Assessment of Performance
Assessment of Performance
This assessment looks at our performance in discharging our Duty to make arrangements to secure continuous improvement, as defined under the Local Government Act (NI) 2014.
It looks at our arrangements to secure continuous improvement, our performance in meeting our Improvement Objectives, statutory and self-imposed indicators and standards, compared with our performance in previous financial years, and with that, and the previous financial years of other councils.
Based on the evidence collected, we have identified how we can improve our performance, and the steps we will take to do so.
Performance in discharging our duty to make arrangements to secure continuous improvement in the exercise of our functions
Each year a council must set Improvement Objectives, and have appropriate arrangements in place to achieve them. The objectives must be framed to bring about improvement in at least one of the seven aspects of improvement outlined within the Act, of strategic effectiveness, service quality, service availability, fairness, sustainability, efficiency, and innovation.
A council must also publish an assessment of its performance in meeting statutory or self-imposed indicators, within a financial year and previous financial years, and with those of other councils, where practicable.
Our arrangements to secure continuous improvement are outlined within our Performance Management Framework. This framework drives performance at all levels within the organisation, by aligning the Community Plan for the borough with our four-year Corporate Plan, annual Performance Improvement Plan, departmental business plans, and each individual employee’s work plan. This helps to ensure better longer-term outcomes for citizens.
Each of these plans have clearly defined measures, which enable performance to be monitored, and areas for improvement to be identified. These arrangements are supported by a dedicated performance management system.
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 development approach includes a review of legislation and guidance, critical self-analysis, alignment with wider regional strategies and policies, analysis of our environment and regional statistics, consultation and engagement with stakeholders, the results of our Citizens Survey (2022), staff experience and expertise, and the appropriate screening of our improvement plans and strategies.
We also welcome feedback, input, and suggestions for improvement from the public at any time throughout the year through our Public Questions facility and through direct contact with our Performance and Improvement Team.
Oversight of our performance improvement responsibilities sits within the remit of a dedicated committee, tasked with reviewing performance, making recommendations for course corrections, and considering opportunities for innovation and best practice to ensure continuous improvement and quality service delivery.
Regular monitoring and reporting arrangements are in place to ensure progress, accountability, and transparency.
Updates on our Corporate Plan and Performance Improvement Plans are published on our website, and promoted on our social media channels.
Our arrangements to secure continuous improvement were audited by the Northern Ireland Audit Office in 2023/24.
The auditor found that the Council had discharged its duties in connection with (1) improvement planning and (2) publication of improvement information in connection with section 92 of the Act, and had acted in accordance with the Department for Communities’ guidance sufficiently.
As a result of an improvement assessment, the auditor believed that the Council had discharged it duties under Part 12 of the Act, and had acted in accordance with the Department for Communities’ guidance sufficiently. In their opinion the Council had demonstrated a track record of ongoing improvement, and the Council was likely to comply with Part 12 of the Act in 2023/24.
No recommendations or proposals for improvement were made as a result of the audit. Two proposals for improvement remain ongoing from previous years.
Proposal 1 states that the Council should prioritise prior year proposals for improvement and take steps to address them.
Proposal 2 states that the Council should continue to work with other councils and the Department for Communities to agree a suite of self-imposed indicators and standards that would allow for meaningful comparisons to be made and published.
Area for improvement
While the implementation of Proposal 1 and Proposal 2 are outside the direct control of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, the agreement of self-imposed indicators and standards to allow for meaningful comparisons to be made with other councils remains an area for improvement.
To progress this action, we will continue to participate in meetings of the Local Government Performance Improvement Working Group, established to support the development of a consistent approach to performance improvement, and consisting of the Department for Communities, the Northern Ireland Audit Office, and each of Northern Ireland’s 11 councils.
Performance in meeting Improvement Objectives
Our Performance Improvement Plan for 2023/24, which outlined six Improvement Objectives, was agreed by the Full Council on 12 June 2023 and published prior to the statutory deadline.
The plan aligned with the long-term vision for the borough, as outlined in the Community Plan and Corporate Plan, was based on extensive research and stakeholder engagement, and made a demonstrable contribution to the aspects of improvement described within the Act.
The plan set out the visible improvements that citizens could expect to see (outcomes), it had defined terms of success with established links to service programmes and budgets, and was capable of being supported by objective evidence (measures).
The plan focused on enhancing our citizens’ health and wellbeing, improving employment outcomes, supporting business start-up and growth, regenerating our town centres, enhancing broadband service provision, and supporting the development of the electric vehicle charging network.
Of our 33 measures, at the end of the year, 61% were achieved or on track, 36% were delayed but progressing, and 3% were not achieved.
At the end of the year, only one measure was not achieved. This relates to the statutory 30-week standard for the average processing time of major planning applications. This key performance indicator is discussed in detail further within the assessment.
Area for improvement:
At the end of the year, almost a third of measures were marked as delayed but progressing. These measures have been included within the Performance Improvement Plan for 2024/25 to ensure ongoing accountability and prioritisation.
Performance in meeting statutory indicators and standards
The statutory performance indicators and standards, set by the Department for Communities in the areas of Economic Development, Planning, and Waste Management, are included within our annual business plans, and where possible, within our Improvement Objectives.
Of the 7 indicators and standards, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council achieved 6 in 2023/24.
Indicator: The number of jobs promoted through business start interventions.
In 2023/24, 103 jobs were promoted through business start interventions, 21% over the target of 85. Of these, 66 were through the Go for It programme and 37 through Go Succeed, which launched in November 2023.
As monthly performance data remains subject to verification, it is not yet available for publication or for cross-council comparison. While early results are promising, a clear and complete understanding of the impact and performance of Go Succeed will only be available when the initial evaluation period concludes, and data is fully verified.
Indicator: The average processing time of major planning applications.
Councils are not fully responsible for the full range of duties required to process major planning applications. These applications comprise of significant development projects, which generally require assessments by statutory and other bodies, and are subject to extensive scrutiny and consultation.
In 2023/24, the average processing time of major planning applications in Mid and East Antrim Borough Council was 67.4 weeks, well above both the 30-week statutory standard, and the Northern Ireland 11 council average of 46.5 weeks. This is our second consecutive annual rise, with the recent increase attributed to an unusually complex application, which is now processed.
While significant improvements were made within some council areas in 2023/24, the average processing time among the councils ranged from 21.1 weeks to 154.8 weeks. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council held ninth council position in 2023/24.
Achieving the 30-week standard has been a challenge over the last five years and we have made representations to the Department of Infrastructure to share our concerns.
As we move into 2024/25, 8 applications are yet to be decided, 6 of these are from the 2023/24 financial year, and 2 from 2022/23. Of these, 4 remain under review by various consultees and cannot advance until all feedback or decisions are received.
Area for improvement:
The Council will continue to progress major planning applications, with a view to minimising processing times within our areas of control.
We are open to collaborating with the Department for Infrastructure and other stakeholders on alternative measures that would improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the process, and to allow for a fairer and more accurate metric for measuring success.
Indicator: The average processing time of local planning applications.
In 2023/24, the average processing time of local planning applications in Mid and East Antrim Borough Council was 9.4 weeks, significantly lower than the 15-week statutory standard, and well above the Northern Ireland 11 council average of 20.8 weeks. Three councils were within the target, with Mid and East Antrim Borough Council in top council position for the fifth consecutive year.
Indicator: The percentage of enforcement cases concluded within 39 weeks.
In 2023/24, 87.3% of enforcement cases were concluded within 39 weeks in Mid and East Antrim Borough Council. While slightly lower than our 2022/23 performance at 89.5%, this result is significantly higher than the 70% minimum standard, and well above the Northern Ireland 11 council average of 74.2%. We ranked third council position in 2023/24.
Indicator: The percentage of household waste collected by the council that is sent for recycling.
We have collected more than the 50% minimum standard every year since 2017/18. At 50.7%, rates were lower in 2023/24 than in the previous two years. While a downward trend has been noted across Northern Ireland’s councils, 7 councils met the target in 2023/24, with Mid and East Antrim Borough Council positioning sixth.
Many factors outside of the Council’s control can adversely impact recycling levels. We have, and will continue to take steps to positively influence recycling practices within the borough and the wider region.
Area for Improvement:
We will continue to undertake measures to positively influence recycling practices.
We will continue to work with the regional Waste Resources Action Programme (WRAP) to co-design and promote waste and recycling campaigns.
We will continue to support the Eco-Schools Programme, as included in our Performance Improvement Plan for 2024/25.
We will continue to deliver community engagement sessions on waste and recycling, as included in our Performance Improvement Plan for 2024/25.
Our Waste Harmonisation Sub-Committee will continue to explore ways to deliver a more effective and efficient waste management system, and increase recycling performance.
We will also continue to engage with our stakeholders to increase household and non-municipal household recycling, such as the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.
Indicator: The amount of biodegradable local authority collected municipal waste that is landfilled.
In 2023/24, the amount of biodegradable waste collected that was sent to landfill increased to 15,239 tonnes, up 4.7% on 2022/34, and the fourth consecutive rise in the borough since 2019/20. The amount recorded is lower than the allowance set by the Northern Ireland Landfill Allowance Scheme, which was in place until 2019/20, and continues to be used as an internal target, pending clarity moving forward.
Area for improvement:
We will continue to deliver practices to address the increasing amount of biodegradable waste sent to landfill, such as, organic and dry recycling kerbside collections, textile and wood disposal services, and various communications campaigns delivered throughout the year.
Indicator: The amount of local authority collected municipal waste arisings.
There was a modest increase in the volume of municipal waste arisings in the borough in 2023/24, to 74,842 tonnes. No statutory standard is set for this indicator as we are obligated to collect the amount of recyclable and non-recyclable waste presented at the kerbside, household recycling centres, and commercial waste.
Area for improvement:
We will continue to work towards positively influencing the amount of waste arisings in the borough.
Our ongoing commitment to positive environmental practices is demonstrated in our Corporate Plan for 2024-2028, and our Climate and Sustainability Action Plan for 2023-2027.
We also aim to deliver 5 circular economy initiatives as part of our Performance Improvement Plan for 2024/25.
Performance in meeting self-imposed indicators and standards
Self-imposed indicators and standards are how we, as a Council, have decided to measure our performance. These indicators relate to our Corporate Plan (at strategic level), and annual business plans (at operational level).
Our Corporate Plan for 2024-2028 was adopted in May 2024. It is based on a body of evidence which helps to identify our medium-term priorities. To ensure the plan’s delivery, its objectives guide our annual business planning process.
An interim plan was adopted for the 2023/24 financial year. Our success in delivering this plan is summarised in detail within the main body of this report. On a quantitative basis, at the end of the year, of 61 performance measures, 75% were either achieved or on track, 12% were delayed but progressing and 13% were not achieved.
Of the 8 measures that were not achieved, 3 relate to targets under the Good Relations Programme, which due to a reduced funding allocation, could not be achieved.
There were 2 other measures adversely affected by resource and funding constraints; the development of 5 new tourism products, which we continue to explore funding opportunities for, and the delivery of 27 programmes through the Loneliness Network against a target of 40.
The other 3 measures that were not achieved in 2023/24 were; absenteeism targets, prompt payment targets, and the processing time of major planning applications. The planning target was discussed in detail earlier in the assessment, and the two other measures are discussed below.
Of the 7 measures identified as delayed but progressing, 4 will progress as part of the Performance Improvement Plan for 2024/25; the Carrickfergus Townscape Heritage Initiative, the MEAqua Strategy and Action Plan, the MEA Age-Friendly Strategy and Action Plan, and the delivery of renewable technology projects.
The measure relating to the i4C and the CleanTech Centre will progress as part of the Belfast Region City Deal. The measure relating to the gauging of customer satisfaction levels will progress as part of the Corporate Services Directorate restructure.
The final measure relates to the development of an action plan based on the results of our Listening to Staff Survey. A draft plan has been developed and is awaiting review and approval.
Area for improvement:
The Council will continue to progress the completion of all 7 Corporate Plan indicators classed as delayed but progressing within 2024/25.
Additional benchmarking performance
We actively engage in various benchmarking activities, working groups, and best practice initiatives to enhance our operational performance each year.
Externally, we benchmark our performance against other councils in Northern Ireland for absenteeism levels and prompt payments, and we participate in the Association for Public Service Excellence Northern Ireland Benchmarking Project.
For absenteeism, 16.46 days were lost per full-time equivalent employee in 2023/24 within Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, a reduction on 2022/23 of 1.48 days, but in excess of our target of 14 days. With almost 65% of employees experiencing no absence during the year, data suggests, the high rate primarily rates to a small number of long-term absences. Contributing factors relate to difficulties accessing medical consultations and treatments leading to extended periods of absence, and an unfortunate increase in the diagnosis of severe health conditions.
In comparison with other councils in Northern Ireland, the latest available data is for the 2022/23 financial year, where an average of 16.7 days was recorded. During this period, we positioned third lowest for performance, at 17.94 days.
We have implemented a number of steps to positively impact levels of absenteeism within the organisation, including the delivery of health and wellbeing initiatives, the launch of our Listening to Staff Survey, and our Audit and Scrutiny Committee is currently conducting a review into absenteeism.
Area for improvement:
The implementation of strategies to positively impact absenteeism levels remains a key priority for the Council. We will continue to progress the action plan resulting from the Listening to Staff Survey and review into absenteeism.
We also monitor and compare our prompt payment performance, in other words, how efficiently we pay our suppliers. In 2023/24, 65% of invoices were paid within 10 working days, exceeding the target of 53%, but a reduction in performance from 2022/23, at 74%.
For invoices paid within 30 working days, a result of 81% was recorded against a target of 85%, a reduction in performance from 2022/23, at 87%. This performance is notably lower than other councils in Northern Ireland, with a regional average of 90.73%.
Area for Improvement:
A number of actions are being taken to address the complex issues affecting prompt payment performance, including, working to fully integrate and optimise our financial management system, monitoring payment processing performance as part of our Corporate Plan, and including a mandatory indicator in all departmental business plans to ensure purchase orders are receipted in a timely manner after goods and services are received.
As part of the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) Northern Ireland Benchmarking Project, we are able to compare data with other participating regional councils for 12 service areas. In 2022/23, we submitted data for 132 indicators, 115 of which were comparable. We achieved top position in 10%, lowest in 17%, performed better than the regional average in 41%, and below the regional average in 32% of comparable indicators.
Area for Improvement:
The results of the APSE analysis have been shared with each relevant department, and influenced the development of business plans for 2024/25.
We also conduct extensive internal benchmarking, facilitated through the inclusion and monitoring of performance indicators within our Corporate Plan and annual business plans. By regularly analysing and comparing our data, we are able to identify our successes, address challenges, and implement effective strategies for course correction where necessary.
A wide range of best practice learning each year helps to enhance our service delivery and ensure the best outcomes for our borough.