Corporate Plan 2023-2027 & Performance Improvement Plan 2023-2024 Consultation

Corporate Plan 2023-2027 including Performance Improvement Plan 2023-2024

Consultation Document

www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk

Contents Foreword from our Senior Management Team

4

A little introduction

5

Our vision What we want from you

How our Corporate Plan links into other strategies

6

Delivering our Corporate Plan

7

Community Safety and Cohesion

14

How we got here

8

Learning for Life

16

You told us

9

Good Health and Wellbeing

18

High Performing and Sustainable Council

20

Our Environment

22

Our top 5 priorities

10

Our proposed plan

11

Jobs and Tourism

12

Statutory Performance Indicators

24

Performance Improvement Plan

26

Feedback Questionnaire

28

We’d like to hear your views on our new Corporate Plan

Feedback Questionnaire

31

We’d like to hear your views on our annual Improvement Objectives

2/3

Foreword from our Senior Management Team As the Senior Management Team of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, we would like to welcome you to our proposed Corporate Plan for 2023-2027 and invite you to share your thoughts.

This will be Council’s third Corporate Plan. It will act as our blueprint for ensuring we remain focused on achieving our vision and purpose as well as guiding us to realise our values.

Over the last number of years, our borough has experienced considerable challenges particularly during the global pandemic. COVID-19 challenged our communities and local businesses in ways many of us have never faced before and the long-term impacts will be felt across Mid and East Antrim for years to come.

At the same time, we could not be prouder of our communities, businesses and staff who worked tirelessly to come together and support those most in need of help. As a Council, we quickly adapted, developing innovative ways of working to ensure that our residents continued to receive vital services.

There will certainly be challenges and hurdles along the way, but by continuing to work together for Mid and East Antrim, we will create a place that everyone will be proud to call home.

Our communities and businesses are still feeling the effects of this pandemic, and now we have the new challenge of a cost of living crisis.

Our Vision

Our Purpose

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

Working together to create a better future for all

Corporate Plan 2023-2027 Consultation

The impacts of both these crises has forced Council to re-think its priorities for the coming years and this plan sets out how, along with our partners we will deliver on these priorities.

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council Senior Management Team

Realising Our Values • • • • • • •

Respect Excellence A teamwork approach Leadership and commitment Integrity Service Innovation Equality and fairness

A little introduction Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is proud to be a multiaward winning, ambitious and forward-thinking council.

We are providing more services to citizens than ever before.

These range from responsibility for waste management, leisure and parks, to our crucial role in economic growth and investment in the borough; health, education and community safety as well as being tasked with safeguarding our environment.

Our Corporate Plan sits at the heart of everything we do. It steers our strategic direction, shapes our services and sets the performance targets against which we will measure our success in delivering our vision.

Every four years, the Corporate Plan is revisited to ensure our work meets the needs of the borough and delivers on behalf of everyone who lives, works and invests in Mid and East Antrim.

With the third term of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council due to begin in 2023, this consultation document sets out the proposed themes and objectives that will guide our work to 2027.

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

What we want from you We are seeking your views on our proposed strategic themes and objectives for the next Corporate Plan covering 20232027, alongside our proposed improvement objectives in our annual Performance Improvement Plan 2023-2024.

Your feedback on this consultation is very important to us and we welcome your comments. All responses will

be carefully analysed and considered, to help shape this next Corporate Plan and Performance Improvement Plan.

To share your views, please see the questionnaires on pages 28-32 or complete the online surveys via

midandeastantrim.gov.uk/ consultations

4/5

How our Corporate Plan links into other strategies Our Corporate Plan has been developed with guidance from a number of external and internal influences known as strategic drivers. These drivers include people, conditions and information - all introducing and supporting actions Programme for Government which help us define and achieve our goals.

Together these make up the complex strategic landscape in which we operate and are fundamental to our success.

Regional Strategies

Primarily our Corporate Plan will support the delivery of the Programme for Government – aimed at improving wellbeing for all by tackling disadvantage and driving economic growth.

Local Development Plan Community Plan

Internally, the Corporate Plan connects to other council plans, including the Community Plan, the Local Development Plan and the Performance Improvement Plan.

The Corporate Plan also includes our corporate objectives and guides our annual business planning process. This ensures that everything we do is aimed at achieving the objectives and ultimately our vision for the borough.

Corporate Plan Council Strategies & Plans

Performance Improvement Plan

Annual Business Plans

Corporate Plan 2023-2027 Consultation

Delivering our Corporate Plan As a council, we have a Performance Management Framework to drive performance and continuous improvement within the organisation. Performance is measured and managed at all levels and the framework links together all the corporate planning processes that we have in place.

The following diagram demonstrates how strategic objectives within the Community Plan and Corporate Plan cascade through to the annual business plans and, ultimately, to every employee's individual work objectives.

Community Plan 15-Year Strategic Plan

Corporate Plan 4-Year Strategic Plan

Performance Improvement Plan Annual Improvement Plan

Annual Business Plans

Employee Personal Development Plan Annual plan linked to work objectives and learning & development needs

6/7

How we got here We began the process of developing our Corporate Plan in April 2022, and have been actively engaging with our residents, staff and Elected Members through a variety of surveys and workshops.

During the summer of 2022, Council commissioned a Residents’ Survey to gain a comprehensive understanding of the views of our residents on their: • awareness and use of Council services, including satisfaction levels • contact and communication with Council • perspective of the borough as a place to live • perspectives on Council’s priorities • levels of health and wellbeing in the borough.

This ensured that we shaped the Plan based on what our residents felt was most important for our borough for the period 2023-2027.

Corporate Plan 2023-2027 Consultation

You told us

71%

We received 810 responses to our survey from a wide range of residents from across our borough and have highlighted a few key statistics:

88%

88% of residents reported feeling very or fairly safe when outside in their local area during the day

48%

48% felt that the borough has a skilled and adaptable workforce

51%

51% of residents would like to see more local services to improve mental health and wellbeing

53%

53% felt the borough is a good area for attractions and tourism

57%

57% of respondents felt they had a sense of belonging to their area

45%

45% of residents would like to see more support services for children, families and those with disabilities

71% of residents were satisfied with Mid and East Antrim as a place to live

55%

55% felt that the borough is a good area for supporting physical activity

65%

65% felt the borough is one where people have easy access to the natural environment and built assets

89%

89% of residents stated that they felt recycling was either very or quite important

8/9

1

2

Top 5 priorities for making the borough a better place to live:

Supporting and developing activities for children and young people

Support to reduce poverty

3

4

5

Delivering clean and attractive streets and towns

Supporting our parks, green spaces and the natural and built environment

Developing skills and job prospects

Corporate Plan 2023-2027 Consultation

Our proposed plan It is our intention to deliver the same longer-term vision for the borough that is set out in the Community Plan up to 2030.

This will sit at the centre of our strategic themes, as shown in the diagram below.

During consultations with Elected Members and staff, we paid careful consideration to the social, economic and environmental factors that are likely to impact upon Council as we move into the new term.

With this in mind, we are proposing that the Strategic Theme of ‘Our Environment’ become a wrap-around theme. This will ensure all our plans are considered for their environmental impact during development. Our other five Strategic Themes will largely remain unchanged.

Community Safety & Cohesion

Jobs & Tourism

Mid and East Antrim will be a strong, vibrant, safe & inclusive community, where people work together to improve the quality of life for all

Good Health & Wellbeing

Learning for Life

10 / 11

“We will identify ways to increase local jobs and employment opportunities plus develop our tourism offering so that we can attract more visitors to the borough and make it a better place to do business and visit.”

Corporate Plan 2023-2027 Consultation

Jobs and Tourism Objectives • Position and promote Mid and East Antrim as a dynamic, outward-looking region that welcomes and supports inward investment.

• Through a variety of support programmes, grow, support and sustain new and existing businesses.

• Drive inclusive and sustainable economic growth through investing in our people, our places and our businesses.

• Create a compelling tourism proposition by investing in the development and promotion of our unique cultural, arts and heritage assets.

• Attract more domestic and international visitors to the borough to stay longer and spend more.

£200

72.8%

5,055

average spend per trip to MEA

employment rate for 16-64 year olds in 2022

registered businesses in Mid and East Antrim

The NI average is 70.9%

12 / 13

“We will work with our partners and local residents to create safe and inclusive communities where everyone has a shared sense of belonging and pride.”

Corporate Plan 2023-2027 Consultation

Community Safety and Cohesion Objectives Work alongside partners to: • Encourage good relations, civic pride and a sense of belonging by creating vibrant, shared, cohesive and inclusive communities across the borough.

• Build the capacity of local communities to improve resilience and self-sustainability.

• Improve community safety and confidence, enabling people to feel and be safe by providing early intervention and supporting those most at risk of becoming involved in crime.

• Provide support to vulnerable people who need it.

3,945

56.7%

160

number of anti‑social behaviour incidents recorded in 2021/2022, this is down from 5,308 in 2020/2021

of people feel that their cultural identity is respected by society (2018-2020)

number of incidents recorded with a hate crime motivation in 2021/2022, this is an increase from 123 in 2020/2021

14 / 15

“We will support our residents to develop a sense of ambition by providing opportunities for lifelong learning.”

Corporate Plan 2023-2027 Consultation

Learning for Life Objectives • Develop the skills needed to embrace opportunities for a prosperous and more sustainable future.

• Through our various programmes, develop a sense of ambition towards achievement regardless of location, community background or socio-economic factors.

• Promote to stakeholders the benefits of creating volunteer and enhanced work experience opportunities.

• Lead by example by developing and implementing a work placement programme within Council.

• Support our staff to achieve their full potential by investing in training, development and cross Council collaborative opportunities.

60%

75%

of MEA school leavers achieved

of MEA schools leavers achieved

2+

5+

A-Levels graded A*-E in 2020/21

GCSEs graded A*-C (inc. English & Maths) in 2020/21

NI average of 60.5%

NI average of 78%

Destination of MEA school leavers in 2020/21: 48% Higher Education 23% Further Education 13% Employment 9% Training 7% Unemployment/ unknown

16 / 17

“We will support our residents to improve their physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing, by providing inclusive facilities and spaces where they can be active.”

Corporate Plan 2023-2027 Consultation

Good Health and Wellbeing Objectives • Deliver a coordinated partnership approach to improve the physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing of our residents.

• Ensure our residents and visitors have accessible and inclusive Council facilities.

• Enable vulnerable groups within our borough to be active, respected and supported in their community.

• Encourage our staff to use the resources and tools available to improve and maintain their physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing.

1 in 4

23

59%

residents do no form of physical activity per week

of residents feel positive about their emotional health

of residents claim to be satisfied with their physical health

Residents Survey 2022

Residents Survey 2022

Residents Survey 2022

18 / 19

“We will work together to realise our potential and provide our residents and businesses with innovative and cost effective services that benefit the borough as a whole.”

Corporate Plan 2023-2027 Consultation

High Performing and Sustainable Council Objectives • Take the lead on delivering both the Community Plan and the Local Development Plan, working effectively with our partners and residents.

• Increase customer satisfaction with our services through innovation and continuous improvement by proactively engaging with and listening to our staff, customers and residents.

• Using an agile delivery model and adapting to changing landscapes, be recognised as a leading council, ensuring value for money and affordability of council services, facilities and assets.

• Deliver our activities and functions in a sustainable manner, integrating social, economic and environmental factors when planning or decision-making, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

• Embed our REALISE values in our day-to-day working environment, ensuring our employees feel supported and motivated to achieve their full potential.

90%

94.7%

of complaints and information requests resolved at informal stage

of payments made within

30

Top performing Council in two of the three statutory indicators for planning

calendar days

20 / 21

“We will work alongside our residents and businesses to develop a positive and caring attitude towards the environment through education and empowerment.”

Corporate Plan 2023-2027 Consultation

Our Environment Objectives • Deliver the Local Development Plan in line with Council’s climate and sustainability commitments.

• Empower, educate and work in partnership with our citizens and local businesses to progress towards net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

• Support local communities to create an environmentally resilient and sustainable borough.

• Invest to improve and develop our parks, open spaces and built heritage ensuring they meet the needs of citizens and visitors and promote the considerate use of all spaces.

• Lead by example and reduce the impact of Council services to improve and sustainably manage our environment, protecting it for future generations.

5 Green Flags (2021/2022)

58,000 trees planted as part of MEA4Trees

All

76

MEA schools are engaged in the Eco Schools Programme

22 / 23

Statutory Performance Indicators In addition to the improvement areas identified by us, the Department for Communities (DfC) also sets targets for councils in the functional areas of Planning, Economic Development and Waste.

Within each of these areas, a number of Performance Indicators have been set, as outlined in the table opposite.

Our arrangements to meet these statutory indicators are through the delivery of our services in Planning, Economic Development and Waste.

We closely monitor the delivery of our Statutory Performance Indicators to ensure they are progressing in line with our targets. They are also outlined within our annual business plans.

We publish our performance against the achievement of our targets on our website every three months at

midandeastantrim.gov.uk/ improvement

Corporate Plan 2023-2027 Consultation

Indicators

The average processing time of major planing applications

Targets

30 15 % 70

Weeks

The average processing time of local planning applications

Weeks

The percentage of enforcement cases processed within 39 weeks

The number of jobs promoted through business start-up activity

Major applications processed within an average of 30 weeks

Local applications processed within an average of 15 weeks

70% of all enforcement cases progressed to target conclusion within 39 weeks

85 % 50 16,387 Jobs

The percentage of household waste collected by district Councils that is sent for recycling

The amount of biodegradable Local Authority Collected Municipal Waste that is landfilled

The amount (tonnage) of Local Authority Collected Municipal Waste arisings

Tonnes

There is a requirement by DfC that each Council monitors and sets its own individual target for this indicator on an annual basis

24 / 25

Performance Improvement Plan Each year we develop a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP), to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to improve delivery of our services throughout Mid and East Antrim. This is part of the framework put in place by The Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014 to support continuous improvement in the delivery of council services.

Corporate Plan 2023-2027 Consultation

For us, “improvement” is not limited to gains in service output or efficiencies. It is about focusing on the issues that are important to our citizens and customers, helping us achieve our vision of improving the quality of life for all. Details of our proposed Improvement Objectives for 2023-2024 can be found in the table opposite.

Improvement Objective

What we will do

By when

Growing the economy and creating jobs

•

Deliver various programmes to encourage entrepreneurship and employability Provide support programmes to businesses within the borough Deliver an effective and efficient Planning service to maximise economic development.

March 2024

Enhance Ballymena and Larne town centres through public realm improvement works Promote clean and attractive towns and streets across the borough Develop Implementation Plans for delivery of the Town Centre Investment Strategies for Ballymena, Carrickfergus and Larne Support the historic conservation of Carrickfergus, contributing to the sustainability of the local economy.

March 2024

Deliver our Fixed Play Investment Strategy, to replace a number of play parks across the borough Deliver three new or upgraded Multi Use Games Areas (MUGAs) or “kick-about” areas across the borough Work with the community to provide more opportunities to enjoy the borough’s green spaces and participate in environmental projects.

March 2024

Build an Autism Friendly Mid and East Antrim Borough Council Work with our partners to progress the delivery of the Age-Friendly Action plan for Mid and East Antrim Support the development of a borough-wide “Landlords’ Forum”.

March 2024

Install a target of 3 “rapid” electric vehicle chargers (50kW, 80% charge in 20 minutes) at strategic locations across the borough as part of the cross-border FASTER project Install a minimum of 12 “fast” chargers (22kW, charge in 1-2 hours) across the borough as part of the On-street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS) Assist with and promote a communications and awareness campaign to influence behavioural change towards electric vehicle use.

December 2023

Continue the implementation of the Council’s “Agile Framework”, through the delivery of a number of citizen-focused projects.

March 2024

• •

Revitalising our towns through regeneration initiatives

• • •

•

Supporting MEA citizens’ health and wellbeing by providing quality, sustainable, inclusive opportunities to use parks and open spaces to encourage and promote regular, safe and responsible use

•

Working in partnership to support our residents, particularly those who are vulnerable

•

•

•

•

•

Improving infrastructure to encourage electric vehicle uptake in the borough to reduce emissions and protect the environment for future generations

•

•

•

Improving customer engagement and service delivery by enhancing the Council’s use of information technology

•

26 / 27

We’d like to hear your views on our new Corporate Plan We are proposing to include the following strategic themes and objectives in our Corporate Plan for 2023-2027. Full details on each theme can be found on pages 12-23 of this consultation document.

Please tell us if we have got these themes right.

Have we got our Strategic Themes right? (Please tick) Theme

Have we got it right?

Yes

Jobs and Tourism

Community Safety and Cohesion

Learning for Life

Good Health and Wellbeing

High Performing and Sustainable Council

Our Environment

Corporate Plan 2023-2027 Consultation

No

Unsure

Your Comments

Have we got our Strategic Objectives right?

Our Objectives

Your Feedback Please tick as appropriate

Jobs and Tourism •

Position and promote MEA as a dynamic, outward-looking region that welcomes and supports inward investment.

•

Through a variety of support programmes, grow, support and sustain new and existing businesses.

•

Drive inclusive and sustainable economic growth through investing in our people, our places and our businesses.

•

Create a compelling tourism proposition by investing in the development and promotion of our unique cultural, arts and heritage assets.

•

Attract more domestic and international visitors to the borough to stay longer and spend more.

Have we got it right?

Yes

No

Unsure

Yes

No

Unsure

Yes

No

Unsure

Comments

Community Safety and Cohesion Work alongside partners to: •

Encourage good relations, civic pride and a sense of belonging by creating vibrant, shared, cohesive and inclusive communities across the borough.

•

Improve community safety and confidence, enabling people to feel and be safe by providing early intervention and supporting those most at risk of becoming involved in crime.

•

Build the capacity of local communities to improve resilience and self-sustainability.

•

Provide support to vulnerable people who need it.

Have we got it right?

Comments

Learning for Life •

Develop the skills needed to embrace opportunities for a prosperous and more sustainable future.

•

Through our various programmes, develop a sense of ambition towards achievement regardless of location, community background or socio-economic factors.

•

Promote to stakeholders the benefits of creating volunteer and enhanced work experience opportunities.

•

Lead by example by developing and implementing a work placement programme within Council.

•

Support our staff to achieve their full potential by investing in training, development and cross Council collaborative opportunities.

Have we got it right?

Comments

28 / 29

Our Objectives

Your Feedback Please tick as appropriate

Good Health and Wellbeing •

Deliver a coordinated partnership approach to improve the physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing of our residents.

•

Ensure our residents and visitors have accessible and inclusive Council facilities.

•

Enable vulnerable groups within our borough to be active, respected and supported in their community.

•

Encourage our staff to use the resources and tools available to improve and maintain their physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing.

Have we got it right?

Yes

No

Unsure

Yes

No

Unsure

Yes

No

Unsure

Comments

High Performing and Sustainable Council •

Take the lead on delivering both the Community Plan and the Local Development Plan, working effectively with our partners and residents.

•

Increase customer satisfaction with our services through innovation and continuous improvement by proactively engaging with and listening to our staff, customers and residents.

•

Using an agile delivery model and adapting to changing landscapes, be recognised as a leading council, ensuring value for money and affordability of council services, facilities and assets.

•

Deliver our activities and functions in a sustainable manner, integrating social, economic and environmental factors when planning or decision-making, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

•

Embed our REALISE values in our day-to-day working environment, ensuring our employees feel supported and motivated to achieve their full potential.

Have we got it right?

Comments

Our Environment • •

Deliver the Local Development Plan in line with Council’s climate and sustainability commitments.

Empower, educate and work in partnership with our citizens and local businesses to progress towards net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

•

Invest to improve and develop our parks, open spaces and built heritage ensuring they meet the needs of citizens and visitors and promote the considerate use of all spaces.

•

Support local communities to create an environmentally resilient and sustainable borough.

•

Lead by example and reduce the impact of Council services to improve and sustainably manage our environment, protecting it for future generations.

Corporate Plan 2023-2027 Consultation

Have we got it right?

Comments

We’d also like to hear your views on our annual Improvement Objectives We are proposing to include the following Improvement Objectives in our Performance Improvement Plan for 2023-2024.

Full details on the objectives can be found on pages 26-27.

We are keen to hear your views on these projects.

Have we got our annual Improvement Objectives right? (Please tick) Our Objectives

Have we got it right?

Yes

No

Your Comments

Unsure

Growing the economy and creating jobs.

Revitalising our towns through regeneration initiatives.

Supporting MEA citizens’ health and wellbeing by providing quality, sustainable, inclusive opportunities to use parks and open spaces to encourage and promote regular, safe and responsible use.

Working in partnership to support our residents, particularly those who are vulnerable.

Improving infrastructure to encourage electric vehicle uptake in the borough to reduce emissions and protect the environment for future generations.

Improving customer engagement and service delivery by enhancing the Council’s use of information technology.

30 / 31

And finally a little bit about you.

Which category best describes you?

Please tick

A resident A business From the community/voluntary sector An Elected Member

Please indicate within which general area you live/work

Please tick

Ballymena Carrickfergus Larne

Please indicate which age band best describes you

(Please tick)

Under 20

20-29

30-39

40-49

50-59

60+

Thank you for taking the time to complete this consultation questionnaire.

What to do next

Returns deadline

Please return completed questionnaires to:

The deadline for responses is Tuesday 04 April 2023

Corporate Plan Consultation Mid and East Antrim Borough Council 1-29 Bridge Street Ballymena BT43 5EJ

Online submissions You can also complete the consultation online at our website:

midandeastantrim. gov.uk/consultations

Corporate Plan 2023-2027 Consultation

Ongoing feedback If you would like to comment on our Strategic Themes and Objectives or suggest an area for improvement at any time throughout the year, please email us at:

performance@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk

Data protection Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is collecting your personal information as part of the consultation exercise on our Corporate Plan 20232027 and Performance Improvement Plan 2023-2024. We will keep your information secure, accurate, and for no longer than is necessary in accordance with data protection laws. If you wish to find out more about how we control and process your personal data and protect your privacy, please visit midandeastantrim.gov.uk/ privacy-notice

32 / 33

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council 1-29 Bridge Street Ballymena BT43 5EJ Tel: 0300 1245 000 enquiries@midandeastantrim.gov.uk www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk

Other formats If you would like this publication in an alternative format, such as large print, or another language, please email communications@midandeastantrim.gov.uk