Representatives and councillors from Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council
Antrim and Newtownabbey councillors will be asked to grant employees of the borough council an additional half-day’s leave in recognition of their contribution to achieving the APSE (Association for Public Service Excellence) UK Council of the Year 2024 Award.
A report to be presented to the council’s Policy and Governance Committee, at a meeting, on Tuesday evening, also noted the council won the Best Services Team for its bereavement and cemetery services and was a finalist in five other categories.
This is the first time that a local authority from Northern Ireland has won the main award.
Almost 1,000 cremations have taken place during the first 12 months at the £6m council-owned crematorium which opened at Doagh Road, Newtownabbey, in June 2023.
Chief Executive Richard Baker, Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council
Commenting on the council’s recent success, chief executive Richard Baker told the Local Democracy Reporting Service:
“It is always about being better, always about improving services for the public. As chief executive, I want Antrim and Newtownabbey to be best in class in everything we do. We are on the right track but it is all about improving.
“If we want to improve our services, we will need investment in our services. From the ratepayers’ perspective, there is still much more we want to do.”
However, the chief executive refused to be drawn on rates bills which the borough’s households and businesses could expect in the next financial year.
“We are generally fiscally responsible. I do think we are being very financially prudent as an organisation. At the six-month point, we are within budget,” Mr Baker stated.
He acknowledged the council should be “open and transparent in what we are doing” but maintained that commercial and human resources matters should be discussed behind closed doors to maintain confidentiality.
He went on to say no decisions are taken at working group or DEA (District Electoral Area) meetings. “The decision-makers of the organisation are the 40 councillors,” he added.
Mr Baker also spoke of the council’s success in attracting jobs and investment to the borough, noting that since 2015, the local authority has attracted more than £1bn worth of investment.
He pointed out the council is contributing £10m to the AMIC (Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre), a “factory of the future”, which is being constructed at Global Point, outside Glengormley, through the Belfast Region City Deal.
He said the council is now looking for “the next site and that level of investment”. “Anywhere in the borough is open at the minute.” he stated.