• Progress in education and employment
• Tourism and the economy
• Good health and wellbeing
• Community safety and cohesion
• Tackling poverty
• Prioritising the most vulnerable
• Addressing inequalities
Corporate Plan:
• People
• Place
• Performance Aspect of Improvement:
• Strategic effectiveness
• Service availability
• Fairness
Place
We will maintain and improve our local areas
By:
• Enhancing our amenities, parks, and open spaces.
• Bolstering our town centres.
• Nurturing community-led tourism.
• Delivering an effective and efficient Planning Service.
Who is responsible:
• Director of Community
• Acting Director of Development
• Interim Director of Operations
Why?
• The actions set out to achieve this objective align with the key priorities identified within the consultation. Improvements to playparks and provision for outdoor recreation (particularly for young people) was a high priority for citizens. Actions will also support, improve, and revitalise the borough’s town centres.
• Supporting and developing activities for children and young people, delivering clean and attractive streets and towns, and supporting our parks, green spaces and the natural and built environment, were within citizens' top five priorities for making the area a better place to live in (MEABC Citizens Survey 2022).
• More than a third of citizens would like to see more access to green spaces, such as parks and forests (MEABC Citizens Survey 2022).
• Community tourism can help boost local economies by encouraging visitor footfall, increasing jobs, and generating revenue for local businesses. This can help increase civic pride in a local area and develop more sustainable and prosperous communities.
We will maintain and improve our local areas
What you will see:
• New or improved playparks.
• Greater provision for outdoor recreation.
• Delivery of the Town Centre Revitalisation Scheme.
• Delivery of the Carrickfergus Townscape Heritage Initiative Scheme.
• Locally led tourism.
• Achievement of our statutory Planning Service targets.
How
we will measure improvement:
• Marine Gardens playpark completed by 31/8/24.
• Larne Skate Park completed by 31/10/24.
• 2 additional new or refurbished playparks completed by 31/3/25.
• Carnlough, Glynn and Portglenone MUGAs or kickabouts completed by 30/6/24.
• Carrickfergus Amphitheatre 2G pitch upgraded to 3G by 31/7/24.
• Phase 1 of the Cullybackey to Galgorm Greenway completed by 30/9/25.
• Development of Carnfunnock Country Park for completion by 31/3/26.
• Sound systems installed in Ballymena and Carrickfergus town centres by 30/6/24.
• 2 street art schemes in Ballymena and Larne town centres by 31/7/24.
• Feature lighting installed in Ballymena and Larne town centres by 30/9/24.
• Additional funding application submitted to the Department for Communities by 30/9/24.
• 25 businesses or groups utilising Pop-Up Shop opportunities by 31/3/25.
• 15 events or activities held in Ballymena, Carrickfergus and Larne town centres by 31/3/25.
• 10 buildings of historical and architectural interest restored in Carrickfergus by 31/7/24.
• Increased floor space for retail, commercial or residential use in Carrickfergus by 31/7/24.
• Closing event and publication issued on the Carrickfergus Townscape Heritage Initiative by 31/7/24.
• Neighbourhood Tourism Scheme launched by 31/10/24.
• 3 local Neighbourhood Tourism participants by 31/3/25.
• A processing time for major planning applications within an average of 30 weeks by 31/3/25.
• A processing time for local planning applications within an average of 15 weeks by 31/3/25.
• At least 70% of enforcement cases concluded within 39 weeks by 31/3/25.
Strategic Links
Programme for Government:
• Our children and young people have the best start in life.
• We all live long, healthy, active lives.
• People want to live, work, and visit here.
• We live and work sustainably, protecting the environment.
Community Plan:
• Good health and wellbeing
• Tourism and the economy
• Prioritising the most vulnerable
Corporate Plan:
• People
• Place
• Performance
Aspect of Improvement:
• Strategic effectiveness
• Service availability
• Fairness
• Sustainability
Planet
We will reduce our environmental impact and improve sustainability
By:
• Moving towards cleaner energy and reducing our consumption.
• Delivering an effective and efficient Waste Service.
• Supporting biodiversity.
• Reaching environmental standards and targets.
• Sharing learning and best practice.
Who is responsible:
• Director of Community
• Interim Director of Operations
Why?
• The actions set out to achieve this objective align with the key priorities identified within the consultation. They demonstrate how the Council is leading by example, whilst also working to engage and educate on sustainability. They assist the development of the borough’s electric vehicle charging network, they focus on providing an effective and efficient waste management service, and they demonstrate support for biodiversity within the borough.
• Our citizens identified help to reduce consumption, waste and litter, and awareness and assistance in tackling climate change as the two most
important things the Council could do to be more environmentally friendly. Adopting environmentally sustainable transport ranked third and protecting plants and animals ranked fourth (MEABC Citizens Survey 2022).
• Measures to address climate change, environmental awareness, and the importance of respect for the local and natural environment, were points raised throughout the Community Planning Review (2022) consultation.
• The phase out date for the sale of new petrol and diesel cars is 2035.
We will reduce our environmental impact and improve sustainability
What you will see:
• Energy-saving and clean energy projects within Council buildings.
• Expansion of electric vehicle chargepoints within the borough.
• Achievement of statutory Waste Management targets.
• Delivery of our Tree and Woodland Management Strategy.
• Achievement of environmental targets and accreditations, where viable.
• Opportunities to engage in environmental education programmes.
How we will measure improvement:
• 6 energy-saving projects delivered by 31/3/25.
• 4 clean energy projects delivered by 31/3/25.
• Approximately 77,000kg CO2e savings by 31/3/25 (lifecycle saving – 1.5m kg).
• Approximately £80,000 savings through energy projects by 31/3/25 (lifecycle saving - £1.6m).
• 12 fast chargers procured through the On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS) by 31/9/24.
• Installation date for ORCS chargers confirmed by 31/3/25.
• 6 upgraded charge stations through ESB by 31/3/25.
• At least 50% of household waste collected sent for recycling by 31/3/25.
• A maximum of 16,387 tonnes of biodegradable collected municipal waste sent to landfill by 31/3/25.
• Less than 75,797 tonnes collected municipal waste arisings by 31/3/25.
• 5000 trees planted within the borough by 31/3/25.
• Re-certification of International Management Standard ISO14001 by 31/8/24.
• A minimum of Gold Status in the NI Environmental Benchmarking Survey by 30/11/24.
• Gaps identified in the 2023 NI Environmental Benchmarking Survey addressed by 31/10/24.
• 10 community engagement sessions held on Waste and Recycling, and Climate and Sustainability by 31/3/25.
• Support for the Eco-Schools programme, with a 5% increase in the number of schools with Green Flags by 30/6/25.
• Delivery of 5 circular economy waste initiatives by 31/3/2025.
Strategic Links
Programme for Government:
• We live and work sustainably, protecting the environment.
• We all enjoy long, healthy, active lives.
• Our economy is globally competitive, regionally balanced and carbon neutral.
• People want to live, work, and visit here.
Community Plan:
• Good health and wellbeing
• Community safety and cohesion
• Valuing our environment
Corporate Plan:
• Planet
• Performance Aspect of Improvement:
• Strategic effectiveness
• Service availability
• Sustainability
Self-imposed Indicators
Our new Corporate Plan for 2024-2028 closely aligns with the Community Plan for the borough, retaining the same vision for the area of working together to improve the quality of life for all.
In striving to achieve our vision, the Corporate Plan will be delivered under the four key pillars of People, Place, Planet and Performance.
The plan outlines our ambitions and the strategies we will use to achieve them.
To read the plan, and find out about the tangible outcomes our citizens, communities and businesses can expect to see, please visit:
midandeastantrim.gov.uk/ corporateplan
Our Vision Mid and East Antrim will be a strong, vibrant, safe and inclusive community, where people work together to improve the quality of life for all
Playing your Part
We are also calling on you, the citizens, communities, and businesses of Mid and East Antrim, to help us achieve our vision of making the borough a safe, vibrant, shared, and inclusive place to live, visit, work and do business.
Here are some of the key things you can do to help:
· Exercise safety on our roads.
· Be a responsible pet owner.
· As business owners, offer apprenticeships and placement opportunities.
· Donate unwanted items to charity.
· Reduce, reuse, and recycle.
· Report problems e.g. fly tipping, anti-social behaviour etc.
· Use litter bins.
· Get involved in community and voluntary work.
· Shop local.
· Support our elderly and vulnerable.
· Use public transport.
Reporting on our Plan
Our reporting structures have been designed to ensure proper oversight and accountability across all Council activities. They provide our Senior Management Team and Elected Members with assurances that our governance arrangements are robust.
This helps to ensure transparency, accountability and to further drive continuous improvement. These arrangements are outlined on the right.
On an annual basis, we also publish a Performance Self-Assessment Report. This demonstrates to our citizens, service users and stakeholders the Council’s progress in discharging its duties under Part 12 of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014 in relation to performance improvement arrangements.
In line with statutory requirements, the report is published on our website by 30 September each year. You can view and download our previous Self-Assessment Reports on our website.
Screening
In accordance with the statutory requirements set out in Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998), whereby the Council must carry out its functions having due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity and regard for the desirability to promote good relations, this Plan has been subject to an equality screening. The equality screening exercise did not identify any major adverse effects on any Section 75 category or requirements for mitigation, and therefore determined that there was no necessity to conduct a full equality impact assessment.
In accordance with the Rural Needs Act Northern Ireland (2016), the Council has given due regard to rural needs by carrying out a rural needs impact assessment of this Plan. No adverse impacts were determined as part of this process. This Plan will have a positive impact on the borough as a whole.
As part of our statutory duty to promote sustainable development, we carried out Climate and Sustainability screening. This considered the likely impacts of this Plan, following the 5 pillars of the UN Sustainable Development Agenda. No adverse impacts were determined as part of this process.
A Data Protection Impact Assessment screening was also undertaken, and as a result of this, a full Data Protection Impact Assessment was not deemed necessary.
Feedback Closing Remarks
In our quest for continuous improvement, your feedback is invaluable. We welcome your suggestions and comments on areas where we can enhance our services at any point throughout the year. Please feel free to reach out to us at: performance@midandeastantrim.gov.uk
I would like to reiterate our commitment to the understanding of local needs, and our enthusiasm for making improvements, where we can, to improve the quality of life for our ratepayers and our communities.
This commitment is laid out within our new Corporate Plan, and while our goals are ambitious, by working together, we will forge a future that reflects our shared values and ambitions, ensuring a prosperous and sustainable borough for the generations to come.
For those eager to stay informed and engaged with our efforts, I warmly encourage you to follow our journey via our social media channels, which offer a window into the transformative work we are carrying out across the borough.
For more detailed updates on our Improvement Objectives, I invite you to monitor our website for quarterly progress reports, which will allow you to see the tangible benefits of our actions.
The road ahead may present challenges, but please be assured, addressing the needs of the borough remains our highest priority.
Valerie Watts Interim Chief Executive
Tel: 0300 1245 000 enquiries@midandeastantrim.gov.uk