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Performance Improvement Plan 2024 - 2025 Quarter 2 Update Report

Performance Improvement Plan 2024 - 2025 Quarter 2 Update Report

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Performance Improvement Plan 2024 - 2025 Quarter 2 Update Report p5

Improvement Objective 3:

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 Management Service.
  • Supporting biodiversity.
  • Reaching environmental standards and targets.
  • Sharing learning and best practice.

Who is responsible:

  • Director of Community
  • Interim Director of Operations

Why are we doing this?

  • The actions set out to achieve this objective align with the key priorities identified through public 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.

The pages that follow outline our progress towards achieving our outcomes for citizens.

Outcome 1 -    Energy-saving and clean energy projects within Council buildings.

Measure 1

6 energy-saving projects delivered by 31 March 2025.

Status: On track

We have delivered 5 LED lighting projects so far this year (at Sullatober Household Recycling Centre, Seven Towers Leisure Centre, The Showgrounds, The People’s Park, and Carrickfergus Amphitheatre Car Park). There are plans to deliver at Oakfield Community Centre and Carrickfergus Civic Centre by 31 March 2025.

Measure 2

4 clean-energy projects delivered by 31 March 2025.

Status: On track

New Solar PVs will be installed at 2 Council-owned locations by 31 March 2025 (at Waveney Road Household Recycling Centre, and Portglenone Marina). We plan to fit 2 of our current installations with battery storage by the end of this financial year (at Sullatober Waste Transfer, and Springwell Street Multistorey Car Park).  

Measure 3

Approximately 77,000kg CO2e savings by 31 March 2025 (lifecycle saving - 1.5m kg).

Status: Not due yet

This data will be available in April 2025.

Measure 4

Approximately £80,000 savings through energy projects by 31 March 2025 (lifecycle savings - £1.6m).

Status: Not due yet

This data will be available in April 2025.

Outcome 2 -    Expansion of electric vehicle chargepoints within the borough.

Measure 1

12 fast chargers procured through the On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS) by 30 September 2024.

Status: Delayed but progressing

The procurement process is underway, but delayed, with hopes to award the contract by the end of December 2024.

Measure 2

Installation date for ORCS chargers confirmed by 31 March 2025.

Status: Not due yet

The date of installation will be confirmed upon award of the contract.  

Measure 3

6 upgraded charge stations through ESB by 31 March 2025.

Status: On track

The 6 locations have been agreed and are on track for delivery by 31 March 2025.

Outcome 3 -    Achievement of our statutory Waste Management targets.

Measure 1

At least 50% of household waste collected sent for recycling by 31 March 2025.

Status: On track

From April to June 2024, 55.17% of household waste collected was sent for recycling. Verified data up to September 2024 is not yet available and will be provided in our Quarter 3 update report.

Measure 2

A maximum of 16,387 tonnes of biodegradable municipal waste sent to landfill by 31 March 2025.

Status: On track

From April to June 2024, 3,861 tonnes of biodegradable waste collected was sent to landfill. Verified data up to September 2024 is not yet available and will be provided in our Quarter 3 update report.

Measure 3

Less than 75,797 tonnes collected municipal waste arisings by 31 March 2025.

Status: On track

From April to June 2024, there were 20,775 tonnes of collected municipal waste arisings. Verified data up to September 2024 is not yet available and will be provided in our Quarter 3 update report.

Outcome 4 -    Delivery of our Tree and Woodland Management Strategy.

Measure 1

5,000 trees planted within the borough by 31 March 2025.

Status: Achieved

From April 2024, we have planted over 350,000 trees, in partnership with NI Water. The majority of trees were planted at Woodburn Forest, and the remainder via local community groups and primary schools. We continue to work with local communities and schools through tree planting, educational workshops and publications.

 

 

Outcome 5 -    Achievement of environmental targets and accreditations, where viable.

Measure 1

Re-certification of International Management Standard ISO14001 by 31 August 2024.

Status: Achieved

An external audit took place on 13 August 2024 and re-certification was obtained for another 3 years. No non-conformances or observations for improvement were identified.

Measure 2

A minimum of Gold Status in the NI Benchmarking Survey by 30 November 2024.

Status: Achieved

The results of the survey were announced at an event organised by Business in the Community NI on 20 November at Titanic Belfast. We achieved Platinum level and were the top performing council in this year’s survey.

Measure 3

Gaps identified in the 2023 NI Environmental Benchmarking Survey addressed by 31 October 2024.

Status: On track

We have taken the following steps to address the gaps identified:

  • Green House Gas Emissions – We are working with Climate Essential to manage and monitor carbon emissions, evidencing reductions in 2023/24.
  • Energy – We are continuing to roll out more energy efficient technologies within Council (such as LED lighting and solar PV projects).
  • Recycling – We aim to introduce efficiencies within our internal recycling provision. We have also delivered several pieces of recycling education (including the waste reduction campaigns for ‘Summer’ and ‘Back-to-School’).
  • Climate Mitigation – We launched our Climate and Sustainability Action Plan (2023-2027), and report on progress regularly.
  • Biodiversity – We have progressed several projects, including the MEA Woodland Strategy, Oyster Restoration, and the planting of carbon woodland at Carnfunnock Country Park.

Outcome 6 -    Opportunities to engage in environmental education programmes.

Measure 1

10 community engagement sessions held on Waste and Recycling, and Climate and Sustainability by 31 March 2025.

Status: On track

We engaged 5 local community groups in recycling education between April and June 2024 (U3A, The Inner Wheel, Cairncastle Women’s Institute, Ballymena Probus Club, and The Carson Project).

Starting the Loop (an educational and sign-posting circular economy event) was also delivered to 5 local businesses and social enterprises in September 2024.

Further community engagement took place to support the Christmas Toy Container campaign.

Measure 2

Support for the Eco-Schools programme, with a 5% increase in the number of schools with Green Flags by 30 June 2025.

Status: On track

We co-hosted an Eco-Schools Cluster meeting with local schoolteachers in September 2024, to relaunch the programme for the upcoming academic year and to engage new schools.

Measure 3

Delivery of 5 circular economy waste initiatives by 31 March 2025.

Status: On track

We will deliver 5 initiatives this year aimed at promoting sustainability and reducing waste:

  1. Almost 2,000 uniform items were gifted to families across the borough through the MEA School Uniform Scheme, which operated in July and August 2024.
  2. The MEA Christmas Toy Container Scheme, which encourages the donation and reuse of toys, launched in October. Members of the public were encouraged to drop off unwanted items at our Household Recycling Centres (HRCs) and leisure centres, with pop-up shops then operating in the borough’s three main towns, enabling people to purchase the toys at a low cost.
  3. There will be 5 Community Fridges operating all year, providing a space for individuals and businesses to donate surplus food for redistribution to those in need.
  4. The Community Repaint Scheme is also operational all year, with almost 2,000 litres of unwanted paint donated from April to September, some of which has been redistributed to local schools and community groups.
  5. The Spectacle Reuse Scheme will collect and redistribute spectacles to those in need, promoting reuse and supporting eye care for vulnerable groups. People can drop off their unwanted glasses at our five HRCs. We are working with the Lions Club to deliver this initiative.

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