This relatively modest increase recognises that despite many positive steps forward with recovery, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact some areas of our work – reducing income streams and increasing service costs. It has also been made mindful of the ongoing increases in energy and, in particular, waste management costs that we are experiencing. Given this, we will continue to exercise financial discipline across the Council in the year ahead.
This rate will allow us to continue investing in the Borough by:
- Progressing our Borough-wide Greenways network.
- Advancing plans for a multi-use recreation and visitor destination at Whitespots Country Park.
- Moving forward with redevelopment plans for Bangor Waterfront and better Borough-wide broadband, through the Belfast Region City Deal.
- Seeking to deliver an Innovation Hub to support our growing creative technology sector
- Supporting regeneration in our villages through Portaferry Public Realm works, the regeneration of Portavogie Harbour and a new 3G pitch in Portavogie.
- Refurbishing Movilla Cemetery, Groomsport Boat House and Kircubbin/ West Winds Community Centres.
We will also be working to consolidate and improve service delivery by:
- Working with residents to implement new and innovative ways to reduce, reuse and recycle.
- Continuing to protect the local environment through proactive enforcement for environmental crime.
- Promoting our open space and beautiful beaches through the Green and Blue Flag Awards and our ‘In Bloom’ competitions.
- Animating the Borough with events such as the Aspects Literature Festival, Comber Earlies, celebrations to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and the Let’s Rock Concert in Ward Park in August. We will also be supporting local event organisers through a range of event grants.
- Building partnerships to support people into employment and to create pathways to help address local employer issues.
- Transitioning leisure facilities currently run by Northern Community Leisure Trust back to Council’s control; to be managed together with all other Council run leisure facilities. This change will allow us to offer a consistent experience to all ratepayers across the Borough at all Council owned leisure facilities.
- Maintaining our Investors in People Silver standard as we work to support our staff to deliver even better services to the Borough
We will also be progressing our Council-wide transformation agenda by:
- Having a renewed focus upon customer service excellence.
- Implementing new digital working solutions.
