Claims against Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council increase after the local authority’s annual summer schemes, councillors were told during an update on internal audit activity at a meeting earlier this week.
Members were presented with the report at a meeting of the council’s Audit and Risk Committee, at Antrim Civic Centre, on Wednesday, March 20.
Sandra Cole, the council’s director of finance and governance, told councillors “insurance claims are still high in council”, adding that the cost of insurance premiums has also risen.
“We have more work to do about public liability claims and vehicle claims in council,” she stated. The director commented the council’s claims history is “not particularly good”.
Airport Alliance Councillor Andrew McAuley asked if the claims relate to public liability or “to do with things we are not maintaining”.
The director explained: “We do have public liability claims if something happens in our leisure centres, parks or playing fields. If there are vehicle incidents, we can also have claims against council.
“The summer schemes we hold – quite often there is an increase in claims after that.”
She went on to say there is a claim against a neighbouring council after a man fell from a bonfire.
Father-of-two John Steele, who was in his 30s, died while helping with the building of the Antiville bonfire in Larne on Saturday, July 9 2022.
The director added: “All of these need to be taken into the round in terms of risk assessment for council.”
Cllr McAuley asked if there is any action council can take so if a claim does occur the impact and cost can be managed.
“There is more training and advice for drivers. We are trying to have more interactive training with them in terms of near-misses to ensure our claims improve,” the director replied.
“There is ongoing work we have to do. Claims have not increased but they have not reduced either. We need to have different interventions to keep this expenditure under control.”