The details provided below provide background information for all Section 75 groupings.

Identifying our Improvement Objectives

Our priorities for improvement are based on a thorough, evidence-based understanding of the communities we serve, local needs, and an assessment of our capacity to meet those needs. Our approach included:

• A review of legislation and statutory guidance.
• Self-analysis through our Performance Self-Assessment Report (2022/23).
• Consideration of performance audit and assessment reports.
• Alignment with the priorities of the Programme for Government, updated Community Plan, and our new Corporate Plan (2024-2028).
• Consideration of citizens’ top priorities for making the borough a better place to live in, identified through our Citizens Survey (2022).
• Analysis of the draft Performance Improvement Plan 2024/25 public consultation results.
• Input and direction from Council Management and Officers.
• Equality, Rural, Climate and Sustainability, and Data Protection Impact Assessment Screening.

Citizens Survey (2022):

The MEA Citizens Survey (summer 2022) consisted of a representative sample of 810 people across the borough. Participant bands were agreed for residential quotas based on the 2021 Census outputs.

Quotas included, Age, Gender, Settlement (urban and rural), Socio-economic coding (ABC1, C2DE), and District Electoral Area (Ballymena, Bannside, Braid, Carrick Castle, Coast Road, Knocking and Larne Lough).

Other than noted above, no additional section 75 categories were included as specific quota. 

The survey identified citizens’ top 5 priorities for making our borough a better place to live in:

1. Supporting and developing activities for children and young people.
2. Support to reduce poverty.
3. Developing skills and job prospects.
4. Delivering clean and attractive streets and towns.
5. Supporting our parks, green spaces, and the natural and built environment.

Performance Improvement Plan 2024/25 public consultation:

The Council also ran a public consultation on the three draft Improvement Objectives over a period of 12 weeks (9 January 2024 to 2 April 2024). A series of indicative actions were provided against each of the objectives.

The consultation was open to all to respond (with no specific demographic or section 75 quota), with direct promotion with local community and business groups, and the Council’s Section 75 consultee list. The consultation involved:

• A consultation document, published on our website and displayed at our main reception areas.
• An online survey.
• Face-to-face surveys within our three leisure centres (Ballymena, Carrickfergus, and Larne).

Respondents were asked review the objectives and indicate if they supported the Council in pursuing them. They had the opportunity to comment on each objective, and to submit their own ideas for improvement.

A series of promotional activities were undertaken to maximise the response rate:

• Emails to local community groups.
• Emails to local businesses.
• Emails to Council’s Section 75 consultee list.
• Emails to staff and Elected Members from the Council’s Interim Chief Executive.
• Regular social media posts.
• Local press and radio coverage.
• Council’s intranet.
• Council’s Connections magazine.

Results:

216 people responded to the survey.

Question 5: Which category best describes you?

90% were Residents

5% indicated Business

12% were Community and Voluntary groups

And 1% were Elected Members

Question 6: Which general area do you live or work in?

38% indicated Ballymena

33% in Carrickfergus

And 31% in Larne

Question 7: What age are you?

5% were Under 20

7% between 20-29

14% between 30-39

25% between 40-49

16% between 50-59

And 32% were 60 plus

The results indicated strong support for all three Improvement Objectives.

People: We will work with partners to improve the lives of citizens

At 86%, there was a high level of support for this objective. The key priority groups identified were young people, people with disabilities, and the economically inactive. Respondents’ main areas of concern were the provision of opportunities for skills development, employment, and career progression, actions that address poverty and the cost-of-living, and health and wellbeing support. The Council must work with the right partners to meet citizens’ needs, and service provision must be equal, accessible, and inclusive.

Place: We will maintain and improve our local areas

At 88%, there was a high level of support for this objective. The key priority groups identified were young people and town centre businesses. Respondents’ main concerns were for investment in playparks and outdoor recreation, support and investment in the borough’s town centres, fair regional balance, and the provision of quality, inclusive, and accessible Council services.

Planet: We will reduce our environmental impact and improve sustainability

At 86%, there was a high level of support for this objective. The main priorities focused on Council leading by example, developing the Electric Vehicle (EV) charging network, the provision of an effective and efficient waste management service, support for biodiversity, and engagement and education on sustainability.

Suggestions for improvements

Half of respondents made a recommendation for improvement. Citizens would like to see greater communication and interaction with the Council, improvements to our Leisure Services, investment in our town centres and provision for young people, and more open spaces. Suggestions were made for environmental improvements around recycling and biodiversity. There were concerns about the Council rate, and Council’s internal management and operations.  Citizens sought more information on the specific actions to achieve the objectives, including partner details.

Census:

• Protestant and other Christian religions comprise the majority within MEA Borough, at 58% compared to 17% Catholic. 
• Overall, Northern Ireland figures record a majority Catholic citizens, however, this does not apply to MEA Borough.

Northern Ireland Census Comparison figures show

42% are Catholic

37% are Protestant and other

17% indicated No religion

And 1% are Other

• MEA citizens without or who did not state religion, accounts for approximately a quarter of MEA Borough.

Mid and East Antrim Census Comparison figures show

58% are Protestant and other

24% indicated No religion

17% are Catholic

And 1% are Other

2011 – 2021 Census Comparison

• Protestant and Other Christian citizens numbers have fallen by 5% within MEA Borough which was 63% in 2011 and decreased to 58% in 2021
• Catholic and Other remain unchanged at 17% Catholic and Other at 1%

No religion increased by 6%, from 19% in 2011 to 24% in 2021 and may account for the decline in Protestant and Other numbers

Local Government Elections took place in May 2023. The Borough’s political opinion weighting is as follows for each Party:

In terms of approvals, the Performance Improvement Plan consultation document was approved by Full Council to proceed to public consultation. 

The final plan will be presented to Full Council (40 Elected Members) for approval before publishing. 

Elected Members can provide viewpoints from multiple political groups. 

The MEABC political membership breakdown of each party by percentage in Mid and East Antrim Borough is as follows:

2021 Census

2011 – 2021 Census Comparison

1% increase in white with a 1% decrease in other.

The Council specifically promoted details of the Performance Improvement Plan 2024/25 consultation to organisations contained within its community database.

The majority age range in MEA borough is 40-64 (34%), seconded by the 15-39 age range (29%).

• Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has a higher proportion of married residents compared to Northern Ireland figures. 
• Since 2011 (Census), in Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, the number of residents who are single, in a civil partnership or divorced, has risen. The number of residents married, separated, or widowed has fallen.