www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk Corporate Plan 2023-2024
Contents Foreword 4 Our Borough 6 How our Corporate Plan links with other strategies 8 Delivering our Corporate Plan 10 Management, reporting and governance arrangements 11 You told us 12 Our plan 14 Jobs and Tourism 16 Community Safety and Cohesion 18 Learning for Life 20 Good Health and Wellbeing 22 High Performing and Sustainable Council 24
Our Environment 26 Statutory Performance Indicators 28 What we are responsible for 30 What we are not responsible for 32 How we will finance our Corporate Plan 33 Your Council 34 Screening 36 Feedback 37 2 / 3
Foreword
As a multi award winning, ambitious and forward-thinking council, we are providing more services to our citizens than ever before. From responsibility for waste management, leisure and parks, to our crucial role in economic growth and investment, community safety, health and education, as well as safeguarding our environment.
Our borough has faced some significant challenges over the last number of years, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We are very proud of our communities, businesses and staff, who worked tirelessly to come together to support those most in need. As a council, we quickly introduced new ways of working to ensure that our citizens continued to receive our vital services.
As the long-term effects of the pandemic continue to impact our organisation and communities, we face a new cost-of-living crisis.
As a council, we continue to adapt, and have taken the necessary steps to realign our priorities for the upcoming years.
Our Corporate Plan will sit at the heart of everything we do. It will provide our strategic direction, shape our services, and help us to achieve our vision for Mid and East Antrim.
There will undoubtedly 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.
Valerie Watts Interim Chief Executive Mid and East Antrim Borough Council
As the Interim Chief Executive of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, I would like to welcome you to our third Corporate Plan, which will cover the period of 2023-2024.
Corporate Plan 2023-2024
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
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Cargan
Portglenone
Glarryford Dunminning
Broughshane
Galgorm
Gracehill
Ahoghill
Moorfields
Cullybackey
Newtowncrommelin Martinstown Clough
BRAID BANNSIDE BALLYMENA BALLYMENA Kells
Portglenone Marina
Ballymena Showgrounds
Broughshane Garden Village Ahoghill
Kells Village
Ballymena Town Hall
Arthur Cottage
Slemish Mountain
Seven Towers Leisure Centre
Corporate Plan 2023-2024
The Mid and East Antrim area is beautiful, welcoming, industrious and unique. We know it’s a great place to be, and we want to share that with you.
Carnlough
Glenarm
COAST ROAD
Our Borough
Mid and East Antrim Borough covers an area of just over 400 square miles extending from the River Bann in the west, to the beautiful Antrim coast in the east, and includes part of the Antrim Coast and Glens Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
There are three main towns, Ballymena, Carrickfergus and Larne, and a host of welcoming villages and rural communities, which are home to a population of just under 140,000 people.
Ballygally
Millbrook
Kilwaughter
LARNE
Islandmagee
Raloo
Glenoe
KNOCKAGH
Ballycarry
Whitehead
Greenisland
CARRICK CASTLE
LARNE LOUGH
CARRICKFERGUS
Carrickfergus Castle
Andrew Jackson Cottage
Glenarm Castle
The Black Arch
The Gobbins
Blackhead Lighthouse
Larne Town Hall
Carrickfergus Town Hall
Carnfunnock Country Park
Larne Port Bentra Golf Course
Glenarm Marina
Larne Leisure Centre
Amphitheatre Wellness Centre
Carrickfergus Marina
Knockagh Monument
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How our Corporate Plan links with 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 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.
Primarily, our Corporate Plan will support the delivery of the Programme for Government, which is aimed at improving wellbeing for all, by tackling disadvantage and driving economic growth.
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 includes our Strategic Objectives and Actions, which help guide our annual business planning process. This ensures that everything we do is focused on achieving our vision for the borough.
Local Development Plan Community Plan Council Strategies and Plans Performance Improvement Plan Corporate Plan Programme for Government Regional Strategies Annual Business Plans Corporate Plan 2023-2024
Imag e c o u r t e s y o f T o u r i s m N o r t h e r n I r e l a n d 8 / 9
Delivering our Corporate Plan
As a council, we developed a Performance Management Framework to drive performance and continuous improvement within the organisation. We measure and manage performance at every level, with the framework linking together all of our corporate planning processes.
The diagram below shows how the strategic objectives from within the Community Plan and Corporate Plan flow through to the Performance Improvement Plan and, ultimately, to every employee's work objectives.
Community Plan 15 year strategic plan Corporate Plan 4 year strategic plan Annual Business Plans Employee Personal Development Plan Annual plan linked to work objectives and learning & development needs Performance Improvement Plan Annual improvement plan
Corporate Plan 2023-2024
Management, reporting and governance arrangements
Our reporting structures have been designed to ensure proper oversight and accountability for all business, and to provide our Senior Management Team and Elected Members with assurances that our governance arrangements are robust.
This helps to ensure transparency, accountability and to further drive continuous improvement. These arrangements are outlined opposite.
We also publish a Self-Assessment Report for our citizens, service users and stakeholders by 30 September each year, in line with statutory requirements.
You can view our previous SelfAssessment Reports on our website: midandeastantrim.gov.uk/council/ policies-and-documents/ performance-improvement/ performance-improvement-planself-assessment-report
Community Plan Report to Frequency Strategic Alliance Every six months Community Panel Quarterly Neighbourhoods and Communities Committee As appropriate Corporate Plan Report to Frequency Senior Management Team Every six months Full Council Every six months Performance Improvement Plan Report to Frequency Senior Management Team Quarterly Full Council Quarterly Annual business plans Report to Frequency Assigned Director Quarterly
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Top 5 priorities for making the borough a better place to live:
1
Supporting and developing activities for children and young people
2
You told us
Support to reduce poverty
3
Developing skills and job prospects
4
A variety of surveys and workshops were held to inform the development of this Corporate Plan.
We undertook a Citizens Survey in summer 2022, to give us a comprehensive understanding of the views of our citizens, and to allow us to shape this plan based on what they felt was most important for the borough.
The draft plan was also subject to a 12 week public consultation period, where people were invited to provide their feedback on the proposed Strategic Themes and Objectives.
Delivering clean and attractive streets and towns
5
Supporting our parks, green spaces and the natural and built environment
We are committed to listening to our citizens, businesses, community groups, staff and Elected Members.
Corporate
2023-2024
Plan
We received 810 responses to our Citizens Survey, from a wide range of people across our borough. We have highlighted a few key statistics:
71% of citizens were satisfied with Mid and East Antrim as a place to live
88% of citizens reported feeling very or fairly safe when outside in their local area during the day
53% felt the borough is a good area for attractions and tourism
55% felt that the borough is a good area for supporting physical activity
48% felt that the borough has a skilled and adaptable workforce
57% of citizens felt they had a sense of belonging to their area
65% felt the borough is one where people have easy access to the natural environment and built assets
51% of citizens would like to see more local services to improve mental health and wellbeing
45% of citizens would like to see more support services for children, families and those with disabilities
89% of citizens stated that they felt recycling was either very or quite important
88%
53%
55%
48%
57%
51%
45%
89%
71%
65% 12 / 13
Our Plan
Our new Corporate Plan has been designed to support the delivery of the Community Plan (2017-2032), sharing the same vision, and aligning with its themes and priorities.
Everything we do helps to meet our strategic objectives, and ultimately, our vision for the borough, in an environmentally considerate manner.
Our strategic priorities for this year are outlined below.
Jobs and Tourism
Community Safety and Cohesion
Learning for Life
Good Health and Wellbeing
High Performing and Sustainable Council
Our Environment
Corporate Plan 2023-2024
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Corporate Plan 2023-2024
“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.”
Jobs and Tourism
Strategic 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.
Strategic Actions
How we will achieve our objectives
• Continue to progress the development of the i4C Innovation and CleanTech Centre to support businesses and create jobs.
• Deliver a suite of business support programmes and projects designed to support business start-up and growth across the borough.
• Progress the delivery of Council’s 10-year vision for the three town centres to develop, regenerate and attract inward investment.
• Develop a dynamic 5-year tourism strategy to drive economic growth, job creation and a thriving tourism economy.
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Corporate Plan 2023-2024
“We will work with our partners and local citizens to create safe and inclusive communities where everyone has a shared sense of belonging and pride.”
Community Safety and Cohesion
Strategic 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.
Strategic Actions How we will achieve our objectives
• Through the delivery of various programmes, support our local communities to improve their resilience and build self-sustainability.
• Deliver comprehensive ‘Good Relations’ activities, with the aim of influencing positive changes to attitudes and knowledge.
• Work in partnership with the ‘Poverty Action Group’ to progress initiatives supporting the most vulnerable across the borough.
• Through the ‘Loneliness Network’ collaborate with statutory and voluntary partners and community groups, to promote and deliver initiatives to tackle loneliness in the borough.
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Corporate Plan 2023-2024
“We will support our citizens to develop a sense of ambition by providing opportunities for lifelong learning.”
Learning for Life
Strategic 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 socioeconomic 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.
Strategic Actions
How we will achieve our objectives
• Deliver a suite of employability programmes to support our citizens to develop their skills, gain qualifications and secure employment.
• Position MEABC as an employer of choice by providing opportunities for work placement/work experience.
• Deliver a suite of environmental education programmes for citizens, businesses and young people across the borough.
• Develop MEABC employees to deliver high quality and responsive services to citizens, through the provision of comprehensive and bespoke training.
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Corporate Plan 2023-2024
“We will support our citizens to improve their physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing, by providing inclusive facilities and spaces where they can be active.”
Good Health and Wellbeing
Strategic Objectives
• Deliver a coordinated partnership approach to improve the physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing of our citizens.
• Ensure our citizens 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.
Strategic Actions How we will achieve our objectives
• Support our citizens to lead healthy and active lives by increasing our offering of physical activity sessions and support schemes across the borough.
• Develop an ‘Age Friendly Action Plan’ to ensure our older citizens feel supported and included within their local communities.
• Encourage the use of outdoor spaces for health and wellbeing, through the delivery of an ‘Outdoor Recreation Strategy’.
• Ensure we continue to provide reliable, value for money services to our citizens by focusing on the health and wellbeing of our employees, and through the management of employee attendance.
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Corporate Plan 2023-2024
“We will work together to realise our potential and provide our citizens and businesses with innovative and cost effective services that benefit the borough as a whole.”
High Performing and Sustainable Council
Strategic Objectives
• Take the lead on delivering both the Community Plan and the Local Development Plan, working effectively with our partners and citizens.
• Increase customer satisfaction with our services through innovation and continuous improvement by proactively engaging with and listening to our citizens, customers and staff.
• 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 values in our day-to-day working environment, ensuring our employees feel supported and motivated to achieve their full potential.
Strategic Actions How we will achieve our objectives
• Ensure we remain responsive to citizen need by developing processes that allow us to engage with, listening to and act on feedback from our stakeholders to increase customer satisfaction with our services.
• Work collaboratively with our community planning partners, to consolidate and capitalise on shared resources to deliver positive outcomes for citizens.
• Ensure we promote sustainable development for the borough across economic, social and environmental dimensions, through the delivery of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• Contribute to a healthy economy by delivering effective and efficient services for the benefit of citizens and businesses across the borough.
• Ensure we remain responsive to employee needs by engaging, listening to and acting on feedback from our employees to increase staff satisfaction levels.
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Corporate Plan 2023-2024
“We will work alongside our citizens and businesses to develop a positive and caring attitude towards the environment through education and empowerment.”
Our Environment
Strategic 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.
Strategic Actions How we will achieve our objectives
• Utilise nature based solutions to aid climate change adaption and improve the health and wellbeing of our citizens across the borough.
• Develop a ‘Tree and Woodland Management Strategy’ to enhance biodiversity, increase carbon store and support ecosystems across the borough.
• Support communities, farmers and local businesses to be more sustainable, reduce carbon emissions and adapt to a changing climate.
• Improve the resource and energy efficiency of our buildings and practices by first establishing baseline data of Council emissions with the goal to reduce costs and our MEABC operation emissions to net zero by 2040.
• Deliver an effective and efficient waste service that supports citizens and businesses to reduce waste.
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Statutory Performance Indicators
The Department for Communities (DfC) set statutory targets for councils in the functional areas of Planning, Economic Development and Waste.
Within each of these areas, a number of performance indicators and targets have been set, as outlined in the table opposite.
Our arrangements to meet these targets are through the delivery of our services in Planning, Economic Development and Waste. They are outlined in our annual business plans and within our Performance Improvement Plan.
We monitor them closely to make sure they are progressing in line with our targets and publish performance updates on our website every 3 months at:
midandeastantrim.gov.uk/ improvement
We also submit progress updates to various regional bodies, who then issue reports showing comparisons between all eleven NI councils.
Corporate Plan 2023-2024
Targets Indicators
The average processing time of major planning applications
The average processing time of local planning applications
The percentage of enforcement cases concluded within 39 weeks
The number of jobs promoted through business start interventions
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
MAXIMUM MINIMUM
30Weeks
MAXIMUM
15 Weeks
70%
MINIMUM
85 Jobs*
MINIMUM
50%
MAXIMUM
16,387Tonnes
There is a requirement by the Department for Communities that each council sets and monitors its own individual target for this indicator annually.
*This target may increase to '111' pending changes to legislation.
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What we are responsible for
We deliver a wide range of key services, as depicted, to help improve the quality of life for our citizens, to promote the borough as a place to visit and do business, and to protect and enhance our natural environment.
AnimalWelfare andDogControl
Arts , Culture andHeritage
BinCollection andRecycling
Building Control
Cemeteries Tourism
Corporate Plan 2023-2024
Community Planning
Parksand OpenSpaces Planning Public Conveniences Community Services EnvironmentalHealth Funding and Investment Registration of Births, Death s , Marriagesand Civil Partnership s RegionalPropertyCertifcates Economic Development Leisure , Recreation andSport Licensing OfStreet Car Parking 30 / 31
What we are not responsible for
Details of your elected representatives can be found on pages 34/35, or alternatively visit midandeastantrim .gov.uk/council/ councillors
There are some common misconceptions about what we are responsible for, and whilst we do not deliver the services outlined below, your elected representatives can advocate and make representations on your behalf to these and other organisations.
For enquiries relating to: Roads, potholes, footpaths, street lights, bridges and on-street car parking
Contact: Department for Infrastructure infrastructure-ni.gov.uk
For enquiries relating to: Water and sewerage, including septic tank clearance
Contact: Northern Ireland Water niwater.com
For enquiries relating to: Electricity
Contact: Northern Ireland Electricity nie.co.uk
For enquiries relating to: Rates
Contact: Land and Property Services nidirect.gov.uk/rates
For enquiries relating to: Housing
Contact: Housing Executive nihe.gov.uk
For enquiries relating to: Penalty Charge Notice issued at of-street car parking
Contact: NSL nidirect.gov.uk/ challengeparkingticket
For enquiries relating to: Flooding
Contact: Flooding Incident Line 0300 200 0100 (24 hour)
Corporate Plan 2023-2024
How we will finance our Corporate Plan
Note This analysis is based upon forecast expenditure in the 2023-2024 financial year.
Where our money comes from District Rates 73% Fees and Charges 11% Grants 13% Other 3%
we will spend our money 10% Capital Financing 17% Corporate 4% Economic Development 19% Parks and Open Spaces 24% Waste and Street Cleansing 4% Tourism, Culture and Heritage 5% Planning and Building Control
Maintenance of Assets
Community, Leisure and Environmental Health 32 / 33
How
1%
16%
Ballymena
Cllr Matthew Armstrong TUV cllr.armstrong@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk
Cllr Colin Crawford UUP cllr.crawford@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk
Cllr Reuben Glover DUP cllr.glover@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk
Cllr John Hyland Alliance Party cllr.hyland@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk
Cllr Bréanainn Lyness Sinn Féin cllr.lyness@ midandeastantrim.org
Cllr Lawrie Philpott DUP cllr.philpott@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk
Cllr Rodney Quigley Independent cllr.quigley@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk
Bannside
Your Council
40 Councillors, elected in 7 District Electoral Areas, working together to create a better future for all in Mid and East Antrim.
Braid
Ald Beth Adger MBE DUP ald.adger@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk
Cllr Alan Barr UUP cllr.barr@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk
Cllr Ian Friary Sinn Féin cllr.friary@ midandeastantrim.org
Cllr Timothy Gaston TUV
cllr.gaston@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk
Ald Tom Gordon DUP ald.gordon@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk
Ald Stewart McDonald TUV ald.mcdonald@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk
Cllr Tyler Hoey DUP cllr.hoey@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk
Cllr Jackson Minford UUP cllr.minford@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk
Cllr Chelsea Harwood Alliance Party cllr.harwood@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk
Cllr Christopher Jamieson TUV cllr.jamieson@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk
Ald William McCaughey DUP ald.mccaughey@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk
Cllr Archie Rae Sinn Féin cllr.rae@ midandeastantrim.org
Cllr Matthew Warwick TUV cllr.warwick@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk
Corporate Plan 2023-2024
Carrick Castle
Ald Billy Ashe MBE DUP ald.ashe@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk
Cllr Cheryl Brownlee DUP cllr.brownlee@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk
Coast Road
Cllr Bethany Ferris UUP
cllr.ferris@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk
Cllr Lauren Gray Alliance Party cllr.gray@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk
Cllr Robin Stewart UUP robin.stewart@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk
Cllr Andrew Clarke DUP cllr.clarke@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk
Cllr James McKeown Sinn Féin cllr.mckeown@ midandeastantrim.org
Ald Maureen Morrow UUP ald.morrow@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk
Ald Gerardine Mulvenna Alliance Party ald.mulvenna@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk
Cllr Angela Smyth DUP cllr.smyth@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk
Knockagh
Cllr Marc Collins DUP cllr.mcollins@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk
Cllr Bobby Hadden Independent cllr.hadden@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk
Larne Lough
Cllr Peter Johnston DUP cllr.pjohnston@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk
Cllr Aaron Skinner Alliance Party cllr.skinner@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk
Ald Andrew Wilson UUP ald.awilson@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk
Cllr Roy Beggs UUP cllr.beggs@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk
Cllr Maeve Donnelly Alliance Party cllr.mdonnelly@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk
Ald Robert Logan Alliance Party ald.logan@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk
Cllr Gregg McKeen DUP cllr.mckeen@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk
Ald Paul Reid DUP ald.reid@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk
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Screening
In accordance with the statutory requirements set out in Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998), whereby Council must carry out its functions having due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity and regard for the desirability to promote good relations, this plan has been subject to an equality screening. The equality screening exercise did not identify any major adverse effects on any Section 75 category or requirements for mitigation and therefore determined that there was no necessity to conduct a full equality impact assessment.
In accordance with the Rural Needs Act Northern Ireland (2016), Council has given due regard to rural needs by carrying out a rural needs impact assessment of this plan.
As part of our statutory duty to promote sustainable development, we carried out Climate and Sustainability screening. This considered the likely impacts of this plan, following the five pillars of the UN Sustainable Development Agenda. No adverse impacts were determined as part of this process.
A Data Protection Impact Assessment screening was also undertaken, and as a result of this, a full Data Protection Impact Assessment was not deemed necessary.
Corporate Plan 2023-2024
Feedback
We are committed to continuously improving our services and as such we welcome your comments or suggestions for improvement areas at any time throughout the year. Please get in touch via: performance@midandeastantrim.gov.uk
If you would like any further information or to request a copy of this plan in an alternative format please contact:
Corporate Performance and Improvement Team Mid and East Antrim Borough Council 1-29 Bridge Street
Ballymena BT43 5EJ performance@midandeastantrim.gov.uk
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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
and East Antrim Borough Council 1-29 Bridge Street Ballymena BT43 5EJ
Mid
Tel: 0300 1245 000 enquiries@midandeastantrim.gov.uk www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk