ARDS AND NORTH DOWN BOROUGH COUNCIL · 2020. 1. 8. · Reynold Nicholson. Network Planning Manager....

ARDS AND NORTH DOWN BOROUGH COUNCIL

8 January 2020 Dear Sir/Madam You are hereby invited to attend a meeting of the Corporate Services Committee of the Ards and North Down Borough Council which will be held in the Council Chamber, 2 Church Street, Newtownards on Tuesday, 14 January 2020 commencing at 7.00pm. Tea, coffee and sandwiches will be available from 6.00pm. Yours faithfully Stephen Reid Chief Executive Ards and North Down Borough Council

A G E N D A

1. Apologies 2. Declarations of Interest

3. Deputations

3.1. Deputation from Southern Division Department of Infrastructure.

(Southern Division: Annual Report 2019/2020 to Ards and North Down Borough Council – Report attached)

4. Budgetary Control Report – November 2019 (Report attached)

5. Prudential Indicators & Treasury Management – 2019/20 In-Year Report

(Report attached)

6. Nomination to Buckingham Palace Garden Party (Report attached)

7. Request to Light Up Council buildings in support of Holocaust Memorial Day (Report attached)

8. Annual Remembrance Event for those who have lost loved ones to Suicide

(Report attached)

9. Civic Awards 2020 (Report attached)

10. Quarterly Report on Equality and Good Relations (Section 75 of The N.I. Act 1998) 1 October 2019 – 31 December 2019 (Report attached)

11. Recruitment of Members to the South Eastern Commissioning Group (Report

attached)

12. Responses to Notice of Motion: (a.) NOM 109 - Imposition of Unregulated Abortion in Northern Ireland (Report attached) (b.) NOM 112 - Integrated Education Fund (Report attached)

13. Any Other Notified Business – Staffing Matter (verbal)

MEMBERSHIP OF CORPORATE SERVICES COMMITTEE (16 Members)

Councillor T Smith (Vice-Chairman) Councillor Gilmour (Chairman) Alderman Keery Councillor Blaney Alderman Gibson Councillor Chambers Alderman Girvan Councillor Dunlop Alderman Irvine Councillor Cooper Alderman McIlveen Councillor Greer Councillor Mathison Councillor McKimm Councillor P Smith

Regent Street , Newtownards Resurfacing and Traffic Signal upgrade

Ards and North Down Borough Council DfI Roads Report — 2019/20

Contents

Page No.

Foreword

Senior Management Structure Southern Division Section 1 - Strategic Road Improvements Section 2 - Network Maintenance 2.1 Completed Asphalt Resurfacing 18/19 2.2 Completed Bitumen Macadam Resurfacing 18/19 2.3 Completed Surface Dressing 18/19 2.4 Completed Footway Reconstruction 18/19 2.5 Completed Drainage Maintenance 18/19 2.6 Completed Coastal Defences 18/19 2.7 Proposed Asphalt and Bitmac Resurfacing 19/20 2.8 Proposed Surface Dressing 19/20 2.9 Proposed Footway Reconstruction 19/20 2.10 Proposed Drainage Maintenance 19/20 2.11 Proposed Coastal Defences 19/20 2.12 Structures Maintenance Completed 18/19 2.13 Structures Maintenance Proposed 19/20 2.14 Winter Service Section 3 - Network Development 3.1 Network Development Completed 18/19 3.2 Network Development Proposed 19/20 Section 4 - Network Planning & Street Lighting 4.1 Development Control 4.2 Private Streets 4.3 Street Lighting 4.4 Strangford Ferry

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4

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12 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 21 21 22

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25 37

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47 50 51 53


Foreword Chairperson and Councillors Ards and North Down Borough Council I have pleasure in submitting my Annual Report on DfI Roads Southern Division work in the Ards

and North Down Borough Council area.

Southern Division is one of four Roads Divisions in the Department and covers the three Council

areas shown on page 5 of this report. We manage and maintain the road network on a daily

basis, commission new works and we are the contact point for road users and public

representatives.

This report deals with works completed in Ards and North Down during the year 2018/2019 and

sets out our initial proposals for schemes to be undertaken in 2019/2020.

The opening capital allocation for structural maintenance is similar to last year and this will enable

the local Section Offices to plan to deliver a reasonable programme of resurfacing schemes. A

portion of this allocation has been provided as an ongoing ‘Roads Recovery Fund’ which gives

flexibility to DfI staff to target those roads which have been adversely impacted by recent under

funding. Thankfully the winter which has just past was much milder than is typical and the

deterioration of the road network has not been as significant as in previous years. This will assist

us as we manage the condition of our roads during this period of continued pressure on public

expenditure. The opening allocation for routine maintenance is also similar to last year which

means that we can deliver two grass cuts across the network, a single gully clean and the

intervention level for potholes on lightly trafficked roads remains at 50mm.

I would draw the Councillors’ attention to two recent reports which outline the pressure faced in

the area of road maintenance. Firstly, a report by the Northern Ireland Auditor General identified

that ‘a growing maintenance backlog of £1.2 billion exists as a result of long-term underfunding’.

This same issue was highlighted in the Barton Review which concluded that £143M should be

spent annually on the road network in Northern Ireland to ensure it is fit for purpose, and over the

last five years this figure has been no more than £100M annually.

It is clear more needs to be done but can I assure you that the staff in DfI Roads are working hard

to ensure the funding we are allocated is targeted to provide the most benefit to the travelling

public. I also wish to thank the Council for its continued support of DfI and for the good working

relations which are a benefit to both organisations.

Simon Richardson Divisional Roads Manager


Arnold Hamilton Network Maintenance Manager Maintenance of existing road network

James Kelly Network Development Manager Improvements and minor works

Simon Richardson Divisional Manager

DfI Roads wishes to build upon the good working relationships it has with Council Members and Officers. The Senior Management Team is listed below, however day to day matters should be raised with the relevant Senior Engineers whose details are listed at the start of each section.

Reynold Nicholson Network Planning Manager Development Control, Private Streets, Local Development Plans and Street Lighting

Liam McEvoy Strategic Road Improvements (SRI) Manager Major works schemes (>£1.5M)


Department for Infrastructure Southern Division HQ Marlborough House Central Way CRAIGAVON Co Armagh BT64 1AD

Tel: 0300 200 7899 (24 hours a day) E-mail: [email protected] Website: https://www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/

In Southern Division we are responsible for approximately 8000km of public road together with 1300 bridges, 250 sets of traffic lights, 82,000 streetlights and over 4000 illuminated signs and bollards. We carry out functions under the headings:-

Strategic Road Improvements – Major capital projects (>£1.5M) on Key Transport Links.

Network Maintenance – Maintenance of the existing network. Maintenance activities include Resurfacing, Surface Dressing and drainage works as well as grass cutting, gully emptying, patching, embankment/verge maintenance, fencing and provision of the Winter Service

Network Development - Improvements to the existing network to improve safety and traffic progression including Minor Works and Local Transport & Safety Measures.

Network Planning - Regulation of additions to the network proposed by developers

Southern Division Southern Division is one of four Client Divisions within DfI Roads. It spans the local Council areas of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, Newry Mourne and Down and Ards and North Down Council Areas (see map below).

mailto:[email protected]:/Users/0692847/Documents/Add-in%20Express

https://www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/


Roads Recovery Fund

As a result of the 2019/20 budget, the Department has been able to allocate £75m to Structural Maintenance across the four Roads Divisions for resurfacing type work. Of this £75m, £10m has been allocated to a Roads Recovery Fund specifically designed to ad-dress the roads which have been worst affected by recent under investment. We will use this fund to carry out short lengths of resurfacing rather than repairing a large number of individual potholes in problem areas. Section Engineers, and their staff, across the Division are identifying the worst locations for inclusion on our works programmes. This work will start early in the new financial year to reduce the number of potholes across the network and help prevent additional defects from forming.

Report a Fault Service

One area of significant workload for DfI Roads staff is dealing with correspondence and, in particular, dealing with correspondence relating to individual defects. In such cases we are continuing to ask the public, and public representatives, to report defects through our “Report a Fault” service rather than writing through normal correspondence. Defects reported through the “Report a Fault” service are recorded directly onto our work plan-ning system and helps get the work done quicker. You can report a fault on-line at the NI Direct Website

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/information-and-services/travel-transport-and-roads/problems-

roads-and-streets

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/information-and-services/travel-transport-and-roads/problems-roads-and-streets

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/information-and-services/travel-transport-and-roads/problems-roads-and-streets


SECTION 1

Strategic Road Improvements

Brian McClelland Strategic Road Improvements Marlborough House Central Way Craigavon BT641AD Tel: 0300 200 7899 E-mail: [email protected]

Strategic Road Improvements Manager: Liam McEvoy Liam is supported by the following staff

Neville Dynes Strategic Road Improvements Marlborough House Central Way Craigavon BT641AD Tel: 0300 200 7899 E-mail: [email protected]

Aloysius Loughran Strategic Road Improvements Marlborough House Central Way Craigavon BT641AD Tel: 0300 200 7899 E-mail: [email protected]

There are currently no Strategic Road Improvement schemes programmed within the Ards and North Down Council area.


SECTION 2

NETWORK MAINTENANCE

Stanley Lamb Section Engineer Ards and North Down Jubilee Road Newtownards BT23 4YH Tel: 0300 200 7899 Email: [email protected]

Network Maintenance Manager: Arnold Hamilton

Arnold is supported by:-

David Ewing Structures, Maintenance Support and Lands Marlborough House Craigavon BT641AD Tel: 0300 200 7899 Email: [email protected]


Explanation of Maintenance Operations

Resurfacing and Strengthening

Roads generally fail by cracking and rutting. They usually do not fail suddenly, but gradually

deteriorate due to the impact of traffic, age and weathering. Wear normally appears as either

excessive permanent deformation of the whole or part of the carriageway structure, or is associated

with the cracking of the bituminous layers.

Roads are normally designed for an operational life of 20 years. During this period and

beyond, there is a need for the highway authority to intervene at times to either treat or replace the

top layer of bituminous material known as the "surface course" or to provide

additional depth to preserve the underlying structure of the road and extend its life.

Resurfacing is the application of a layer of this mixed material of 40mm minimum thickness. It

strengthens the road, seals it against the ingress of water, and improves skidding resistance

and riding quality.

Surface course Bitumen Macadam (Bitmac) has an expected life of 7-12 years which can be

extended by subsequent surface dressing. Bitmac is a more flexible material than Asphalt and

more suitable for the deformation and movement associated with weaker underlying ground

conditions.

Asphalt resurfacing is more appropriate to heavily trafficked roads and junctions having a robust road

base. It is more expensive and has a longer expected life of 15-20 years.

Resurfacing of existing roads can usually be carried out on top of the existing surface

(overlay) but where drainage or kerb levels or bridge heights are restricted the existing

surface may need to be removed before the resurfacing takes place.


Explanation of Maintenance Operations (continued)

Surface Dressing

This process involves spraying a bitumen emulsion binder onto the existing road surface,

followed by a layer of stone chippings, which is then rolled. This seals the road preventing

ingress of water thus extending the life expectancy of the road and also helps to improve the

skid resistance on the surface.

Micro Surfacing

This material is a cold applied bituminous material with a relatively fast setting time. It can be laid in

two courses up to a total thickness of 20mm to allow limited surface re-shaping. Its main benefits, are

that it can be laid quickly with minimal preparatory work thereby reducing traffic disruption. It is suita-

ble for busy urban roads and the new surface can be trafficked within 15 to 20 minutes.

Refurbishment

This is the laying of bituminous materials on roads as one layer over shorter lengths to provide an im-

proved surface.

Drainage Works

The quick and effective drainage of surface water from the carriageway contributes significantly to the

safety of the road. Improvement works carried out include the upgrading of the existing drainage

facilities to ensure effective dispersal of surface water and prevent as far as possible the occurrence

of standing water or flooding of the road. In many cases the provision of new drainage facilities have

to be undertaken including the installation of road gullies, pipes and manholes leading to a suitable

discharge point.


Explanation of Maintenance Operations (continued)

Grass Cutting

Grass cutting is carried out for road safety reasons rather than for amenity purposes. Previous

grass cutting policy allowed for routine cutting of 1 swathe width (approximately 1.2m) twice a

year in rural areas and five times a year in urban areas,

However, this year the policy has been amended and two cuts will be carried out across rural and

urban areas, with the exception of sightlines which were re-cut as necessary.

Gully Emptying

In previous years drainage gullies in urban areas were cleaned twice per year and in rural areas

once per year. Open outlets were also cleaned once per year. However, this year due to finan-

cial constraints routine gully cleaning will only be carried out once in all areas.

Emergency Out of Office Hours Assistance

We have a call centre to deal with calls outside normal office hours.

DfI Roads personnel can be called upon to deal with emergencies such as flooding , obstructions

such as fallen trees, and when requested by Emergency Services, in clearing up after road traffic

collisions.

Routine roads related matters are not dealt with by this service and should be raised with DfI Roads

offices during normal working hours.

The Emergency Out Of Hours telephone number is 0300 200 7899


Network Maintenance Schemes Completed 18/19 2.1 Completed Asphalt Resurfacing

SHORE STREET-DONAGHADEE

BALLOO ROAD BANGOR

Route No Road name/location Area (m2)

A0021 Cherryvalley Line, Comber (TRN Scheme) 10000

U8037 Ashbury Avenue, Bangor 7400

C0367 Churchill, Ballygowan 2300

C0367 Moss Road, Ballygowan 650

C0272 Carrickmannon Road, Ballygowan 4100

B0172 Movilla Roafd, Newtownards 7200

C0252 Ballyblack Road East, Carrowdore 11500

C0251 Crawfordsburn Road, Newtownards 7500

A0029 Killinchy Street, Comber 3800

A0020 Rowreagh Road, Kircubbin 4000

B0178 Hillsborough Roafd, Comber 8200

U9010 Glenburn Road, Newtownards 1300

U8007 Old Belfast Road, Bangor 1425

2.2 Completed Bitumen Macadam Resurfacing


U0207 Kilmood Church Road, Kilmood 4000


Network Maintenance Schemes Completed 18/19 (continued)

2.3 Completed Surface Dressing Route No Road name/location Area (m2)

C0266 Ballyrainey Road, Newtownards 3744

C0266 Ballyrainey Road, Comber 12120

C0269 Hillhead Road, Comber 5170

C0274 Drumreagh Road, Ballygowan 2385

U0205 Drumreagh Road, Ballygowan 6600

U0214 Springmount Road, Bllygowan 5000

U0216 Tullyhubbert Road, Ballygowan 6800

U0310 Blackstaff Road, Kircubbin 13064

U0312 Upper Ballygelagh Road, Cloughey 4503

U0313 Dunevely Road, Cloughey 8914

U0319 Mountain Road, Portaferry 8577

U0317 Loughshore Road, Portaferry 10062

U0302 Barhall Road, Portaferry (1) 12907

U0302 Barhall Road, Portaferry (2) 7652

U0133 Kylestone Road, Bangor 8094

U0133 Lower Balloo Road, Bangor 5621



2.4 Completed Footway Reconstruction

BELFAST ROAD BALLYGOWAN

BOG ROAD PORTAVOGIE

Route No Road name/location

U0291 Victoria Crescent, Newtownards

U0291 Victoria Park, Newtownards

U9010 Glenburn Road, Newtownards

C0367 Churchill, Ballygowan

C0367 Moss Road, Ballygowan

C0272 Carrickmannon Road, Ballygowan

U9109 Park Crescent/Park Way, Comber

U9108 Copeland Crescent/Road, Comber

U9108 Dermott Avenue/Drive/Park, Comber

U9108 Gortin Avenue, Comber

U8014 Elsinore Avenue, Bangor

U8016 Primrose Avenue, Bangor

U8021 Alandale, Bangor

U8023 Fruithill Park, Bangor

U8026 Chippendale Avenue, Bangor

U8026 Ambleside Road, Bangor

U8026 Dorothy Avenue, Bangor

U8026 Charles Mount, Bangor

U8026 Thornleigh Gardens, Bangor

U9016 Queens Street, Newtownards

C0270 Glen Road, Comber



2.5 Completed Drainage Maintenance Works Route No Road name/location

A0021 Ballygowan Road, Comber

U0209 Ballykiegle Road, Comber

U0200 Manor Road, Comber

U0243 Scrabo Road, Newtownards

U9004 High Street, Newtownards

U0223 Tullygarvan Road, Ballygowan

C0263 Belfast Road, Newtownards

U0105 Tullynagardy Road, Newtownards

A0021 Cherryvalley Line, Comber

U0303 Ballyquinton Road, Portaferry ( 2 locations)

U0302 Barhall Road, Portaferry

C0257 Kircubbin Road, Ballywalter

B0172 Movilla Road, Newtownards

A0002 Cloughey Road, Portavogie

A0020 The Square/Church Street, Portaferry

U0146 Killyvolgan Road, Ballywalter

U0105 Ballygrainey Road, Holywood

U8023 Fruithill Park, Bangor

U8023 Brooklyn Avenue, Bangor

U8015 Maxwell Road, Bangor

U8015 Princetown Road, Bangor

C0303 Old Holywood Road, Holywood

U8101 Invergourie Road, Holywood

U8024 Moira Park, Bangor

A0002 Bangor Road, Holywood



2.6 Completed Coastal Defences


A0020 Portaferry Road, Newtownards to Greyabbey

Repairs to sea wall and carriageway sub-structure

A0002 Shore Road, Ballyhalbert

Repairs to sea wall and protection of lay-by


Network Maintenance Schemes Proposed 19/20 2.7 Proposed Asphalt & Bitmac Resurfacing Asphalt

Bitumen Macadam


A0021 Comber Road roundabout, Newtownards (TRN Scheme) 1800

B0020 Crawfordsburn Road, Bangor 1650

A0021 Comber Road, Newtownards 3640

B0020 Grays Hill, Bangor 1800

C0251 Crawforsburn Road, Newtownards 650

B0173 Rubane Road, Kircubbin 8118


U8016 Primrose Avenue, Bangor 196

U9105 Dalton Park, Comber 800

U8007 Lynne Road, Bangor 2100

C0271 Kilcarn Road, Killinchy 3700

U8106 Trevor Street, Holywood 830


Network Maintenance Schemes Proposed 19/20 (continued)

2.8 Proposed Surface Dressing


U0210 The Burn Road, Ballygowan (1) 6040

U0210 The Burn Road, Ballygowan (2) 14246

U0250 Ballygraffan Road, Comber 3884

U0228 Ballymaleddy Road, Ballygowan 5387

U0227 Ballyalloly Road, Ballygowan (1) 4244

U0227 Ballyalloly Road, Ballygowan (2) 2428

U0226 Ballybeen Road, Ballygowan (1) 3210

U0227 Ballybeen Road, Ballygowan (2) 4385

U0381 Ballymorran Road, Killinchy 6909

U0368 Bayvie Road, Killinchy 4918

U0368 Upper Ballymorran Road, Killinchy 1719

U0368 Islandview Road, Killinchy 2775

U0271 Killnakin Road, Killinchy 5610

U0169 Islandhill Road, Millisle 4710

U0113 Killaughey Road South, Millisle 3705

U0112 Ballyhay Road, Donaghadee 8544

U0165 Kilbright Road North, Ballywalter 2535

U0162 Craigboye Road, Millisle 8580

U0105 Ballygrainey Road, Holywood 10534



2.9 Proposed Footway Reconstruction

Route

No Road name/location

U8023 Alanwood Park, Bangor

U8026 James Mount, Bangor

U8001 Church Drive, Bangor

U8004 Greenmount Avenue, Bangor

U8001 Shrewsbury Drive, Bangor

U8001 Chester Avenue, Bangor

U8101 Croft Close/Park, Holywood

U8007 Lynne Road, Bangor

U8106 Trevor Street, Holywood

B0020 Crawfordsburn Road, Newtownards

U9105 Dalton Park, Comber



2.10 Proposed Drainage Maintenance Works

2.11 Proposed Coastal Defences


B0178 Hillsborough Road, Ballygowan

U0326 Ballymacashen Road, Killinchy

U0232 Ballystockart Road, Comber

U0169 Islandhill Road, Millisle

A0002 Ballywalter Road, Millisle

U0119 Cardy Road, Greyabbey

A0048 Newtownards Road, Donaghadee

B0021 High Bangor Road, Donaghadee

U8101 Kintyre Avenue, Holywood

U8019 Lyle Road, Bangor

U8020 Springwell Drive, Groomsport


A0002 Springvale Road, south of Roddens Road

Rock armour repairs

U0005 Kearney Road, Portaferry

Rock armour repairs



Maintenance of Structures Highway Structures include bridges, sign gantries and retaining walls. All bridges must be capa-

ble of carrying 40 tonne vehicles and this requirement has led to the ongoing assessment of

bridges in the area.

Structures Section manages the 1,278 bridges and culverts with a span of 1.8m and greater with-

in the Division, 133 of which are in the Ards & North Down Borough Council Area. Smaller struc-

tures are managed by the local DfI Section Offices.

2.12 Structures Maintenance Schemes Completed in 18/19

Structures Maintenance work completed within Ards & North Down Borough Council;

2.13 Structures Maintenance Schemes Proposed 19/20

Structures maintenance work proposed within Ards & North Down Borough Council in 2018/19;

Other maintenance schemes within the Ards & North Down Borough Council Area will be dependent

on the available budget within the year. All other bridges are inspected routinely. This generates an

ongoing programme of maintenance/repairs to bridges and other structures.

Bridge Name Bridge Number

A20 Culvert at Loughdoo

Killinchy Bridge, Balloo 50178

Moss Road, Millisle 50336

Bridge Name Bridge Number

Carleton Bridge A21 South Street Newtownards 50421



2.14 Network Maintenance - Winter Service 18/19 The aim of winter service is to help, as far as possible, main road traffic to move safely and freely in wintry conditions by spreading salt at the most effective times. It is vital that we cover as much traffic as possible for the available budget and criteria have been devised to identify the roads that would provide the best cost benefits. Within Southern Division, a fleet of 38 gritters and over 140 personnel were available, from mid-October 2018 to mid-April 2019, to salt approximately 2,084 km of main roads. We aim to complete a salting action in just over 3 hours, which is an immense logistical exercise. There was an average of 55 equivalent full salting actions this year over the 26 gritting routes at an approximate cost of £25,000 per action with just over 11,900 tonnes of salt used. These figures do not include work carried out on the M1 and the A1 which are maintained by DBFO companies. Because of the high costs involved, it is essential that our engineers take informed decisions and they are assisted in this task by Met Office staff and the very latest technology. There are currently 21 DFI Roads maintained weather stations across Northern Ireland with an additional 4 stations maintained by the DBFO companies, and with further data provided from 10 sites in Southern Ireland. Information on our salting activities continues to be relayed electronically to the broadcast media to ensure that the latest news on road conditions is available to motorists across Northern Ireland. Additional information, including our winter service leaflet, can be found on our website along with advice on driving in poor weather conditions.


SECTION 3

NETWORK DEVELOPMENT

Network Development Manager: James Kelly

The Network Development Section deals with all matters pertaining to;

Minor Works and Micro Schemes

Traffic Management

Pedestrian Measures

Traffic Calming

Collision Remedial

Safer Routes to School

Bus Priority Measures

Cycling Measures

Road and Lane Closures

Legislation

Heather Bradley Senior Network Development Engineer Rathkeltair House Market Street DOWNPATRICK BT30 6AJ Tel: 0300 200 7899

Email: [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]


LOCAL TRANSPORT AND SAFETY MEASURES

The Regional Transportation Strategy (RTS) identified the importance of Local

Transport and Safety Measures (LTSM) and highlighted some of the principal

initiatives to be addressed, including:

local improvements in towns across Northern Ireland to assist pedestrians

and cyclists;

local highway infrastructure measures to improve safety, such as collision

remedial schemes and traffic calming schemes; and

Network Development schemes (minor works).

LTSM expenditure tends to be widely spread and most communities benefit, as

an individual scheme is relatively low cost in comparison to the cost of projects

on the Strategic Works programme. They are usually very visible measures

and provide good value for money in terms of a safer road transport system,

which benefits society, the economy, the environment; and actively contributes

to everyone’s quality of life.


3.1 NETWORK DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES COMPLETED 18/19

PEDESTRIAN MEASURES

A48, NEWTOWNARDS ROAD at Cotton, DONAGHADEE – Infill Footway This scheme was identified to improve accessibility and safety for pedestrians in Cotton

and was split into 2 sections with the infill footway along the A48 Newtownards Road at the

new development at Avonmore Court being delivered by the Department under Private

Streets funding.

Original verge at Avonmore Court

This section of the footway has now been successfully completed.

Footway provision completed Nov 2018



PEDESTRIAN MEASURES - CONTROLLED CROSSINGS

Two new controlled Puffin Crossings were installed in Summer 2018 at the following locations:

CASTLE STREET, COMBER

at Post Office

CIRCULAR RD, NEWTOWNARDS

at Regent House School

The crossings will help improve safety for pedestrians and encourage more walking in the

area.




The following signalised junctions were upgraded during autumn 2018 with new equipment,

(signals, poles etc) including PUFFIN crossing facilities and MOVA traffic technology to improve

traffic progression.

HARDFORD LINK, TALBOT STREET, WILLIAM STREET, CRAWFORDSBURN ROAD

NEW- TOWNARDS

REGENT STREET, CHURCH STREET, FREDERICK STREET, WILLIAM STREET

NEWTOWNARDS



TRAFFIC CALMING

A2 MILLISLE ROAD DONAGHADEE—CENTRAL ISLANDS

Two central pedestrian islands were provided in May 2019 on the A2 Millisle Road, close to

No 99 Millisle Road and approximately 15m north of Sunnydale Avenue.

Dropped kerbs, tactile paving and central hatching road markings will prevent overtaking,

reduce speeds and assist pedestrians crossing this busy road.


COLLISION REMEDIAL

The Department receives data from the PSNI on all personal injury collisions for engi-

neering purposes. This information is assessed and areas where clusters of incidents

have occurred are identified for further examination to determine the nature of the col-

lisions, contributory factors and possible patterns. When engineering methods can be

applied to address or improve the situation design proposals are then drawn up and

implemented on a priority basis.

While we regret and are concerned about all road traffic collisions, and give a high pri-

ority to accident reduction and prevention measures, you can appreciate that traffic

collisions can be caused by a wide range of contributory factors, not all of which can

be influenced or controlled by the provision of engineering measures.

A review of collision data provided by PSNI has identified common issues at the fol-

lowing locations which can be improved by the provision of engineering measures.

CARRICKMANNON ROAD / STATION ROAD / KILCARN ROAD, ARDS

High friction surfacing and enhanced warning signage has been provided on Carrick-

mannon Road, Station Road and Kilcarn Road . The provision of high friction surfac-

ing is the preferred treatment to address rear end shunts to raise driver awareness

and improve safety on the approach to the junction.



COLLISION REMEDIAL

ZION PLACE ROUNDABOUT, NEWTOWNARDS

Spiral road markings and lane delineation with associated signs have been introduced on

the roundabout at Zion Place to help to reduce conflicts between vehicles as they exit the

roundabout.

Spiral road markings involve a series of lane-gains and lane-drops around the circulatory

carriageway of the roundabout so that drivers enter in the lane appropriate for their desired

exit and follow that lane around the roundabout to be led off at the exit.



COLLISION REMEDIAL

B178 HILLSBOROUGH ROAD, COMBER

Approximately 380 metres of high friction surfacing was provided in Summer 2018 on

Hillsborough Road to address a series of single vehicle collisions on the bends.




CYCLING MEASURES

A2 BANGOR TO BELFAST DUAL CARRIAGEWAY from BALLYROBERT ROAD TO

COOTEHALL ROAD — CYCLE LANES

Following the completion of the necessary legislation, a shared cycle / footway was com-

pleted over the summer months on the north side of the Bangor to Belfast dual carriage-

way to provide cycle facilities from Ballyrobert Road junction to Cootehall Road.

A2 GRANSHA ROAD BANGOR TO B21 DONAGHADEE ROAD BANGOR — CYCLE

LANES

Following the increase in cycling activity in the Gransha Road area, a route from Gransha

Road Roundabout to Donaghadee Road through Broadway has been provided to encour-

age cyclists to use quiet streets to gain access to the town centre.



TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT ACCESSIBLE PARKING BAYS

71 Blenheim Drive, Newtownards

55 Blenheim Drive, Newtownards

67 Mill Street, Comber

Mill Street, Newtownards, adjacent to Public Toilets

21 Ardmillan Crescent, Newtownards

31 High Street, Donaghadee

26 Ann Street, Portaferry

ACCESSIBLE PARKING BAYS REMOVED

10 Auster Park, Newtownards

164 Mill Street, Newtownards

12 Lower Crescent, Comber

13 Park Crescent, Comber

21 High Street, Portaferry

To the rear of 21 Anne Street, Portaferry

15 Warren Road, Donaghadee



TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT - SPEED LIMITS

PART TIME 20MPH SPEED LIMIT AT SCHOOLS

The Department has introduced part-time speed limits of 20mph outside two rural primary

schools in the Ards and North Down area. The part time 20mph speed limits are targeted at

rural locations where the national speed limit (60mph) applies.

The 20mph part time speed limit is now effective at the following schools;

Ballyvester Primary School – Killaughey Road, Donaghadee

Carrickmannon Primary School – Car-

rickmannon Road, Ballygowan

New legislation reduces the National Speed Limit

to 20mph for a short time at the start and end of

the school day when pupils are arriving in the

morning and leaving school in the afternoon. This

is for a distance of 400 - 500 metres along adja-

cent roads in the vicinity of each school and is en-

forceable by the PSNI.

Motorists should be aware of, and adhere to, the

new arrangements in the vicinity of these schools.

Lighting on the signs (Wig Wag lights) will advise motorists when the speed limit is in effect.

These signs remain off for most of the time but light up at the start and end of the school day.

Post scheme speed surveys have indicated a significant decrease in average speed at these

sites, when the Wig Wag lights are active. Analysis of the pre scheme and post scheme

speed surveys have shown an average drop of up to 16 mph at Ballyvester Primary School

and an average drop of up to 9 mph at Carrickmannon Primary School. The PSNI will continue


ROAD MARKINGS provided

Belfast Road,Newtownards - 4 SLOW markings.

Frances Street,Newtownards—T Bar marking

Glenford Road,Newtownards—T Bar marking

Millisle Road,Donaghadee – Lay by and zig zag markings

Belfast Road,Comber—T Bar marking

Killinchy Street,Comber—T Bar markings

Carrickmannon Road,Ballygowan - 2 SLOW markings.

Balloo Hamlet—15m corner restrictions plus T bar marking

Junction of Crawfordsburn Road/Glenview Court, Bangor -15m corner restriction

Bryansburn Road, Bangor - 2 T bar markings

High Street, Holywood—31m extension to double yellow lines

Holywood, Junction of My Lady’s Mile and Ardlee Avenue—15m corner restriction

Whinney Hill, Holywood– SLOW marking’

Castle Street , Bangor –Terminal marking and T Bar marking

Springhill Avenue, Crawfordsburn Park, Bangor –15m corner restriction

Springhill Road, Innisfayle Avenue, Bangor—15m corner restriction

WAITING RESTRICTIONS provided

Grange Road, Bangor - Legislation to cover existing School Keep Clear markings

Portavogie Primary School, Harbour Road, Portavogie – Legislation covering existing school

keep clear markings

Millisle Primary School, Abbey Road, Millisle – Legislation covering existing school keep

clear markings

Frances Street, Newtownards – On Street Parking Restrictions


TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT


TRAFFIC SIGNS provided

Mount Stewart Road, Newtownards – 2 HORSE warning signs

Belfast Road, Newtownards—40mph repeater signs

Belfast Road,Newtownards—Double bend for 1 mile warning sign on yellow backing

High Street, Comber– Directional sign

Comber Bypass— Reduce Speed Now sign

Canneyreagh Road,Donaghadee—School signage on yellow backing

A20 Rowreagh Road,Kircubbin—install chevron signs plus reflector posts

Deerpark Road / Loughdoo Road junction, Kircubbin—existing direction sign raised

Loughdoo Road, Kircubbin—Give way ahead 175yds sign

A2 Cloughey Road,Portaferry—install chevron signs plus reflector posts

Lough Shore,Portaferry – Directional sign

Steel Dickson Park, Portaferry—2 Playground Signs

Lisbarnett Road, Lisbane at Ballybunden Road - 750 give way sign on yellow back-

ing

Ballyhaft Road, Loughries- 30mph gateway and repeater signs

A2 Newtownards Road, Bangor – Available headroom at arch bridge sign on yellow

backing

A2 Bangor Road/Bangor Road Holywood - 30mph on yellow back and 40mph sign

Crawfordsburn Village—30mph and National speed limit sign

Hamilton Road Bangor- 3 directional arrows on grey backing

We hope to continue our programme of replacing internally illuminated bollards with reflec-

tive bollards, as resources permit, thus helping to reduce energy costs


TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT


3.2 NETWORK DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES PROPOSED 19/20

MINOR WORKS

A2 BANGOR / BELFAST ROAD at BALLYMONEY ROAD junction - Installation of

traffic signals

A scheme has been identified to provide traffic signals at the junction of Ballymoney Road to aid road safety and traffic progression. The provision of traffic signals will reduce the risk of collisions caused by right turn ma-noeuvres as motorists will be less likely to take risks when they know they will be given the opportunity to do so as part of the traffic signal sequence.

A2 / Ballymoney Road junction

A2 / Craigdarragh Road junction

The new traffic signals will be co-ordinated with the existing signals at Craigdarragh Road to aid traffic progression along this busy route. The A2 Belfast to Bangor road is part of our strategic road network and is one of the key routes on our Trunk Road Network. The road carries in excess of 45,000 vehicles per day and upwards of 5000 vehicles per hour at peak times. At this location the annual average daily traffic flow is 35,000 vehicles.



PEDESTRIAN MEASURES

A2 DONAGHADEE ROAD, GROOMSPORT — HARDSTANDING AND INFILL FOOTWAY

A hardstanding and a section of new footway was identified for provision in 2018/19 howev-

er due to issues this is now scheduled to be completed in 2019/20. The aim of the scheme

is to improve accessibility and road safety for pedestrians who regularly walk along the A2

Donaghadee Road from the junction with Lower Balloo Road to the bus stop 110m west of

the junction.

Uncontrolled pedestrian crossings will be provided as part of the proposed Traffic

Calming measures at the following locations:-

A20 Portaferry Road, Newtownards

A2 Belfast Road, Bangor

B109 Clandeboye Road, Bangor




New PUFFIN CROSSINGS have been identified for provision this financial year at the following

locations;

B21, Donaghadee Road adjacent to Windmill Road / Chippendale Avenue, Bangor.

A21, Bangor Road adjacent to Victoria Road, Newtownards

A number of EXISTING PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS are due to be upgraded to PUFFIN

CROSSINGS at the following locations;

A21 Bangor Road, Newtownards adjacent to Zion Place.

A48, Donaghadee Road, Newtownards adjacent to Movilla High School

A48, Donaghadee Road, Newtownards adjacent to Cronstown Road.

B172, Movilla Road, Newtownards in close proximity to junction of Abbott Drive,

Stratheden Heights, Newtownards.

The triple pelican at High Street / Bingham Street junction, Bangor

These upgrades will improve pedestrian safety and introduce the latest PUFFIN technology and

software.

A TRAFFIC SIGNAL JUNCTION UPGRADE incorporating PUFFIN facilities will be undertaken

at ;

Hardford Link, Blair Mayne Rd North, Church Street and Belfast Rd, Newtownards

This scheme is proposed to upgrade the existing equipment, (signals, poles etc) and introduce

MOVA traffic technology to improve traffic progression along with PUFFIN crossing facilities.



TRAFFIC CALMING

A20 PORTAFERRY ROAD NEWTOWNARDS— CENTRAL ISLANDS

Two traffic islands, two pedestrian islands and central hatching road markings are planned

for delivery to assist pedestrians, reduce speeds and prevent overtaking along this busy

route. The pedestrian islands, with associated dropped kerbs and tactile paving will provide

a safe crossing area on the pedestrian desire lines close to Londonderry Park to the Texaco

garage and close to Old Shore Road. Waiting restrictions are currently being processed

through legislation to address the current parking pattern at weekends close to the proposed

island beside the Ards Football Grounds.

A2 BELFAST ROAD, BANGOR— CENTRAL ISLANDS

It is proposed to provide central pedestrian islands with associated dropped kerbs and tac-

tile paving on Belfast Road from Springhill Flyover towards the town centre, to assist pedes-

trians cross this busy road and prevent overtaking. We will also provide central hatching

road marking to improve driver awareness and reduce vehicular speeds.

B109 CLANDEBOYE ROAD, BANGOR—CENTRAL ISLANDS

It is proposed to provide central pedestrian islands on the B109 Clandeboye Road in Bangor

with associated dropped kerbs, tactile paving and central hatching road markings to assist

pedestrians crossing this busy road and prevent overtaking. These works will be carried out

in conjunction with the resurfacing works from along Clandeboye Road from West Circular

Road to south of Avonlea Park.


COLLISION REMEDIAL

A21 COMBER ROAD / CAMBOURNE ROAD, NEWTOWNARDS

A review of collision data provided by PSNI has identified rear end shunts as a common

factor on collisions at this location. The provision of high friction surfacing is the preferred

treatment for such incidents to raise driver awareness and improve safety on the ap-

proach to the junction.

In association with resurfacing of A21 scheduled for June 2019, high fiction surfacing will

be provided to aid reduction in collisions on the Newtownards bound carriageway on the

approach to the junction with Cambourne Road

COMBER ROAD ROUNDABOUT AT MESSINES ROAD, NEWTOWNARDS

In association with resurfacing of A21 scheduled for June 2019, spiral road markings, al-

terations to existing road markings with associated signs and a dedicated left turn lane for

Portaferry from Newtownards will be introduced on the roundabout at Comber Road to

help reduce conflicts between vehicles on and around the roundabout.

Spiral road markings involve a series of lane-gains and lane-drops around the circulatory

carriageway of the roundabout so that drivers enter in the lane appropriate for their de-

sired exit and follow that lane around the roundabout to be led off at the exit.

A21 NEWTOWNARDS ROAD AT GREENS ROAD

The provision of right turn signals on the existing traffic signal system is scheduled to be

completed in 2019/20. The right turn signals will control traffic travelling from Newtown-

ards into Greens Road and from Bangor to Haldane Fishers and address a collision histo-

ry from vehicles failing to give way to oncoming traffic.




TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT - ACCESSIBLE PARKING BAYS to be provided

49 Victoria Avenue, Newtownards

56 John Street,Newtownards

15 Shore Street,Donaghadee

12 Manor Street,Donaghadee

5 Lime Grove,Comber

19 Castle Street.Comber ( 2 hour max stay)

24 Main Street,Kircubbin

18 Windsor Gardens, Bangor

19 Primrose Street, Bangor

40 Beatrice Road, Bangor

53 Beatrice Road, Bangor

1 Lisadell Place, Bangor

ACCESSIBLE PARKING BAYS to be REMOVED

15 Primrose Avenue, Bangor

Accessible Parking bay applications will be assessed before the completion of the neces-

sary legislative process. Successful applications are required to be notified in local news-

papers offering the opportunity for the general public to submit their views. Any objec-

tions must be fully considered before the application can progress to the legislative.

Because of the processes involved, applications are required to be grouped and pro-

cessed in batches on two or maybe three occasions during the year.



TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT

SPEED LIMITS

Following a speed limit review of the following areas, in line with current policy, and confir-

mation by the PSNI that they are content with the proposals, a speed limit will be pro-

cessed through legislation at the following location;

A49 Donaghadee Road, Newtownards—extension to existing 40mph speed limit to

cover proposed new roundabout

WAITING RESTRICTIONS to be provided

Manse Road Newtownards – Waiting Restriction, Monday to Friday,8am to 6:30pm

U9600 Comber Road, Ballygowan adjacent to Alexander Dickson Primary

School

— 24 Hour restriction in turning head

A20 Portaferry Road, Newtownards at proposed uncontrolled crossing point -

24 Hour restriction



TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT TRAFFIC SIGNS to be provided

Cunningburn Road, Newtownards (11a) – chevron signage on yellow backing

High Bangor Road,Newtownards— junction right warning sign

High Bangor Road,Newtownards— bend left warning sign

Miller Park Drive North,Newtownards—No through Road sign

Stockbridge Road,Donaghadee— 2no horse warning signs

Canneyreagh Road,Donaghadee—School signage on yellow backing

Glen Road / Ballystockart Road junction, Comber — upgraded junction and advanced

junction ahead signage

A2 Newtownards Road, Bangor – Available headroom at arch bridge sign on yellow

backing

A2 Bangor Road/Bangor Road Holywood - 30mph on yellow back and 40mph sign

Crawfordsburn Village—30mph and National speed limit sign

Hamilton Road Bangor- 3 directional arrows on grey backing

We hope to continue our programme of replacing internally illuminated bollards with reflec-

tive bollards, as resources permit, thus helping to reduce energy costs


ROAD MARKINGS to be provided

Talbot Street,Newtownards—T Bar marking

Mark Street,Newtownards—T Bar marking

John Street Lane Newtownards—T Bar marking

East Street,Newtownards—T Bar marking

Mill Street Court,Newtownards - 15m Corner Restriction markings.

Manor Court,Newtownards - 15m Corner Restriction markings.

Ballystockart Road, Comber junction and slow markings

Glen Road, Comber junction and slow markings

Bow Street,Donaghadee—on street parking markings.

Well Road Ballywalter—T Bar marking

Ballywalter Gardens, Bangor- T Bar marking

Junction of Crawfordsburn Road/Glenview Court, Bangor -15m corner restriction

Bryansburn Road, Bangor - 2 T bar markings

High Street, Holywood—31m extension to double yellow lines

Holywood, Junction of My Lady’s Mile and Ardlee Avenue—15m corner restriction

Whinney Hill, Holywood– SLOW marking’

Castle Street , Bangor –Terminal marking and T Bar marking

Springhill Avenue, Crawfordsburn Park, Bangor –15m corner restriction

Millisle Road,Donaghadee – Lay by and zig zag markings

Belfast Road,Comber—T Bar marking

Frances Street,Newtownards—T Bar marking

Killinchy Street,Comber—T Bar marking

Glenford Road,Newtownards—T Bar marking

Balloo Hamlet—15m corner restrictions plus T bar marking



SECTION 4 NETWORK PLANNING & STREETLIGHTING Network Planning Manager: Reynold Nicholson Reynold is supported in Ards and North Down by the following staff :-

Rowan Laughlin Senior Engineer Development Control Rathkeltair House Downpatrick Telephone: 0300 200 7899 Email: [email protected]

Eddie Lynn Senior Engineer Street Lighting Depot Carn Industrial Estate PORTADOWN Telephone: 0300 200 7899 Email: [email protected]

Thomas Kelly Senior Engineer Private Streets Marlborough House Craigavon Telephone: 0300 200 7899 Email: [email protected]

Sid Stevenson Senior Engineer Local Development Planning Marlborough House Craigavon Telephone: 0300 200 7899 Email: [email protected]


4.1 Development Control

Planning Applications

In carrying out their planning functions Councils have a duty to consult a range of statutory

bodies. DfI Roads on behalf of the Department for Infrastructure has entered into an

agreement with each Council to provide views and advice on roads and transportation re-

lated issues.

DfI Roads in its consideration of planning applications, takes into account aspects of de-

velopment which could prejudice traffic progression and safety in terms of junction capaci-

ty, access arrangements, parking standards and provision, road width, radii, gradients,

drainage and sight lines. This consideration usually involves site visits and technical work.

Compliance with transport policy and compatibility with road infrastructure is taken into ac-

count as well as any need for developer led improvements. Proposals are also checked

for potential encroachment upon any future road lines. A detailed Transport Assessment

may be required for larger developments where potential traffic impact may extend to road

junctions some distance from the development site and where infrastructure improvements

are deemed necessary as mitigation. For smaller developments a Transport Assessment

Form is required to be completed by the applicant in order to ascertain the likely impact.

In the case of housing developments, the Private Streets (NI) Order 1980 is applied if a

planning application includes streets which are to become public and maintainable by the

Department. Development Control along with the associated Private Streets Section de-

termines the area to be adopted, arranges for the calculation of the bond amount, super-

vises construction of the streets and, following satisfactory completion by the developer,

completes the process for adoption into the public road network. Should the developer not

complete the street, DfI Roads can take appropriate enforcement action under the Private

Streets Order to ensure satisfactory completion of works funded by the bond.

Other Development Control work includes participating in pre-application discussions and

planning meetings, preparation of evidence and presentation of this at Planning Appeals.

Assistance is given with enforcement cases associated with breaches of planning control.

Input is provided for the use of planning case officers at Council Planning Committee

meetings with attendance by Development Control Officers as required.


During the reporting period from 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019 within the Ards and North

Down Borough Council Area, our Development Control Team dealt with:

Planning Applications: 777

Pre-Planning Enquiries: 28

Of the above applications 46 were housing developments involving the Private Streets (NI)

Order 1980.

Examples of major applications being dealt with include:

Housing lands zoned under the Ards & Down Area Plan 2015

Housing Development, Little Enler, Comber

Housing Development, Rathgael Road, Bangor

Housing Developments, Movilla Road, Donaghadee Road, Newtownards

Housing Developments, Brooklands, Newtownards

Cannyreagh Road, Housing Donaghadee

Marm / Lidl site Comber Road Newtownards

Mount Pleasant Housing Scrabo Road Newtownards

and other applications of significance were:

Redevelopment of Priory Inn, Holywood

Redburn Square /Hibernia Street mixed use Holywood

The Maltings housing Portaferry Road Newtownards

In February 2019 Development Control officers participated in a training day for Council plan-

ning and administrative staff to explain the statutory consultation and assessment process as-

sociated with the role of DfI Roads.

Licensing of Pavement Cafes Act (NI) 2014

Development Control also responds to the Council in respect of applications under the Licens-

ing of Pavement Cafes Act (NI) 2014 and gives advice on various adhoc matters such as plac-

ing of planters and signage.


Roads (NI) Order 1993, Article 80 Article 80 applies to new vehicular accesses on to unclassified roads or agricultural accesses

on to classified and unclassified roads. It covers proposals such as new driveway entrances

and dropped kerbs and is used where planning permission is not required.

During the reporting period DfI Roads dealt with 63 Article 80 applications.

Development Control also provides evidence in respect of associated Article 84 appeals which

are determined by the Planning Appeals Commission.


4.2 Private Streets

Enforcement

Private Streets Section endeavours to work with developers to ensure that streets are brought up

to an adoptable standard without delay. If the developer does not complete the street works or

ceases trading and house building and occupancy is sufficiently advanced, then DfI Roads will

take enforcement action and appoint its own contractor, recovering the costs of works from the

road bond under Article 13 and 15 of the Private Streets (NI) Order 1980. The Section also takes

action against developers who fail in their responsibility to take out a bond.

Property Certificates Private Streets Section coordinates the DfI Roads response to Property Certificate Enquiries.

A total of 8984 Property Certificate Enquiries were processed during the reporting period in

Southern Division

During the reporting period DfI Roads completed and adopted street works within the following

developments through such enforcement under the provisions of the Private Streets (NI) Order

1980:

Lakeview, Newtownards

Ardnavalley Park, Newtownards

Orchard Drive, Killinchy

Cranfield Grange, Kircubbin

Castlemeadows Cloughey

Drumfad Bay, Millisle

It is anticipated that in the next 12 months enforcement action will be initiated in respect of:

Orchard Drive Whiterocks

The Stables Carrowdore

Warren Villas, Donaghadee

Ballybarnes Meadow, Newtownards


4.3 Street Lighting

The total number of lights in Southern Division is approximately 82,000 of which approximately

26,000 (26%) are within the Ards and North Down Borough Council area.

Minor Works/Upgrading Schemes

Work has been completed or is nearing completion on the following schemes

Location Town/Townland No of Lights

Perry Park Bangor 5

Newtownards Road Roundabout

Bangor 9

Robinson Road/Marlo Park Bangor 37

Fruithill Park Bangor 6

Wallace Street/Place Newtownards 13

Steel Dickson Gardens Portaferry 6

Carnesure Park Comber 9

Ann Street Portaferry 25

Beverly Road/ Park Newtownards 19

Upgrading of existing street lighting to LED Lanterns In 2018/2019 Southern Division Street lighting upgraded 1667 existing lanterns to new LED

lanterns. The up-grade of these lanterns to LED will contribute towards the reduction in

maintenance and energy bills.

Street Lighting Maintenance Since April 2015, DfI Roads only repairs those defective street lights reported by the public or

their representatives. In order to facilitate this process, reports of defective lights can now be

made directly on line via the NIDirect website at the web address:

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/services/report-street-light-fault

Reports made via this web page automatically generate a works order to the appropriate contrac-

tor to have the defect repaired.

Reports can also be made by telephone at 0300 200 7899.

Priority is given to emergency defects i.e. those defects posing a direct structural or electrical

hazard, then to groups of lights out, groups of lights burning continuously and finally to individual

lights out.

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/services/report-street-light-fault


Repair of faults to streetlights Our response times are:-

Emergency, responded to an RTC within an hour and a half to site (1.5hrs) where a street

lighting column has been damaged.

This is only to make safe and protect the public from danger to exposure of live cables or the col-

umn falling down.

Urgent, respond within twenty four hours (24hrs). This is to reinstate a knockdown of a

column possibly at a critical junction.

Normal lamp maintenance within five days (5 days).

Where resources permit, external contractors are employed to assist our in-house engineers with

maintenance.

It is not always possible to fulfil the 5 day response. This can be down to a combination of fac-

tors. The amount of outages on the system, cable faults on the cable network or staff shortages.

We also try to ensure that at least 95% of street lights are recorded as working on the LMS at any

time, subject to budget being available.

The LED retro fit programme is continuing across the division. The intention is to reduce energy

and maintenance costs by replacing old Sox and Son Lanterns. These are expensive to maintain

and the ability to replace parts is diminishing as the production of these parts are being run down.

In the past year we have reduced our energy consumption by almost 1 giga watt.


4.4 Strangford Ferry

General Level of Service

In general the ferry service has operated smoothly during the period 1 April 2018 to 31 March

2019. Of a total of 22,176 scheduled sailings, 169 were cancelled because of weather and tide

conditions. A further 30 sailings were cancelled due to mechanical breakdowns, staffing difficul-

ties and a member of the public requiring urgent medical attention. This represents an overall

reliability of 99.59%.

Disposal of MV Rachlyn

Negotiations relating to the disposal of MV Rachlyn (passenger only vessel) are ongoing and be-

ing managed by DfI Roads & Rivers Transport Projects Team.

Revised Timetable

Investigations are ongoing into extending working hours to enable the provision of an additional

early morning weekday sailing from Portaferry.

Unclassified

Page 1 of 16

ITEM 4

Ards and North Down Borough Council

Report Classification Unclassified

Council/Committee Corporate Services

Date of Meeting 14 January 2020

Responsible Director Director of Finance and Performance

Responsible Head of Service

Head of Finance

Date of Report 18 December 2019

File Reference FIN45

Legislation Section 5 Local Government Finance Act (NI) 2011

Section 75 Compliant Yes ☐ No ☐ Not Applicable ☒

Subject Budgetary Control Report – November 2019

Attachments This Budgetary Control Report covers the 8-month period 1 April to 30 November 2019 and the Revenue Budgetary Control Report by Directorate is set out in Report 1 on page 3. The Council has a deficit of £769,322 (box A) compared with a budgeted deficit of £200,000 (box B) resulting in an adverse variance of £569,322 (box C). As part of the 2020/21 budgeting process Heads of Service and Service Unit Managers have estimated end of year outturns for their Services and this information has been used for the end of year forecasts included on page 3. This indicates that the Council’s financial outturn will be £856,700 (box A1) compared with a budget of £300,000 resulting in a forecast adverse variance of £556,700. Explanation of Variance The Council’s budget performance is further analysed on pages 3-5 into 3 key areas: - Report Type Variance Box Page Report 2 Payroll Expenditure £610,239 adverse D 4 Report 3 Non-Payroll Expenditure £95,902 favourable E 5 Report 4 Income £54,985 adverse F 6

Unclassified

Page 2 of 16

Boxes D, E and F add up to the Council’s overall adverse variance (Box C - £569,322). Explanations for each of the Directorates and Non-Service Income and Expenditure are included in Appendix 1. A summary of the financial performance of Ards Blair Mayne Wellbeing & Leisure Centre is, also, shown on Appendix 1. An action plan is under development which will help address the Centre’s overspend. Appendix 2 gives the analysis of expenditure and income by budget analysis.

Explanation of Variance

The overall Council adverse variance (£569,322 – box C Report 1) can be summarised by the following table: - Type Variance

£’000 Comment

Payroll Expenditure 610.2 Services payroll underspends are less than rebasing budget. Mainly Community & Wellbeing £407.4k.

Non-Payroll Expenditure (95.9)

There are a number of favourable and adverse variances across the Council. Mainly Community & Wellbeing £112.6k.

Income 55.0

Rates income £84.0k, Trade Waste income £251.7k and Planning income £34.0k adverse. A number of Services are showing favourable income variances – Community Centres £38.3k, Environmental Health £28.5k, Burial Income £40.6k, Recycled Waste £35.8k, NET £30.3k, Tourism £31.4k, Land & Property £40.7k.

Total 569.3 Box C on Report 1

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Page 3 of 16

Note Year to Date Actual

Year to Date Budget

Variance Annual Budget

Variance EOY Forecast

£ £ £ £ % £

Community & Wellbeing

100 Community & Wellbeing HQ 151,026 156,500 (5,474) 230,000 3.5 215,800

110 Environmental Health 1,190,251 1,161,400 28,851 1,803,500 2.5 1,817,100

120 Community and Culture 1,390,155 1,452,600 (62,445) 2,075,000 4.3 1,990,800

130 Leisure and Amenities 3,686,720 3,471,227 215,493 5,134,500 6.2 5,233,200 - - -

Totals 6,418,151 6,241,727 176,424 9,243,000 2.8 9,256,900

Environment

200 Environment HQ 112,045 115,900 (3,855) 174,700 3.3 168,200

210 Waste and Cleansing Services 9,494,006 9,193,400 300,606 13,248,600 3.3 13,719,000

220 Assets and Property Services 4,385,166 4,417,200 (32,034) 7,211,000 0.7 7,013,000

230 Regulatory Services 235,157 286,200 (51,043) 538,600 17.8 549,000

Totals 14,226,375 14,012,700 213,675 21,172,900 1.5 21,449,200

Regen, Development & Planning

300 Regen, Dev & Planning HQ 255,346 254,400 946 537,400 0.4 557,700

310 Regeneration 535,260 591,100 (55,840) 1,130,300 9.4 879,600

320 Economic Development 715,339 731,000 (15,661) 1,218,100 2.1 1,249,900

330 Planning 712,885 704,100 8,785 1,207,400 1.2 1,219,000

340 Tourism 1,337,508 1,395,150 (57,642) 2,079,600 4.1 1,983,200

Totals 3,556,338 3,675,750 (119,412) 6,172,800 3.2 5,889,400

Finance & Performance

400 Finance & Performance HQ 78,371 78,200 171 117,400 0.2 117,700

410 Internal Audit 27,090 32,400 (5,310) 62,000 16.4 54,000

420 Finance 846,546 883,900 (37,354) 1,293,200 4.2 1,229,500

430 Strategic Transformation and Performance 1,301,486 1,298,200 3,286 1,831,100 0.3 1,788,200

440 Strategic Capital Development 281,127 273,500 7,627 425,700 2.8 434,500

Totals 2,534,621 2,566,200 G (31,579) 3,729,400 1.2 3,623,900

Org Development & Administration

500 OD & Admin HQ 93,944 95,000 (1,056) 142,600 1.1 140,900

510 HR & OD 678,543 666,200 12,343 1,013,600 1.9 1,080,900

520 Administration & Customer Svcs 2,117,499 2,292,100 (174,602) 3,687,200 7.6 3,452,700

Totals 2,889,986 3,053,300 H (163,314) 4,843,400 5.3 4,674,500

Chief Executive

600 Chief Executive 636,317 649,600 (13,283) 930,600 2.0 887,600

610 Community Planning 116,963 113,900 3,063 171,900 2.7 179,100

620 Corporate Communications 307,899 314,800 (6,901) 506,600 2.2 485,000

Totals 1,061,179 1,078,300 I (17,121) 1,609,100 1.6 1,551,700

Rebasing Payroll Budget

700 Rebasing Payroll Budget - (400,000) 400,000 (600,000) - 0

Total - (400,000) J 400,000 (600,000) - 0

NET COST OF SERVICES 30,686,650 30,227,977 458,673 46,170,600 1.5 46,445,600

Non Service Income and Expenditure

910 Capital Financing 4,377,600 4,349,600 28,000 6,424,500 0.6 6,587,200

920 Bank Interest (49,208) (40,500) (8,708) (55,200) (21.5) (70,000)

930 Year End Transactions 50,741 51,300 (559) (1,503,600) 1.1 (1,498,800)

940 District Rates & Grants (34,296,461) (34,388,377) 91,916 (50,736,300) 0.3 (50,607,300)

Non Service Income and Expenditure (29,917,328) (30,027,977) K 110,649 (45,870,600) (0.4) (45,588,900)

Grand Totals A 769,322 B 200,000 C 569,322 300,000 284.7 A1 856,700

REPORT 1 BUDGETARY CONTROL REPORTBy Directorate and Service

Period 8 - November 2019

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Page 4 of 16


Year to Date Budget


Variance EOY £ £ £ £ % £


100 Community & Wellbeing HQ 98,252 97,500 752 146,000 0.8

110 Environmental Health 1,386,078 1,339,500 46,578 2,013,300 3.5

120 Community and Culture 911,010 944,500 (33,490) 1,388,000 3.5

130 Leisure and Amenities 4,824,486 4,430,900 393,586 6,556,300 8.9

Totals 7,219,825 6,812,400 407,425 10,103,600 6.0

Environment

200 Environment HQ 95,097 98,100 (3,003) 147,000 3.1

210 Waste and Cleansing Services 4,509,569 4,463,100 46,469 6,724,500 1.0

220 Assets and Property Services 1,190,116 1,269,500 (79,384) 1,907,400 6.3

230 Regulatory Services 1,253,171 1,288,200 (35,029) 1,938,100 2.7

Totals 7,047,954 7,118,900 (70,946) 10,717,000 1.0


300 Regen, Dev & Planning HQ 96,722 95,700 1,022 142,800 1.1

310 Regeneration 386,223 417,500 (31,277) 619,700 7.5

320 Economic Development 429,842 420,100 9,742 630,000 2.3

330 Planning 1,261,998 1,262,600 (602) 1,895,600 0.0

340 Tourism 685,188 719,700 (34,512) 1,032,300 4.8

Totals 2,859,973 2,915,600 (55,627) 4,320,400 1.9


400 Finance & Performance HQ 75,402 75,300 102 113,000 0.1

410 Internal Audit - - 0 - 100.0

420 Finance 836,432 872,200 (35,768) 1,173,400 4.1

430 Strategic Transformation and Performance 409,685 410,300 (615) 615,000 0.1

440 Strategic Capital Development 187,032 172,800 14,232 265,500 8.2

Totals 1,508,550 1,530,600 L (22,050) 2,166,900 1.4


500 OD & Admin HQ 87,046 87,300 (254) 130,900 0.3

510 HR & OD 498,804 461,100 37,704 677,800 8.2

520 Administration & Customer Svcs 1,008,214 1,100,000 (91,786) 1,656,200 8.3

Totals 1,594,064 1,648,400 M (54,336) 2,464,900 3.3

Chief Executive

600 Chief Executive 212,218 212,900 (682) 411,200 0.3

610 Community Planning 108,406 101,500 6,906 151,800 6.8

620 Corporate Communications 234,748 235,200 (452) 352,700 0.2

Totals 555,372 549,600 N 5,772 915,700 1.1


700 Rebasing Payroll Budget - (400,000) 400,000 (600,000) -

Total - (400,000) O 400,000 (600,000) -

NET COST OF SERVICES 20,785,739 20,175,500 610,239 30,088,500 3.0


910 Capital Financing - - 0 - 100.0

920 Bank Interest - - 0 - 100.0

930 Year End Transactions - - 0 - 100.0

940 District Rates & Grants - - 0 - 100.0

Non Service Income and Expenditure - - P 0 - 100.0

Grand Totals 20,785,739 20,175,500 D 610,239 30,088,500 3.0

REPORT 2 PAYROLL EXPENDITURE BUDGETARY CONTROL REPORTBy Directorate and Service


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Year to Date Budget


Variance EOY

£ £ £ £ % £


100 Community & Wellbeing HQ 52,774 59,000 (6,226) 85,400 10.6

110 Environmental Health 187,670 176,900 10,770 303,700 6.1

120 Community and Culture 1,493,558 1,520,200 (26,642) 3,385,700 1.8

130 Leisure and Amenities 1,170,776 1,261,300 (90,524) 2,077,500 7.2

Totals 2,904,779 3,017,400 (112,621) 5,852,300 3.7

Environment

200 Environment HQ 16,948 17,800 (852) 27,700 4.8

210 Waste and Cleansing Services 5,642,836 5,575,400 67,436 7,811,300 1.2

220 Assets and Property Services 3,344,904 3,282,700 62,204 5,476,900 1.9

230 Regulatory Services 554,773 554,200 573 852,300 0.1

Totals 9,559,461 9,430,100 129,361 14,168,200 1.4


300 Regen, Dev & Planning HQ 158,624 158,700 (76) 394,600 0.0

310 Regeneration 392,060 413,200 (21,140) 1,021,400 5.1

320 Economic Development 535,071 551,400 (16,329) 1,069,100 3.0

330 Planning 95,591 120,200 (24,609) 310,300 20.5

340 Tourism 744,672 736,450 8,222 1,115,500 1.1

Totals 1,926,018 1,979,950 (53,932) 3,910,900 2.7


400 Finance & Performance HQ 2,990 2,900 90 4,400 3.1

410 Internal Audit 27,090 32,400 (5,310) 62,000 16.4

420 Finance 10,114 11,700 (1,586) 119,800 13.6

430 Strategic Transformation and Performance 891,801 887,900 3,901 1,216,100 0.4

440 Strategic Capital Development 94,095 100,700 (6,605) 160,200 6.6

Totals 1,026,090 1,035,600 Q (9,510) 1,562,500 0.9


500 OD & Admin HQ 6,898 7,700 (802) 11,700 10.4

510 HR & OD 197,399 205,100 (7,701) 343,300 3.8

520 Administration & Customer Svcs 1,383,150 1,430,600 (47,450) 2,402,900 3.3

Totals 1,587,447 1,643,400 R (55,953) 2,757,900 3.4

Chief Executive

600 Chief Executive 426,305 436,700 (10,395) 519,400 2.4

610 Community Planning 8,557 12,400 (3,843) 20,100 31.0

620 Corporate Communications 73,151 79,600 (6,449) 153,900 8.1 - -

Totals 508,013 528,700 S (20,687) 693,400 3.9


700 Rebasing Payroll Budget - - - - 100.0

Total - - T - - 100.0

NET COST OF SERVICES 17,511,808 17,635,150 (123,342) 28,945,200 0.7


910 Capital Financing 4,377,600 4,349,600 28,000 6,424,500 0.6

920 Bank Interest - - - - 100.0

930 Year End Transactions 50,741 51,300 (559) (1,503,600) 1.1

940 District Rates & Grants - - - - 100.0

Non Service Income and Expenditure 4,428,341 4,400,900 U 27,441 4,920,900 0.6

Grand Totals 21,940,148 22,036,050 E (95,902) 33,866,100 0.4

REPORT 3 NON-PAYROLL EXPENDITURE BUDGETARY CONTROL REPORTBy Directorate and Service


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Year to Date Budget


Variance EOY

£ £ £ £ % £


100 Community & Wellbeing HQ - - 0 (1,400) 100.0

110 Environmental Health (383,498) (355,000) (28,498) (513,500) (8.0)

120 Community and Culture (1,014,413) (1,012,100) (2,313) (2,698,700) (0.2)

130 Leisure and Amenities (2,308,542) (2,220,973) (87,569) (3,499,300) (3.9)

Totals (3,706,453) (3,588,073) (118,380) (6,712,900) (3.3)

Environment

200 Environment HQ - - - - 100.0

210 Waste and Cleansing Services (658,399) (845,100) 186,701 (1,287,200) (22.1)

220 Assets and Property Services (149,854) (135,000) (14,854) (173,300) (11.0)

230 Regulatory Services (1,572,787) (1,556,200) (16,587) (2,251,800) (1.1)

Totals (2,381,040) (2,536,300) 155,260 (3,712,300) (6.1)


300 Regen, Dev & Planning HQ - - - - 100.0

310 Regeneration (243,023) (239,600) (3,423) (510,800) (1.4)

320 Economic Development (249,574) (240,500) (9,074) (481,000) (3.8)

330 Planning (644,705) (678,700) 33,995 (998,500) (5.0)

340 Tourism (92,352) (61,000) (31,352) (68,200) (51.4)

Totals (1,229,653) (1,219,800) (9,853) (2,058,500) (0.8)


400 Finance & Performance HQ (20) - (20) - 100.0

410 Internal Audit - - - - 100.0

420 Finance 0 - - - 100.0

430 Strategic Transformation and Performance - - - - 100.0

440 Strategic Capital Development - - - - 100.0

Totals (20) - V (20) - 100.0


500 OD & Admin HQ - - - - 100.0

510 HR & OD (17,660) - (17,660) (7,500) 100.0

520 Administration & Customer Svcs (273,865) (238,500) (35,365) (371,900) (14.8)

Totals (291,525) (238,500) W (53,025) (379,400) (22.2)

Chief Executive

600 Chief Executive (2,206) - (2,206) - 100.0

610 Community Planning - - - - 100.0

620 Corporate Communications - - - - 100.0

Totals (2,206) - X (2,206) - 100.0


700 Rebasing Payroll Budget - - - - 100.0

Total - - Y - - 100.0

NET COST OF SERVICES (7,610,897) (7,582,673) (28,224) (12,863,100) (0.4)


910 Capital Financing - - - - 100.0

920 Bank Interest (49,208) (40,500) (8,708) (55,200) (21.5)

930 Year End Transactions - - 0 - 100.0

940 District Rates & Grants (34,296,461) (34,388,377) 91,916 (50,736,300) (0.3)

Non Service Income and Expenditure (34,345,669) (34,428,877) Z 83,208 (50,791,500) (0.2)

Grand Totals (41,956,565) (42,011,550) F 54,985 (63,654,600) (0.1)

REPORT 4 INCOME BUDGETARY CONTROL REPORTBy Directorate and Service


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Appendix 1

Community and Wellbeing Directorate The key variances for the Community and Wellbeing Directorate (as reported to committee) are summarised in the following table: - Type Variance

£’000 Comment

Payroll Expenditure 407.4

Mainly Leisure & Amenities – ABMW&LC (£263.5k adverse). Range of issues – see Appendix 1 on page 4. CLC (£48.1k adverse) – cover for staff absences. Parks & Cemeteries (£93.2k adverse) – overtime is £118.0k over budget, base pay and agency £32.7k under budget.

Other Non-Payroll Expenditure (112.6)

Range of other overspends and underspends. Community Development (£24.7k favourable), Community Centres (£37.3k favourable), ABMW&LC (£24.1k adverse), CLC (£14.3k favourable), other Leisure (£46.0k favourable), Parks & Cemeteries (£16.7k favourable).

Leisure Centre Income (4.1)

ABMW&LC – £23.8k better than budget – see Appendix 1 on page 4. Portaferry Sports Centre £15.2k behind target. Comber Leisure Centre £4.5k behind target.

Other Income (114.3)

Community Centres (£38.3k) and Burial income (£40.6k) better than target. Environmental Health income £28.5k better than target mainly due to grant funding for Brexit preparations.

Total 176.4 Box A

A key assumption of the 2019/20 rates setting process was that payroll budgets would be £600k under spent so this was built in to the Council’s 2019/20 budget. This budget is shown separately from Services so is not included in the variance above. The Community & Wellbeing Directorate’s year to date share of this salary rebasing budget on a pro-rata basis is £131,692 so, if this was included, the adverse variance would increase to £308,116.

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Actual Budget VarianceVariance

Last MonthExpenditure £ £ £ £Payroll 1,323,233 1,059,700 263,533 230,885 Non-Payroll 153,631 129,500 24,131 28,161 Total Expenditure 1,476,864 1,189,200 287,664 259,046

IncomeFitness / Health Suite/ Spa (760,852) (607,000) (153,852) (120,306)Swimming Pool / Aqua (358,982) (317,888) (41,094) (61,464)Blacklight Adventure Zone (41,528) (198,800) 157,272 134,411 Holiday Schemes (33,019) (40,000) 6,981 6,981 Other (167,980) (174,900) 6,920 8,476 Total Income (1,362,361) (1,338,588) (23,773) (31,902)

Net Expenditure / (Income) 114,503 (149,388) 263,891 227,144

Comments1. Total expenditure is £287.7k (24.2%) higher than budget.

a. Payroll £263.5k higher under budget. The breakdown of this variance is:-

Actual Budget VarianceBase Salaries 903,177 901,700 1,477 Overtime 74,601 20,000 54,601 Casuals 165,568 110,600 54,968 Agency 179,801 27,400 152,401 Other 87 0 87 Total 1,323,233 1,059,700 263,533

Range of issues including:-(i) Cover for staff absences (8 in November) - estimated cost £64.8k year to date.(ii) Extended opening hours - estimated cost £3.0k year to date.(iii) Additional staff time required to deal with anti-social behaviour in outside spaces -up to 10 hours per week - estimated cost £5.5k year to date.(iv) Holiday scheme staffing ratios higher than expected (1:8 as opposed to 1:12) -estimated cost £10.0k year to date.(v) Difficulty in filling vacant posts with quality staff.(vi) Additional support for cleaning and housekeeping - approx 40 hours per week -estimated cost £17.7k year to date.(vii) Other payroll variances- £162.5k.

b. Non - payroll expenditure £24.1k higher than budget. Issues include:-(i) Equipment £18.3k over budget. Additional purchases for salt room and other areas.(ii) Staff training £7.1k over budget. More training required for group exercise classesdue to increase in class size from 40 to 60. Training for Blacklight Adventure Zone higher than expected. (iii) Cleaning Materials & Services £13.8k over budget. Cleaning costs higher thanexpected as specialised materials needed to clean floor tiles. Size and number of areas to be cleaned underestimated.(iv) There are underspends in a range of expenditure codes which help reducethe impact of the 3 issues above (£15.1k).

2. Total Income is £23.8k (1.8%) better than budget.a. Fitness / Health Suite / Spa income £153.9k ahead of target.b. Swimming Pool / Aqua income £41.1k ahead of target.c. Blacklight Adventure Zone £157.3k below budget.

Plans are being put in place to try to boost Blacklight Adventure Zone incomelater in the year.

3. The Centre's performance is showing a net expenditure of £114.5k againsta budgeted net income of (£149.4k) so, an overall adverse variance of £263.9k.

Apr - Nov 19 YTD

Ards Blair Mayne Wellbeing & Leisure ComplexFinancial Performance

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Environment Directorate The key variances for the Environment Directorate (as reported to committee) are summarised in the following table: - Type Variance

£’000 Comment

Payroll Expenditure (70.9) Mainly due to Assets & Property (£79.4k).

Landfill Costs (242.9)

The overall variance is summarised by: -Volume variance £214.4k favourable (2,115 tonnes less than budget). Price variance £28.5k favourable (gate fee is £1.25 per tonne lower than budget).

Brown/Green Bin Waste

4.1

The overall variance is summarised by: -Volume variance £4.1k adverse (69 tonnes more than budget). Price variance £0.0k (actual gate fee is the same as budget).

Blue Bin Waste 42.3

The overall variance is summarised by: -Volume variance £18.8k adverse (417 tonnes more than budget). Price variance £23.5k adverse (gate fee is £3.76 per tonne higher than budget).

HRC & Other Waste Streams 205.9

Mainly due to Glass Collection £71.7k, Garden Waste £40.8k, Paint Disposal £94.8k.

Refuse Bins 41.5 Spend on refuse bins is £41.5k higher than budget.

Utility Costs 20.5 Mainly water charges £21.5k. Delay in borehole being operational at ABMW&LC.

Repairs & Maintenance 72.8 Repairs and maintenance spend £72.8k

higher than budget. Other Expenditure (14.8)

Waste Services Income 186.7

Mainly trade waste income - £251.7k. Change in service model has resulted in fewer customers but this has helped reduce landfill costs. This is, also, partially offset by increased bin sales (£19.2k) and recycled waste income (£35.8k).

Other Income (31.4)

Building Control income £27.5k behind target. Neighbourhood Environment Team income (£30.3k), Wind Turbine income (£18.2k) and car park income (£17.3k) better than target.

Total 213.7 Box A

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A key assumption of the 2019/20 rates setting process was that payroll budgets would be £600k under spent so this was built in to the Council’s 2019/20 budget. This budget is shown separately from Services so is not included in the variance above. The Environment Directorate’s year to date share of this salary rebasing budget on a pro-rata basis is £139,688 so, if this was included, the adverse variance would increase to £353,363.

Regeneration, Development and Planning Directorate The key variances for the Regeneration, Development and Planning Directorate (as reported to committees) are summarised in the following tables: - Regeneration and Development Type Variance

£’000 Comment

Payroll Expenditure (55.0)

Mainly due to favourable payroll variances in Tourism (£34.5k) and Regeneration (£31.3k) due to vacant posts throughout the year.

Non-Payroll Expenditure

(29.3) Mainly Regeneration (£21.1k). Budget underspends for a number of projects.

Income (43.8) Small favourable income variances for Events (£15.9k), Tourism (£15.5k) and Signal Centre (£7.5k)

Total (128.2) Box A

A key assumption of the 2019/20 rates setting process was that payroll budgets would be £600k under spent so this was built in to the Council’s 2019/20 budget. This budget is shown separately from Services so is not included in the variance above. The Regeneration and Development Services’ year to date share of this salary rebasing budget on a pro-rata basis is £31,605 so, if this was included, the favourable variance would decrease to £96,591.

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Planning Type Variance

£’000 Comment

Payroll Expenditure (0.6)

Non-payroll Expenditure

(24.6) A number of small underspends to date for mileage (£5.8k), consultancy (£8.1k) and legal fees (£5.2k).

Income 34.0

Planning application income is £75.3k behind budget. Property Planning Certificate income is £41.3k better than budget.

Total 8.8 Box A

A key assumption of the 2019/20 rates setting process was that payroll budgets would be £600k under spent so this was built in to the Council’s 2019/20 budget. This budget is shown separately from Services so is not included in the variance above. The Planning Service’s year to date share of this salary rebasing budget on a pro-rata basis is £24,708 so, if this was included, the adverse variance would increase to £33,493.

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Finance & Performance The Finance & Performance Directorate is showing an underspend of £31,579 (1.2%) – box G on Report 1. A key assumption of the 2019/20 rates setting process was that payroll budgets would be £600k under spent so this was built in to the Council’s 2019/20 budget. This budget is shown separately from Services so is not included in the variance above. The Finance & Performance Directorate’s year to date share of this salary rebasing budget on a pro-rata basis is £28,244 so, if this was included, the favourable variance would reduce to £3,335. Explanation of Variance The Directorate’s budget performance is further analysed on pages 3-5 into 3 key areas: - Report Type Variance Box Page Report 2 Payroll Expenditure £22,050 favourable L 4 Report 3 Non-Payroll Expenditure £9,510 favourable Q 5 Report 4 Income £20 favourable V 6

Boxes L, Q and V add up to the overall favourable variance (Box G - £31,579). This favourable variance can be summarised in the following table: - Type Variance

£’000 Comment

Payroll Expenditure (22.1) Delays in backfilling posts for staff involved in Core II project.

Non-Payroll Expenditure (9.5) A number of small underspends,

Income (0.0)

Total (31.6) Box G on Report 1

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Organisational Development & Administration The Organisational Development & Administration Directorate is showing an underspend of £163,314 (5.3%) – box H on Report 1. A key assumption of the 2019/20 rates setting process was that payroll budgets would be £600k under spent so this was built in to the Council’s 2019/20 budget. This budget is shown separately from Services so is not included in the variance above. The Organisational Development & Administration Directorate’s year to date share of this salary rebasing budget on a pro-rata basis is £32,128 so, if this was included, the favourable variance would decrease to £131,186. Explanation of Variance The Directorate’s budget performance is further analysed on pages 3-5 into 3 key areas: - Report Type Variance Box Page Report 2 Payroll Expenditure £54,336 favourable M 4 Report 3 Non-Payroll Expenditure £55,953 favourable R 5 Report 4 Income £53,025 favourable W 6

Boxes M, R and W add up to the overall favourable variance (Box H - £163,314). This favourable variance can be summarised in the following table: - Type Variance

£’000 Comment

Payroll Expenditure (54.3) Vacant posts in Compliance and Risk Management.

Non-Payroll Expenditure (56.0) A number of small favourable variances

Income (53.0) Mainly Land & Property income (£40.7k).

Total (163.3) Box H on Report 1

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Chief Executive The Chief Executive’s Directorate is showing an underspend of £17,121 (2.0%) – box I on Report 1. A key assumption of the 2019/20 rates setting process was that payroll budgets would be £600k under spent so this was built in to the Council’s 2019/20 budget. This budget is shown separately from Services so is not included in the variance above. The Chief Executive’s Directorate’s year to date share of this salary rebasing budget on a pro-rata basis is £11,935 so, if this was included, the favourable variance would decrease to £5,186. Explanation of Variance The Directorate’s budget performance is further analysed on pages 3-5 into 3 key areas: - Report Type Variance Box Page Report 2 Payroll Expenditure £5,772 adverse N 4 Report 3 Non-Payroll Expenditure £20,687 favourable S 5 Report 4 Income £2,206 favourable X 6

Boxes N, S and X add up to the overall favourable variance (Box I - £17,121). This favourable variance can be summarised in the following table: - Type Variance

£’000 Comment

Payroll Expenditure 5.8 Community Planning – maternity cover

Non-Payroll Expenditure (20.7) A number of small favourable variances.

Income (2.2)

Total (17.1) Box I on Report 1

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Rebasing Payroll Budget A key assumption of the 2019/20 rates setting process was that payroll budgets would be £600k under spent so this was built in to the Council’s 2019/20 budget. This budget is shown separately from Services and has been profiled evenly over the year. It appears as a negative expenditure budget and is £400,000 – box J on Report 1. Explanation of Variance This variance is further analysed on pages 3-5 into 3 key areas: - Report Type Variance Box Page Report 2 Payroll Expenditure £400,000 adverse O 4 Report 3 Non-Payroll Expenditure £nil T 5 Report 4 Income £nil Y 6

Boxes O, T and Y add up to the overall adverse variance (Box J - £400,000).

Non-Service Income and Expenditure Non-Service Income and Expenditure is showing an overspend of £110,649 (0.4%) – box K on Report 1. Explanation of Variance This variance is further analysed on pages 4-6 into 3 key areas: - Report Type Variance Box Page Report 2 Payroll Expenditure £nil P 4 Report 3 Non-Payroll Expenditure £27,441 adverse U 5 Report 4 Income £83,208 adverse Z 6

Boxes P, U and Z add up to the overall adverse variance (Box K - £110,649). This variance can be summarised in the following table: - Type Variance

£’000 Comment

Non-Payroll Expenditure 27.4 Interest payable on Council loans is

£28.2k higher than budget.

Income 83.2

Rates income £84.0k - The forecast provides early notification of what progress has been made against the estimate. This will likely change as amendments to property valuations and occupancies occur on a daily basis.

Total 110.6 Box K on Report 1

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Appendix 2

Top Expenditure Areas and Income Streams The table below shows the highest areas of expenditure incurred by the Council together with its main income streams.

RankDetail

CodeDescription

Year to Date

Actual

Year to Date

BudgetVariance

% of Total

Expenditure

1010|4996 Base Pay 17,463,685 18,802,600 (1,338,915) 40.9%

1011-1013 Overtime 943,449 491,900 451,549

1018-1019 Agency 1,922,397 523,700 1,398,697

1014 Casuals 389,637 297,100 92,537

Election 54,164 55,000 (836)

Other 12,407 5,200 7,207

1 Total 20,785,739 20,175,500 610,239

2 2601 MRP 2,377,096 2,357,000 20,096 5.6%

3 1517 Waste Disposal Costs 2,313,111 2,562,200 (249,089) 5.4%

4 1801 Interest Payments 2,020,800 1,992,600 28,200 4.7%

5 1528 Recycling Services 2,012,159 1,757,200 254,959 4.7%

6 1703 Grants & Contributions 1,989,911 1,948,100 41,811 4.7%

7 1507 Hired Equipment & Services 1,616,347 1,449,450 166,897 3.8%

8 1511 Repairs & Maintenance 1,469,112 1,366,600 102,512 3.4%

9 1599 Materials & Supplies 1,138,544 1,569,800 (431,256) 2.7%

10 1302 Rent - Rates & Water 839,103 825,800 13,303 2.0%

11 1301 Energy 712,434 712,900 (466) 1.7%

11 1510 Vehicle Running Costs 689,163 732,600 (43,437) 1.6%

13 Other 4,762,369 4,761,800 569 11.1%

Total 21,940,148 22,036,050 (95,902) 92.2%

RankBudget

AnalysisDescription

Year to Date

Actual

Year to Date

BudgetVariance

% of Total

Income

1 9098 District Rates (32,960,377) (33,044,377) 84,000 78.6%

2 9002/9099 Sale Of Services / Miscellaneous (4,580,314) (4,531,473) (48,841) 10.9%

3 9097 General Grant (1,336,084) (1,344,000) 7,916 3.2%

4 9003 Grants Received (1,516,409) (1,523,300) 6,891 3.6%

5 9001 Statutory Fees & Charges (1,219,980) (1,303,000) 83,020 2.9%

6 9008 Sale Of Goods (267,472) (203,900) (63,572) 0.6%

7 9096 Investment Income (49,208) (40,500) (8,708) 0.1%

8 9007 Internal Income (26,722) (21,000) (5,722) 0.1%

Total (41,956,565) (42,011,550) 54,985 100.0%

Net Total 769,322 200,000 569,322

TOP EXPENDITURE AREAS AND INCOME STREAMS

PAYROLL EXPENDITURE

TOP NON PAYROLL EXPENDITURE AREAS

TOP INCOME STREAMS

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ITEM 5



Council/Committee Corporate Services Committee


Responsible Director Director of Finance and Performance


Head of Finance


File Reference FIN137

Legislation Local Government Finance Act (NI) 2011

Section 75 Compliant Yes ☐ No ☐ Not Applicable ☒

Subject Prudential Indicators & Treasury Management - 2019/20 In-Year Report

Attachments Introduction In February 2019, to comply with requirements of the Local Government Finance Act (NI) 2011, Council approved its annual Treasury Management Strategy and associated Prudential Indicators for the financial year 2019/20.

The purpose of this report is to provide Members with an in-year progress report on performance, measured against the Prudential Indicators set for the financial year 2019/20. The figures presented in this report are based on knowledge held as at 30 November 2019. 1 Capital Expenditure & Financing

The aforementioned legislation and the CIPFA Prudential Code together require the Council to set and monitor a series of Prudential Indicators (PIs) for capital expenditure and financing. These PIs should ensure that, within a clear framework, the capital investment plans of the Council are affordable, prudent and sustainable. An update on the specific PIs which were set in February 2019 is provided below.

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1.1 Capital Expenditure PI

The following table summarises the current estimate of capital expenditure compared to the original estimates approved by Council:

Original Revised

Indicator £’000 £’000 Capital Expenditure PI 2019/20 (Current Year) 8,145 3,681

Capital Expenditure PI 2018/19 (Previous Year) 28,172 19,361 For 2019/20, the original estimate of £8.15m has been revised to £3.68m, reflecting the capital expenditure that is now expected to be incurred by 31 March 2020. The reduction in the forecast of approx. £4.47m is primarily due to slippages in the following schemes:

• 3G Pitch Portavogie – £1.37m capital works not commenced in year, project

now prioritised in later years;

• Peace 4 Shared Spaces Projects - £750k capital works commencement date later than expected in year, balance of cost re-profiled to 2020/21.

• Ward Park Development - £500k first stage capital works not commenced,

project now prioritised in later years.

• Tennis Facility Development Plan - £325k first stage capital works not commenced, project still at concept stage and is not currently prioritised.

• Exploris Car Parking Facilities - £300k capital works not commenced, re-profiled to 2020/21.

• Community Trails - £280k capital works not commenced (£128k of this amount has been re-profiled to 2020/21).

• Greenways Schemes – £250k first stage capital works not commenced, projects now prioritised in later years and pending confirmation of funding.

• Other – £700k across a number of smaller schemes (including playparks, cemeteries and allotments provision, leisure and parks equipment, car parks equipment and regeneration projects) has been re-profiled to later years due to delays in commencement of these works.

These movements, together with the outcome of the project prioritisation exercise carried out and reported to SPFG in November 2019 and approved by Council in December 2019 have resulted in a substantial change to the total estimated capital expenditure and financing requirements for the three-year period from 2019/20 to 2021/22, as summarised below:

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Revised Original 2019/20 2020/21 2021/22 Total Total £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 Capital Expenditure 3,681 5,524 13,597 22,802 70,852 Financed by: Loans 1,859 2,916 6,598 11,373 49,263 Grants 1,072 1,813 6,949 9,834 19,439 Capital Receipts 730 795 50 1,575 2,150 Revenue/Reserves 20 - - 20 -

1.2 Capital Financing Requirement and External Borrowings The following table summarises the position on the other key PIs resulting from changes to the Capital Expenditure PI.

Original 31/03/20

Revised 31/03/20

Indicator £’000 £’000 Capital Financing Requirement (CFR) 89,717 86,696 External Gross Borrowing 81,422 81,244 Gross Borrowing within CFR Yes Yes

With revised external gross borrowing of £81.2m, the Council is still forecast to remain within both the Operational Boundary and Authorised Borrowing Limit set for the year as follows:

Operational Boundary for External Debt £81.4m Authorised Borrowing Limit £89.7m

2 Treasury Management 2.1 Debt Activity During the period from 1 April to 30 November, loan principal repayments of £1.59m were made against existing long-term borrowings, resulting in a level of long-term borrowings at 30 November 2019 of £75.8m. As at 30 November 2019, Council’s level of short-term borrowings was £4m, bringing the total level of external borrowings at 30 November 2019 to £79.8m.

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The revised capital financing requirement shows that the Council could increase its level of external borrowings to £86.7m by 31 March 2020 (see table 1.2 above). However, an assessment of the Council’s cashflow position at this stage forecasts that only a further £3m borrowing will be required before the end of the financial year. Due to a change in PWLB borrowing policy in October 2019, which increased long-term borrowing rates by 1% across all loan terms, it is planned to take this borrowing out on a short-term basis with approved counterparties. Therefore, after further repayments on existing long-term loans in February 2020 of £1.57m and additional £3m short-term borrowing, the forecast level of external borrowings at 31 March 2020 is £81.2m 2.3 Investment Activity The objectives of the Council’s investment strategy are safeguarding the repayment of the principal and interest on its investments on time, with the investment return being a secondary objective. The current investment climate continues to be one of overriding risk consideration, particularly that of counterparty risk. In line with advice provided by treasury management consultants, officers continue to implement an operational investment strategy of placing short-term investments with approved high- quality counterparties. For the period from 1 April to 30 November 2019, Council has earned interest of £15,722 on investment deals with approved financial institutions as summarised below:

Average Deposit

Size Average

Term Average Interest

Rate Interest Earned

Bank of Scotland £1.5m 37 days 0.61% £925 CCLA £2.1m Call A/c 0.74% £10,040 Barclays Investment Bank Account 0.50% £4,757 Total £15,722

The Council’s limit for total principal sums invested for periods longer than 364 days is £500k. As at the date of this report, the Council has not entered into any such investments. The balance of funds held in investment accounts at 30 November 2019 was £2m.

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2.3 Debt Related Treasury Activity Limits The table below shows the position at 30 November 2019 of all debt related treasury activity limits.

Interest rate exposures Limit set for 2019/20

Actual at 30/11/19

Quantity of debt held at variable interest rates - upper limit 30% 8%

Quantity of debt held at fixed interest rates - upper limit 100% 92%

Maturity structure of fixed interest rate borrowing

Lower Limit set for 2019/20

Upper Limit set for 2019/20

Actual at 30/11/19

Under 12 months 0% 15% 4%

12 months to 2 years 0% 15% 6%

2 years to 5 years 0% 20% 13%

5 years to 10 years 0% 30% 22%

10 years and above 30% 90% 55%

RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that Council notes this report.

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ITEM 6



Council/Committee Corporate Service Committee


Responsible Director Chief Executive


Date of Report 06 January 2020

File Reference

Legislation

Section 75 Compliant Yes ☒ No ☐ Other ☐

If other, please add comment below:

Subject Nomination to Buckingham Palace Garden Party

Attachments Issues The Lord Chamberlain’s Office has advised that Her Majesty the Queen will give Garden Parties at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday 12th May, Tuesday 19th May and Wednesday 27th May 2020. The Lord Chamberlain’s Office has also advised that it is the Queen’s expressed wish that those invited be resident in Northern Ireland, be drawn from as wide a range as possible reflecting the diversity of Northern Ireland, including those who carry out public or volunteer work, and should not have previously attended one of Her Majesty’s Garden Parties. All nominated guests must be British, Commonwealth or European Union citizens, although their spouse/partner/companion may be of other nationalities. The Department for Communities (DfC) contacted the Chief Executive on 20 December 2019 and requested that Ards and North Down Borough Council nominate one individual to attend. The individual should be representative of the Council’s interests and areas of responsibility. Reserve names may also be provided. They may bring one guest.

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The original deadline for providing nominations was Wednesday 8 January 2020, but DfC has agreed to extend this by one week to Wednesday 15 January 2020. It is recommended that Council’s nomination to the Garden Party is the Mayor plus guest, with the Deputy Mayor plus guest as the reserve nominee.

RECOMMENDATION

It is recommended that the Council nominates the Mayor to be invited to the Queen’s Garden Party in May 2020, with the Deputy Mayor as the reserve nominee.

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ITEM 7





Responsible Director Director of Organisational Development and Administration


Head of Administration


File Reference LP 37 pt 2

Legislation



Subject Request to light up council buildings in support of Holocaust Memorial Day

Attachments The Council has received a request to light up Council Buildings purple in support of Holocaust Memorial Day on 27 January 2020. 27 January 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp. Holocaust Memorial Day Trust (HMDT) encourages remembrance in a world scarred by genocide. It promotes and supports Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) – the international day on 27 January to remember the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, alongside the millions of other people killed under Nazi Persecution and in subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. Every year they have a special theme, and the theme for 2020 is ‘Stand Together’. The Council currently holds its own Good Relations events to mark Holocaust Memorial Day, acknowledging the Borough’s special links with Kindertransport. Also, the Council, in September 2017, adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) guidelines on Antisemitism.

https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hmd.org.uk%2Fwhat-is-holocaust-memorial-day%2F&data=02%7C01%7CHeather.Cannavan%40ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk%7C5c0abd9a1d1a43b08f5c08d7849c0c1e%7C39416dee5c8e4f5cb59d05c4bd0dd472%7C0%7C0%7C637123678056236407&sdata=w1%2FKPRsuyEAUHOaumGk6c5grEyhTUbbsgWwoJaXHuiA%3D&reserved=0

https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hmd.org.uk%2Flearn-about-the-holocaust-and-genocides%2Fthe-holocaust%2F&data=02%7C01%7CHeather.Cannavan%40ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk%7C5c0abd9a1d1a43b08f5c08d7849c0c1e%7C39416dee5c8e4f5cb59d05c4bd0dd472%7C0%7C0%7C637123678056236407&sdata=mL6OY9h4%2BaYlvE%2F%2FvI9atDn%2FPGlGM5IWtIT6xGF4fh4%3D&reserved=0

https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hmd.org.uk%2Flearn-about-the-holocaust-and-genocides%2Fnazi-persecution%2F&data=02%7C01%7CHeather.Cannavan%40ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk%7C5c0abd9a1d1a43b08f5c08d7849c0c1e%7C39416dee5c8e4f5cb59d05c4bd0dd472%7C0%7C0%7C637123678056246366&sdata=tsW6VaVU8OxB0AHCvugWiHap4M2BbPWL%2BQJ7G7OQRnk%3D&reserved=0

https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hmd.org.uk%2Flearn-about-the-holocaust-and-genocides%2Fnazi-persecution%2F&data=02%7C01%7CHeather.Cannavan%40ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk%7C5c0abd9a1d1a43b08f5c08d7849c0c1e%7C39416dee5c8e4f5cb59d05c4bd0dd472%7C0%7C0%7C637123678056246366&sdata=tsW6VaVU8OxB0AHCvugWiHap4M2BbPWL%2BQJ7G7OQRnk%3D&reserved=0

https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hmd.org.uk%2Flearn-about-the-holocaust-and-genocides%2Fcambodia%2F&data=02%7C01%7CHeather.Cannavan%40ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk%7C5c0abd9a1d1a43b08f5c08d7849c0c1e%7C39416dee5c8e4f5cb59d05c4bd0dd472%7C0%7C0%7C637123678056246366&sdata=k3hbtSDif8ljkvvUV5BaQ5diSnknzE3UbWI%2FTwG0%2Fgw%3D&reserved=0

https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hmd.org.uk%2Flearn-about-the-holocaust-and-genocides%2Frwanda%2F&data=02%7C01%7CHeather.Cannavan%40ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk%7C5c0abd9a1d1a43b08f5c08d7849c0c1e%7C39416dee5c8e4f5cb59d05c4bd0dd472%7C0%7C0%7C637123678056256320&sdata=UTnrI5wVZ9d2yd5iWjBJaCpKSobOHl1s4Ok3iCicuXA%3D&reserved=0

https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hmd.org.uk%2Flearn-about-the-holocaust-and-genocides%2Fbosnia%2F&data=02%7C01%7CHeather.Cannavan%40ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk%7C5c0abd9a1d1a43b08f5c08d7849c0c1e%7C39416dee5c8e4f5cb59d05c4bd0dd472%7C0%7C0%7C637123678056256320&sdata=fsMlWl%2Fc0FK4bAkhjtgkKjnYLcoJ5foZbM8YhCxQ1k0%3D&reserved=0

https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hmd.org.uk%2Flearn-about-the-holocaust-and-genocides%2Fdarfur%2F&data=02%7C01%7CHeather.Cannavan%40ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk%7C5c0abd9a1d1a43b08f5c08d7849c0c1e%7C39416dee5c8e4f5cb59d05c4bd0dd472%7C0%7C0%7C637123678056266278&sdata=56s9jaaASxGZkZvaMW1AtSF5JitIqm5TrX0serwkLsM%3D&reserved=0

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RECOMMENDATION

As the request fits with the Council’s Lighting Up policy, it is recommended that the Council lights up the Town Hall Arts Centre and McKee Clock purple on 27 January 2020.

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ITEM 8








Date of Report 02 January 2020

File Reference CEV 65

Legislation



Subject Annual Remembrance Event for those who have lost loved ones to suicide

Attachments N/A In November 2019, the Council agreed to ask Officers to bring back a report on the feasibility of holding an annual remembrance event for those who have lost loved ones to suicide. During the course of debate, it was suggested that an annual service could be delivered in the Walled Garden, Bangor which included parents who had lost children to suicide and their families. It was envisaged that the event would be memorable, respectful, comforting and inclusive, acknowledging the increasing rates of suicide which left families devastated. It would be an act of remembrance and solidarity. Members will recall that the Council, in September 2019, held a service of thanksgiving for Emergency Services and First Responders in the Walled Garden, Bangor. In December 2019, the Council agreed that this service would be held on alternate years, rotating between Bangor and Newtownards. That meant that the next service would be held in Newtownards in 2021.

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It is therefore proposed that the above event also be held on alternate years, starting in 2020 in Bangor and that the Council, in the first instance, sets up a small working group of officers, representatives of suitable stakeholder groups and organisations, including Samaritans, Suicide Awareness, the health sector and local clergy to design and agree an appropriate event format, perhaps around World Suicide Prevention Day in September. It is further proposed that a progress report be brought back to the Committee in due course. The Council currently lights up the Town Hall Arts Centre, Newtownards and McKee Clock, Bangor orange/yellow to mark World Suicide Prevention Day on 10 September each year.

RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the Council proceeds as outlined above and reports back to the Committee in due course.

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ITEM 9









File Reference CEV 34 and CEV 44

Legislation



Subject Civic Awards 2020

Attachments In 2015 the Council agreed to host a Civic Awards scheme and ceremonies were subsequently held in May 2016, 2017 and 2018. In November 2018, the delivery of the scheme was reviewed and the Council agreed that, given the downward trend in the number of nominations received over the preceding three year period and the Local Government elections in May 2019, the Council would not hold a Civic Awards Scheme in 2019 but instead would hold one in 2020 and every alternate year thereafter. The Council also agreed to review the scheme and the award categories and potentially refresh the format. In 2018, the Council presented awards in the following categories:-

➢ Service in the Field of Voluntary Community Work ➢ Service to the Arts, Culture or Heritage ➢ Service to the Environment ➢ Humanitarian Services ➢ Young Person of the Year Award ➢ Mayor’s Special Award

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In the past, the category entitled “Services in the Field of Voluntary Community Work” has attracted a high number of nominations, whereas the “Humanitarian Services” category has attracted very few, if any, nominations. It is therefore proposed that the Council launches the Civic Awards 2020 at the beginning of February 2020, in line with normal timeframes, with a view to hosting a Civic Awards Ceremony in May/June 2020, but with nominations being invited under the following revised categories, to take account of the above identified trends:- ➢ Community Award – Significant service in the field of voluntary community work. ➢ Good Neighbour Award– ‘Going the extra mile’ within the local community. ➢ Youth Award – This award recognises those aged under 18 who have achieved a

great deal whether in their academic life, sport, in dealing with personal challenges or their contributions to the community

➢ Arts, Culture or Heritage Award – This award recognises the contribution made by an individual or group to the arts, local culture or heritage.

➢ Environmental Sustainability Award – This award recognises an individual or group that has made a significant contribution to the protection/conservation of the environment.

➢ Mayor’s Special Civic Award – A special award will be presented by the Mayor of Ards and North Down in recognition of outstanding service or special qualities demonstrated by an individual. Nominations are not sought for this award.

It is further proposed that a judging panel, consisting of the Mayor and two other elected members, be appointed.

RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that:-

a. the Council launches the Civic Awards 2020 in January/February 2020; b. the Council hosts a Civic Awards Ceremony in May/June 2020, inviting

nominations under the above revised category headings; and c. the Council appoints two elected members to the judging panel along with the

Mayor.

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ITEM 10









File Reference EQ 33

Legislation Section 75 The Northern Ireland Act 1998; Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and Disability Discrimination (NI) Order 2006



Subject Quarterly Report on Equality and Good Relations (Section 75 of The N.I. Act 1998) 1 October 2019 – 31 December 2019

Attachments N/A In accordance with the Council’s Equality Scheme, a progress report is required to be submitted on a quarterly basis to the Council’s Corporate Services Committee. This ensures the Council complies with its obligations to meet its equality and good relations duties and responsibilities, as identified in Section 75 of The Northern Ireland Act 1998. This report lists the actions of Council officers to meet the statutory duties since 1 October 2019. Consultative Panel The Equality and Good Relations external consultative panel (the Panel) met on Tuesday 1 October 2019. The challenge workshop focused on 12 screened policy outcomes and updated the panel on the EQIA document titled ‘Ards and North Down Borough Council’s response to a request to locate Ulster Scots Agency Operation

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Lion plaques at Bangor and Donaghadee Harbours and the Council’s decision in September 2019 to agree to locate the plaques in Donaghadee and Bangor in accordance with the original request of 2014. The Consultative Panel members were informed the decision still had the call-in period applicable. They were also updated that the Ulster Scots Agency had asked for an update and been informed of this decision. The panel members present were also informed that the Ulster Scots Agency was responsible for obtaining statutory permissions (e.g. Planning permission and listed building consent) for the erection of plaques, at a location, to be agreed. They were also reminded that the Ulster Scots Agency had also agreed to meet any costs associated with gaining permissions and works to erect the plaques. A meeting has been scheduled to discuss potential sites with the Ulster Scots Agency. Comments were made at the challenge workshop about a decision to have a floral display bed in Bangor to mark the Ulster Defence Regiment CGC Regimental Association. The question was raised as to whether the Council would agree to mark all regiments and the potential cumulative effect of such activity outside of the normal Remembrance period in November was discussed. Two meetings of the Consultative Panel have been arranged for early 2020. The first is a team building and getting to know you session on Tuesday 28 January 2020 at 5.30 pm. At this short event, to which all Elected Members and consultative panel members are invited, there will the opportunity for all to meet and chat informally. Elected Members have on occasions requested to meet panel members and panel members have regularly asked for Elected Members to meet them. Previously these have been poorly attended so we are hoping for a full attendance on this occasion as there is an organised programme. A challenge workshop has also been arranged for Tuesday 4 February to enable the consultative panel members to be kept up to date on the range of screened policies and to record their comments. Screening of Council policies Council officers continue to screen Council policies as an integral part of the policy development process. Completed screening forms are scrutinised by officers at the Internal Screening Panel for compliance with Section 75, Rural Needs, GDPR and Sustainability. The Internal Screening Panel will meet on Tuesday 21 January 2020 to consider at least 4 completed screening forms. The outcome of this meeting will be shared with the Panel at their challenge workshop on 4 February 2020 in the usual manner and the outcomes of significance reported to the Corporate Services Committee. Quarterly Consultations The Council has a requirement within the Equality Scheme to publish the outcome of screened policies quarterly. The quarterly report was uploaded onto the Council’s website on Wednesday 3 October 2019. This consultation included 7 policy screening outcomes. The screening forms are also made available on the Council’s website as required by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland (ECNI). The

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next quarterly screening consultation will be circulated by Friday 3 January 2020 and will include 3 policy outcomes. Equality Impact Assessment on Operation Lion plaques As previously mentioned, the outcome of this EQIA was the subject of a report to September Council meeting and the decision was to install the two plaques as per the original request from the Ulster Scots Agency. Correspondence has been issued to the officers at the Ulster Scots Agency to invite them to begin discussions to identify suitable locations and begin the process to have the plaques installed at Donaghadee and Bangor Harbours. A final EQIA has been written and made available in the usual manner as prescribed by the Council’s Equality Scheme. To date the Ulster Scots Agency have not engaged with the relevant council officers. Equality Action Plan The Compliance Officer (Equality and Safeguarding) has reported on the outstanding and completed actions in the Council’s Action Plan. This is through the ECNI Annual Report that was presented to the Council August 2019 Council meeting. To ensure the reporting is accurate the Action Plan is the subject of scrutiny by the Internal Screening Group and discussed with the Consultative Panel at each of their meetings. The officers continue to work to deliver outstanding actions in the current Action Plan which should be completed by March 2020. A new Equality Action Plan is required from April 2020. The officers are currently identifying inequalities that may be required to be considered as part of the Equality Action Plan and these will be referenced to and supported by quantitative and qualitative data in the Inequalities Audit. The draft Equality Action Plan will be the subject of a report to the Corporate Services Committee in February 2020 and will then be the subject of a 12-week consultation. To ensure the consultation is meaningful it will include focused consultations with the Consultative Panel members, Internal Screening Group members as well the Equality Scheme consultees. Inequalities Audit An updated Inequalities Audit is being drafted by the Compliance Officer (Equality and Safeguarding) and has been populated by the statistician attached to Community Planning. The Inequalities Audit is a requirement to to enable an Equality Action Plan to be developed based on supporting data for the Council and supports identified and potential inequalities. The original inequalities audit was written 5 years ago. Equality Scheme update The Equality Scheme requires to be reviewed every 5 years and reported to the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland (ECNI). This review is the subject of a report to this Corporate Services Committee. The review advises the Council looks at evidence that senior staff are complying with their scheme commitments and providing appropriate leadership as well as other stated criteria. As the detail required to be used in the review is used as the

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recommended criteria for the annual ECNI progress report this has been reported upon in the five annual reports to ECNI and a full 5-year review is not considered necessary. Revised Equality Scheme Following the 5 year review an updated Equality Scheme is required to be produced by the Council. The Compliance Officer (Equality and Safeguarding) has updated the current scheme as an integral part of the 5-year review. The Scheme will not have to be the subject of consultation but the ECNI and all consultees will be informed of the updated Equality Scheme following its approval by the Council. This will be the subject of a report to the Corporate Services Committee in February 2020 when it is completed. Disability Forum The Disability Forum met on Thursday 7 November 2019. At the meeting the matters raised at the September Disability Forum in relation to Translink and operational changes that affected many residents in the Borough and the need to ensure the Queens Parade, Bangor developers have considered the needs of those with a disability were addressed by a presentation by Michael McKenna, Associate Director, Strategic Communications, Turley and Aaron Crozier, Architect, Todd Architects and Terry Butler, Access Manager, Translink and David Graham, Regional Manager, Translink. All present appreciated the detail of both sessions. The next meeting of the Disability Forum is Thursday 30 January 2020 when the speaker will be from Autism NI. AccessAble The annual audit and review of all premises and facilities has been completed and is currently being quality assessed before updating the Councils website. An annual consultation with audit workshop has been arranged for Wednesday 13 February 2020. The programme for the event will provide attendees with an overview of the information on the AccessAble site, its value for users and potential users, the way information is collected, how AccessAble advertise all their services, and in particular the online information and how the app is working. Following this session, a workshop will be held on how to audit a premise to inform attendees and also offer those who may be interested in carrying out audits the opportunity to see in a practical way what is involved. After a light lunch, attendees will have the opportunity to accompany an auditor and audit a local facility where permission to carry out the audit will have been granted in advance. The Council will cover the cost of the venue and refreshments. AccessAble will advertise by email and follow up phone calls to local organisations and representatives and officers will assist with contact names etc. All Elected members will be invited to attend to enable them to raise awareness of this valuable information.

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Disability Action Plan The Compliance Officer (Equality and Safeguarding) continues to work to deliver the Disability Action Plan. This is reported through the Internal Screening Group and Consultative Panel as well as the Disability Forum. At these meetings any identified concerns may be added to the Plan to ensure appropriate actions are identified and undertaken in a timely manner to enable the Council to remain compliant with the relevant legislation. The current Disability Action Plan runs until March 2020 and a revised Disability Action Plan is being considered with actions identified from the range of comments and complaints received from service users as well as the trainings attended by Council officers to ensure the Council is engaging with and delivering services to as broad a range of users with a disability and their carers. The draft Disability Action Plan will be the subject of a report to Corporate Services Committee in February 2020 before it is consulted upon for the 12-week statutory period. Consultations on the draft document will be in accordance with the commitments agreed in the Equality Scheme and will include focused consultations with the Disability Forum members, consultative panel members and Internal Screening Group members as well as any consultees who have an interest in this area. Complaints To date there have been no complaints recorded in relation to Section 75 or the Council’s disability duties. Community Planning The Community Planning Manager and Compliance Officer (Equality and Safeguarding) continue to work together to ensure all people in Ards and North Down Brough Council area benefit from the delivery of the Community Plan (through the Big Plan). A review of community planning actions is currently underway to ensure that new collaboration and added value is prioritised. The action to make Ards and North Down a welcoming place for everyone has been expanded to consider why the Council needs to be welcoming to everyone and what the barriers to achieving this are. A mapping exercise has taken place to highlight how other community planning actions e.g. built and natural environment contribute to this as well as identifying other actions that will also benefit from it. For example, tourists, businesses and employees are more likely to visit, relocate to and work in the Borough if it is welcoming and friendly. Ards and North Down should be welcoming to all demographics included within S75 legislation. Specific sections highlighted via the mapping exercise include being age friendly (young and old); accessibility of services for people with a disability or recognised condition such as dementia or autism; and people of different religious and ethnic backgrounds (good relations). In addition to age and disability, this action now also includes information on good relations and crimes against vulnerable people. Dementia Friendly Initiative This initiative continues to be delivered across the range of council services in many formats including through the Age Friendly Local Dementia Friendly Development

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Steering Group of which the Compliance Officer (Equality and Safeguarding) is a member. The officer is linking and coordinating initiatives to ensure positive actions are delivered across the range of Council services. The South Eastern Trust representative is working with relevant council officers and other bodies to explore the potential to provide a Dementia Friendly café within the borough that meets the needs of potential users and their carers. The South Eastern Trust representative is currently developing guidance on how to set up and run a dementia café that meets the needs of those attending and considers staffing ratios. The North Down Museum have arranged an event for those with dementia and their carers in February 2020 to give attendees the opportunity to chat over coffee and make a craft item as they create memories. They have used the database to issue invitations to this event. Safeguarding From 1 April 2019 to the date of this report 33 incidents have been formally recorded and appropriate referrals made. 16 were in relation to children and young people, with 21 in relation to adults. The referrals cover a breadth of identified needs from across many council services. The Compliance Officer (Equality and Safeguarding) has worked with the PSNI and Social Services to support these referrals and the employees involved. Working within the Mental Health Charter has enabled some employees to identify organisations to assist individuals where they request referrals for support and also for employees themselves who at times find the situations overwhelming. Module 2 safeguarding training was delivered to 30 Leisure employees on 5 November and to 21 employees from Parks section and Leisure Services on 19 November by the Compliance Officer (Equality and Safeguarding). BSL Sign Video Ards and North Down Borough Council has recently partnered with an organisation called SignVideo. SignVideo gives individuals who are deaf or hearing impaired that use BSL some independence by allowing them to make telephone calls confidently to Council services through fully qualified interpreters. This service is free for users and represents a new approach to BSL communication by the Council. With SignVideo calls can be made via a videophone, laptop, PC, smartphone or tablet, enabling deaf British Sign Language users to have equal access to Council services. In addition to the web-based service, tablets installed with the Sign Video software, are located at four Council facilities: • Ards & North Down Borough Council, Town Hall, Bangor Castle • Ards & North Down Borough Council, 2 Church Street, Newtownards • Ards Blair Mayne Wellbeing and Leisure Centre, 1 Dairy Hall Lane, Newtownards • Ards Visitor Information Centre, 31 Regent Street, Newtownards

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British Deaf Association NI have informed their members of this service and to date the feedback is positive for all users. Employees have received training in making and receiving calls. This service has been advertised in a range of formats and through the British Deaf Association who are keen to encourage their members to use this service. Ards and North Down Borough Council are the third Council in Northern Ireland to provide BSL SighVideo. Young Carers An event for young carers was held in Ards Blair Mayne Wellbeing and Leisure Complex on Wednesday 30 October 2019 evening. The event was a joint initiative between the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, Action for Children and the Council to demonstrate the support for young people aged 5 years to 18 years of age who have put much of their life on hold to care for parents or siblings. These children and young people get little recognition or respite so the opportunity to participate in the activities available at Ards Blair Mayne Leisure and Wellbeing Complex followed by a light supper and free time was greatly appreciated by all. The Mayor attended part of the event to meet and talk to some of the children and young people about their lives. His attendance was appreciated by both the leaders and the young people. Following the event, the organisers sent a handmade card to all those who contributed to their evening. It Takes Allsorts October 2019 The events this year were held on Tuesday 15 October 2019 and Thursday 17 October 2019. Both events were held in Londonderry Park Pavilion, Newtownards. Details on the events were widely advertised to all employees and elected members with spaces allocated to local community groups the council work. The purpose was to encourage shared learning and show how the Council encourages employees to learn of the diverse community we work within. These bookings proved very popular with a range of statutory and community partners attending. The programme introduced those attending to the Syrian registration scheme and how it affects those living and working in our Borough as well as the individuals themselves; the similarities in Ulster Scots and Irish languages and culture; introduced everyone to mindfulness and when it may be appropriate; the issue of invisible trafficking across the province and in this Borough; as well as some of the issues the trans community and their families have to face. Through the range of speakers this year and in previous years the event continues to introduce employees and elected members to some of the diverse needs of our customers and assists in preparing services to meet these needs as well as giving employees the opportunity to meet colleagues they would not otherwise have the opportunity to meet. The organising group met to debrief following the two events and are already looking to identify topics and speakers for 2020. Local Government Staff Commission Diversity Charter The Council have been asked to endorse the Local Government Staff Commission Equality and Diversity Framework. A report to the Corporate Services Committee in December 2019 outlined the purpose of the Equality & Diversity Group and their responsibility to promote Diversity across each Council area.

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The Strategy and Action Plan set out a workplan for the Equality and Diversity Group over the next 3 years. It is designed to assist councils meet their equality and diversity obligations and demonstrate their compliance by endorsing 5 Principles: Principle 1: Ensuring we work in a non-discriminatory environment, promote equality, and model best practice in equality and good relations. Principle 2: Ensuring all our decisions are based on evidence to assess the likely impact of a policy on the promotion of equality of opportunity and good relations. Principle 3: Providing access to services, facilities and information. Principle 4: Recruiting and employing people fairly. Principle 5: Responding to and learning from complaints and incidents in a positive and pro-active way.

RECOMMENDATION

It is recommended that this report is noted.

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ITEM 11





Responsible Director Chief Executive


Community Planning Manager


File Reference

Legislation

Section 75 Compliant Yes ☐ No ☐ Other ☒

If other, please add comment below: Not relevant

Subject Recruitment of Members to the South Eastern Commissioning Group

Attachments Letter from Paul Turley Commissioning Lead Information Pack

The Health and Social Care Board has written to advise the Council that they are seeking to appoint four Local Government representatives to its South Eastern Local Commissioning Group (LCG). Officers have received further advice that the Health and Social Care Board has sent correspondence directly to all Elected Members, together with the information pack, seeking applications from interested individuals. Completed application forms should be returned to [email protected] by 4.00pm pm on Friday 17 January 2020

RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that Elected Members note this report.


Mr Stephen Reid Chief Executive Ards & North Down Borough Council Town Hall BANGOR Co Down BT20 4BT e-mail: [email protected]

South Eastern Local Commissioning Group 12/22 Linenhall Street Belfast BT2 8BS Tel : 028 9536 3300 Web Site : www.hscboard.hscni.net

Wednesday 18 December 2019 Dear Mr Reid Recruitment of Members to the South Eastern Local Commissioning Group I am writing to advise that the Health and Social Care Board is seeking to appoint four Local Government representatives to its South Eastern Local Commissioning Group (LCG). The South Eastern Local Commissioning Group is coterminous with South Eastern HSC Trust boundaries which covers a number of District Electoral Areas in the geography of Ards and North Down Borough Council area. The LCG is responsible for commissioning health and social care for the local population and its prime function is to assess and plan for those needs, through a strong community partnership in local communities, and to deliver services which are responsive to need. The attached information pack provides further details for prospective applicants and I would be grateful if a copy could be provided to each relevant Councillor for consideration. An application form can be obtained by e-mailing Patricia Crossan at [email protected]. Completed application forms must be returned to this e-mail address by 4.00pm on Friday 17 January 2020.

Yours sincerely


http://www.hscboard.hscni.net/


Paul Turley

Commissioning Lead

South Eastern Local Commissioning Group

Information Pack

December 2019

LOCAL COMMISSIONING GROUP

MEMBER +

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Introduction The Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) is inviting interest for Member posts in each of its 5 Local Commissioning Groups (LCGs), which were established in 2009 as HSCB Committees. This offers an exciting opportunity to become involved in the planning and delivery of health and social care to local populations across Northern Ireland (NI). Each LCG plays a key role in understanding the health and social care needs of its local population which is an essential pre-requisite to the planning of services which are responsive to current and emerging needs and ensuring delivery of health and social care to meet that assessed need. LCGs engage with community partnerships to fulfil this responsibility. The LCGs incorporate a range of professional interests such as GPs, nurses, dentists, pharmacists and social workers as well as voluntary and elected representatives, to ensure that the work of the HSCB has sensitivity and influence at a local level.

Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) The HSCB has 3 main functions:

To arrange or “commission” a comprehensive range of modern and effective health and social care services for the 1.8million people who live in NI;

To performance manage Health and Social Care Trusts that directly provide services to people and support service improvements in pursuit of optimal quality and value for money, in line with relevant government targets and;

To effectively deploy and manage its annual funding from the NI Executive – currently around £4.5billion – to ensure it is targeted upon need and reflects the aspirations of local communities and their representatives

The work of the HSCB has the potential to reach everyone at some point in their lives – its expenditure amounts to around £10million on every single day of the year – as it strives to ensure that services provided daily, to people in their homes by their GP, in hospital or in the community, deliver what is expected of them. The HSCB is going through a major period of transition. In October 2016, the then Minister when launching “Health and Wellbeing: 2026 Delivering Together” confirmed an earlier Ministerial announcement that the HSCB would close: the planned dissolution date of March 2022 is contingent upon NI Executive approval for the Bill to be included in its legislative programme by November 2020 at the latest. The majority of HSCB functions will transfer to the Department of Health (DoH), to whom it is accountable, and significant partnership working is ongoing to shape the new arrangements, develop new ways of working and ensure that the key functions of the HSCB continue to be delivered across all of the core business areas at regional and local levels. It will be important to ensure that throughout the interim period, the local provision of health and social care continues and LCG membership offers prospective applicants the opportunity to make a positive contribution to enhancing and delivering services across Northern Ireland.

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Local Commissioning Groups (LCGs) The 5 LCGs are geographically coterminous with each of the 5 Health and Social Care Trusts that directly provide services to the community (Appendix 1) and intersect with boundaries of the 11 Council areas (Appendix 2). The HSCB is required by statute to prepare and publish an annual Commissioning Plan, in partnership with the Public Health Agency (PHA), in response to the DoH issuing a Commissioning Plan Direction. The Commissioning Plan sets out the range and cost of services to be commissioned and incorporates the 5 Local Commissioning Plans which are developed and co-produced by each LCG with local populations and service providers. This combination of a regional and local approach to commissioning means that service improvements can be sensitive to local population need while being rolled out across the region at a pace and scale to the benefit of all. As the 2019/20 Commissioning Plan is currently under consideration by the Department of Health, a copy of the 2018/19 Commissioning Plan can be accessed at: http://www.hscboard.hscni.net/download/PUBLICATIONS/COMMISSIONING%20PLANS/Draft-Commissioning-Plan-2018-19.PDF

The LCGs have a lead role at local level for planning and commissioning services, which include securing the implementation of Local Commissioning Plans. The LCGs are responsible for assessing the needs of their populations using a wide range of data as well as local intelligence gathered from engagement with service users and carers, local communities and service providers. LCGs are working with Integrated Care Partnerships, which comprise of a range of local service providers, users and carers, to establish formal Locality Networks to co-design service change which reflects the needs of the local LCG population and adapted to the health and wellbeing circumstances in local communities. LCGs are represented on Community Planning Partnerships, working with a wide range of partners to develop population plans which focus on outcomes and secure the contribution of education, housing, transport and other providers with a significant influence on health and wellbeing. An outcomes based approach enables an evaluation of the impact of improvements on people’s lives as a whole. LCG Membership The Local Commissioning Groups (Membership) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 prescribes the composition of each LCG:

o 4 General Medical Practitioners (GPs); o 1 Pharmacist; o 1 Dentist; o 4 locally elected representatives; o 2 representatives from the voluntary and community sector with an

interest in health and social care; o 5 employees of the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) and

Public Health Agency (PHA): 2 social workers (HSCB) 1 nurse (PHA)

http://www.hscboard.hscni.net/download/PUBLICATIONS/COMMISSIONING%20PLANS/Draft-Commissioning-Plan-2018-19.PDF

http://www.hscboard.hscni.net/download/PUBLICATIONS/COMMISSIONING%20PLANS/Draft-Commissioning-Plan-2018-19.PDF

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1 person registered as a public health medicine specialist on the Specialist Register maintained by the General Medical Council

1 person who is registered as a member of a profession to which the Professions Supplementary to Medicine Act 1960 extends.

Each LCG is supported by an Assistant Director of Commissioning and an administrative team based in the following locations:. Belfast, South Eastern LCGs Northern LCG HSCB Eastern Office HSCB Northern Office 12/22 Linenhall Street, Belfast County Hall, 182 Galgorm Road, Ballymena

Southern LCG Western LCG HSCB Southern Office HSCB Western Office, Gransha Park House Tower Hill, Armagh Clooney Road, Londonderry HSC Board Committee LCGs have been constituted as Committees of the HSCB and operate within an approved Scheme of Delegation. The LCG Interim Chairs are accountable to the Chair of the Health and Social Care Board for discharging their responsibilities. To ensure that public service values remain at the heart of the HSC, LCG Chairs and Members are required, on appointment, to subscribe to the Code of Conduct and Code of Accountability for members of HSC bodies. Time Commitment Members will be expected to devote approximately 2 days per month. This can vary and may involve commitment both inside and outside normal working hours. LCGs will meet as often as considered necessary to address business needs but there is a requirement for each LCG to meet, in a public session, a minimum of 6 times each year. All prescribed members are eligible to apply for the post of LCG Interim Chair, which involves an increased time commitment of 6 days per month. An Interim Chair is required for each of the 5 LCGs, effective from April 2020. Remuneration: Members will receive £156 - £207 per day. Independent Contractor members are also eligible to claim allowances at the agreed Department of Health rates, for locum cover and loss of earnings, as well as travel and subsistence costs necessarily incurred on LCG business. Period of Appointment: As the HSCB is working towards a closure date of March 2022, the period of appointment will be in parallel with the timescale for the closure of the HSCB or subject to a maximum period of 4 years. Annual performance assessments will be required throughout the period of appointment.

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Eligibility Criteria: The Local Commissioning Groups (Membership) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 refers. A copy of the geographic area of the Belfast, Northern, South Eastern, Southern and Western HSC LCGs, which are coterminous with the respective HSC Trust boundaries, is included at Appendix 1. General Medical Practitioner/General Dental Practitioner/Pharmacists (Independent Contractors) General Medical Practitioners, General Dental Practitioners and Pharmacists must be currently practising within the area of the LCG. Local Government Representatives Councillors must be serving on a Local Council within the area of the LCG as at December 2019. Applicants must not be employed by the Department of Health, a health and social care body or a health service body. The reduction in the number of Local Councils in 2015 means that a small number of electoral areas within the 11 Councils now straddle the geographic area of 2 Health and Social Care Trusts/LCGs. Prospective applicants are asked to carefully consider Appendix 2. Belfast LCG – Belfast City Council; Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council. Northern LCG - Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council; Causeway Coast and Glens District Council; Mid and East Antrim Borough Council; Mid Ulster District Council. South Eastern LCG - Ards and North Down Borough Council; Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council; Newry, Mourne and Down District Council. Southern LCG - Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council; Mid Ulster District Council; Newry, Mourne and Down District Council. Western LCG - Derry City and Strabane District Council; Fermanagh and Omagh District Council; Causeway Coast and Glens District Council. Voluntary and Community Sector Representatives Applicants must be a representative of a voluntary and community organisation with an interest in health and social care within the area of the LCG ie., coterminous with the respective HSC Trust boundary. Applicants must not be employed by the Department of Health, a health and social care body or a health service body.

5

ROLE DESCRIPTION Title: Local Commissioning Group (LCG) Member Accountable to: Interim Local Commissioning Group Chair Time Commitment: 2 days per month Role of LCG Members The members of the LCG will have corporate responsibility to ensure that the HSC Board meets its statutory obligations to improve the health and wellbeing of the population in the LCG area. The role will include the continued development of commissioning arrangements to deliver both regional and locally agreed priorities within resources. Key Responsibilities

- To contribute to the local planning and commissioning of services and the development, production and implementation of an annual Local Commissioning Plan;

- To assist in the assessment of health and social care needs of the local

population through engagement with a wide range of stakeholders in the LCG area;

- To contribute to the co-design process through engagement with local service

providers to ensure services appropriate to local need and circumstance

- To make care commissioning decisions having due regard for the identified needs of their population and available resources;

- To pay due regard to the view of the Public Health Agency in addressing the

wider determinants of health and wellbeing;

- To be a source of expertise for their respective profession;

- To support the Chair in their leadership role by establishing peer support for decisions made by the LCG;

- To participate fully in meetings and the LCG decision-making process.

6

LCG MEMBER: PERSON SPECIFICATION Essential Criteria All candidates applying for the position need to demonstrate on the application form, and at interview, how they meet the following criteria:

- Broad understanding of current health and social care structures and services and appreciation of key issues and values effecting health and social care services;

- A willingness to play a part in supporting the LCG in meeting its responsibility to

engage effectively with local communities in an open and transparent manner;

- A commitment to accept individual responsibility to work as part of a corporate body in meeting agreed objectives set by the Health and Social Care Board;

- The ability to work effectively as part of a team in a challenging and changing

environment

- Experience of working with a broad range of stakeholders across the statutory and voluntary/community sectors;

- Good communication skills – demonstration of interpersonal, communication,

political and team working skills;

- Able and willing to develop further as a LCG member.

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APPENDIX 1

8

APPENDIX 2

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ITEM 12a







'-


File Reference NOM 109

Legislation '-



Subject NOM 109 Imposition of Unregulated Abortion in Northern Ireland

Attachments Letter from the Northern Ireland Office At the September 2019 meeting of the Corporate Services Committee the following Notice of Motion was discussed and subsequently agreed by the Council: “That this Council deeply regrets the recent amendment of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill in Westminster to include the imposition of unregulated abortion to Northern Ireland. The immediate implications of this Bill are that abortion on request will be legalised to the point of viability and potentially beyond to 28 weeks depending on legal interpretation. Council noted that no consultation took place on the amendments related to the Abortion clause at Westminster with the people of Northern Ireland. The process which led to this section being passed into law was deeply flawed and has significant detrimental consequences for devolution and the residents of Ards and North Down. Council also noted that Northern Ireland’s pre-existing abortion laws have saved an estimated 100,000 lives since 1967. This means approximately 8,500 residents of Ards and North Down are alive today who would otherwise not have been because

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the 1967 Abortion Act did not apply here. In contrast the Act has resulted in the deaths of over 8 million unborn babies in England and Wales, including 205,295 in the last year alone. The Council consider this course of action goes far beyond the public conversation which has been happening in Northern Ireland in recent years about amending the law to allow abortion in the cases of life limiting conditions deemed fatal before, during or shortly after birth. Council fully accepts that a future NI Assembly may wish to consider these cases further in line with the previous Assembly’s working group report on this issue.” The Council agreed that it writes urgently to you as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, to reflect this Councils position.” The Chief Executive of Ards and North Down Borough Council subsequently wrote to The Secretary of State on 7 November 2019 and the attached response was received on 17 December 2019.

RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the Committee notes the attached response.

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ITEM 12b







'-


File Reference NOM 112

Legislation



Subject NOM 112 Integrated Education Fund

Attachments Letter At the November 2019 meeting of Ards and North Down Borough Council Corporate Services Committee the under noted Notice of Motion was discussed and subsequently ratified by the Council: “That Ards and North Down Borough Council, in seeking to encourage and support reconciliation in Northern Ireland, congratulates the Integrated Education Fund and the Northern Ireland Council on Integrated Education, on being nominated for the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize.” The Chief Executive of Ards and North Down Borough Council subsequently wrote on 9 December 2019 to the Chief Executive of the Integrated Education Fund and the Chief Executive Officer of the NI Council for Integrated Education. The attached reply was received on 18 December 2019.

RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the Committee notes the attached response.

ARDS AND NORTH DOWN BOROUGH COUNCIL · 2020. 1. 8. · Reynold Nicholson. Network Planning Manager....

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