Our Improvement Objectives for 2023/24
Our Improvement Objectives for 2023/24:
Objective 1: Growing the economy and creating jobs
Identify ways to increase local jobs and employment opportunities within Mid and East Antrim.
Objective 2: Revitalising our towns
Through a variety of regeneration activities, support our businesses, welcome inward investment, and attract visitors to our towns.
Objective 3: Supporting our citizens' health and wellbeing
Encourage and promote regular, safe, and responsible use of our parks and open spaces by providing quality, sustainable and inclusive opportunities.
Objective 4: Working in partnership to support our citizens, particularly those who are vulnerable
Through citizen-focused projects, including Autism-Friendly and Age-Friendly initiatives.
Objective 5: Improving infrastructure to support the transition to low-carbon transport systems
To reduce emissions and protect the environment for future generations.
Objective 6: Enhancing customer engagement and service delivery
Develop the Council's use of information technology to improve customer engagement and service delivery.
Annual Performance Summary
We use a series of outcomes and measures to assess whether or not we achieve our Improvement Objectives.
The outcomes are what citizens can expect to see from the delivery of our Improvement Objectives.
The measures are the indicators we use to track progress.
At the end of the year, of our 33 measures:
- 61% were achieved or on track.
- 36% were delayed but progressing, and
- 3% were not achieved.
Greater detail on each of the objectives is provided in the pages that follow.
Any ongoing measures (or indicators) from the Performance Improvement Plan for 2023/24 continue within the Performance Improvement Plan for 2024/25, unless stated otherwise.
Improvement Objective 1: Growing the Economy and Creating Jobs
Through identifying ways to increase local jobs and employment opportunities within Mid and East Antrim.
Why are we doing this?
- 4,680 redundancies were confirmed in Mid and East Antrim since 2013. (Source: Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, Labour Market Report Redundancy Tables, October 2022).
- Developing skills and job prospects ranked the third top priority for making the borough a better place to live in. (Source: Mid and East Antrim Borough Council Citizens Survey, 2022).
- Only 28% of citizens agreed that Mid and East Antrim is a good area for job opportunities. (Source: Mid and East Antrim Borough Council Citizens Survey, 2022).
Who is responsible?
- The Director of Development
What you’ll see
|
Outcome 1 |
Programmes to encourage skills development and employability. |
|---|---|
|
Measure 1 |
The delivery of 8 employment and skills programmes by 31 March 2024. |
|
Status: Achieved |
We delivered a total of 20 employment and skills programmes. These included:
|
|
Outcome 2 |
The promotion of new jobs in the borough through business start interventions. |
|---|---|
|
Measure 1 |
The promotion of 85 jobs by 31 March 2024. |
|
Status: Achieved |
Between April 2023 and March 2024, there were 103 jobs promoted through business start interventions, 66 through the Go for It programme and 37 through Go Succeed (including Enterprise Pathways participants into employment). Go Succeed is the new Northern Ireland Entrepreneurship Support Service, which launched in November 2023. |
|
Measure 2 |
The implementation of the Northern Ireland Entrepreneurship Support Service (NIESS) by 31 March 2024, in partnership with all Northern Ireland councils. |
|
Status: Achieved |
Go Succeed is progressing well, with strong local interest. Almost 300 Mid and East Antrim based individuals have signed up for support across the Start-Up and Growth elements of the service. |
|
Outcome 3 |
An effective and efficient Planning Service to maximise economic development. |
|---|---|
|
Measure 1 |
To adopt the Local Development Plan Strategy by 31 December 2023. |
|
Status: Achieved
|
The Local Development Plan Strategy was adopted by the Council on 16 October 2023. The aim is to create a borough that supports sustainable economic growth and innovation, infrastructure, the right mix of housing, and to improve the wellbeing of our communities. |
|
Measure 2 |
A processing time for major planning applications within an average of 30 weeks by 31 March 2024. |
|
Status: Not achieved |
From April 2023 to March 2024, the average time for the processing of major planning applications was 67.4 weeks, up from 47.6 weeks in 2022/23. This increase was primarily due to the prolonged review of an unusually complex application. The average processing time across all Northern Ireland councils was 46.5 weeks. Only 3 councils met the 30-week target, with Mid and East Antrim ranking ninth position. |
|
Measure 3 |
A processing time for local planning applications within an average of 15 weeks by 31 March 2024. |
|
Status: Achieved |
From April 2023 to March 2024, the average time for the processing of local planning applications was 9.4 weeks, up from 8.6 weeks in 2022/23. The average processing time across all Northern Ireland councils was 20.8 weeks. Only 3 councils met the 15-week target, with Mid and East Antrim Borough Council achieving the shortest average processing time in 2023/24. |
|
Measure 4 |
70% of enforcement cases concluded within 39 weeks of receipt of complaint by 31 March 2024. |
|
Status: Achieved |
From April 2023 to March 2024, 87.3% of enforcement cases were concluded within 39 weeks, down from 89.5% in 2022/23. The average across all Northern Ireland councils was 76.4% in 2023/24, up from 74.2% in 2022/23, with 7 councils meeting the target last year. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council ranked third position. |
Employment and Skills programme case studies
Do it Herself:
This bespoke academy aimed to encourage greater participation of females in the labour market through training in non-traditional skills, such as tiling, joinery, decorating, and confidence building.
Of 10 participants, 6 gained a level 2 qualification, and lots of positive feedback was received:
“All aspects of the course were ideal. I could not fault anything. From beginning to end, the depth of knowledge to the atmosphere, to the tools and materials provided were exceptional and professional.”
“I like my own independence to complete jobs within the home and this has empowered me to, not only by learning new skills but to have the confidence and know-how.”
Graduate Disability Academy:
This programme provides training and employment opportunities and outcomes, for graduates with disabilities who are unemployed, underemployed, or economically inactive.
A total of 8 placements were completed, 3 qualifications were secured, and 2 participants gained employment.
Transport Academy:
A total of 20 participants were recruited onto this academy, an intensive training intervention which develops practical industry knowledge and skills for people who are unemployed, underemployed, at risk of redundancy, or who want to skill up.
Licenses were acquired by 8 participants, and 5 have secured employment.