Consultation Hub

As part of Council’s Capital Play Development Programme the play park in Drumbeg/Meadownbrook/Pinbank (Tullygally) has been designated for refurbishment, with an investment of £100,000

There are more children and young people living within the Meadowbrook/ Drumbeg areas and the Play Strategy has recommended relocating the existing Play Area to better meet the needs of an expanded area to include Meadowbrook and Drumbeg. 

Two sites were identifed and Council wanted to hear residents views on which site they feel would better suit the Neighbourhood Play Park which is designated for the Tullygally area

Council received 303 responses:

•  34.32 % opted for site one (the exsisting site).
•  65.68 % opted for site two (new site identified).

Council is therefore recommending that the new play facilities be located on site two; this site is owned by NIHE and Council are progressing with this matter at the moment.

A public meeting will be arranged to discuss this matter with the residents/community; the date for this meeting will be post on the Get Active & Council Facebook/website pages.

In our continuing effort to improve the quality of  play service provided by Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council, we carried out an online and postal survey to establish the number of children aged 0-14 years old in the Blackskull area that would avail of play facilities and how those children play.

Council received the following responses to the surveys:

Online survey – 59 responses received, total 133 children

Postal survey – 31 received, total  84 children

Therefore there are a total of 217 children in the local area.

It would be Council's recommendation to progress a new play park in the Blackskull area.  However, it should be noted that no site has been identified at present.

During an 8-week period of consultation, we asked for feedback on our draft Performance Improvement Objectives (PIOs) for 2019/20. Specifically, we asked; “Do you agree that the proposed Performance Improvement Objectives are appropriate for our Borough?

Responses were largely in agreement with our proposed PIOs.  Some responses also included specific comments and additional suggestions for improvement across a range of service areas. Thank you for this feedback.

We have carried out an analysis of the responses received and are confident that the rate of agreement provides assurance that our proposed PIOs for 2019-20 are appropriate for the Borough. 

The additional suggestions / supplementary comments and valuable feedback we received as part of this consultation have been passed to relevant Departments for their consideration in line with their Departmental Business Plans and delivery of their Action Plans.  It will help to shape the design of our Performance Improvement Objectives for 2020-21.  Further information can be obtained by contacting the Performance and Audit Department at performance@armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk

Summary of Additional Comments  

Comments made in relation to PIO1 mostly recommend additional support for our rural businesses as well as investment in our town centres. Council has committed to addressing these areas through on-going delivery of the Rural Development Programme and the establishment of multi-stakeholder Town Centre Task Force Action Plan.

Comments in relation to PIO2 mostly relate to litter and dog fouling, maintenance of our green spaces and greenways, and the upkeep of our village and town centres, including public realm projects. Council has committed to improving these areas through implementation of the Clean Neighbourhoods Action Plan, as well as the Rural Development Programme and the Town Centre Task Force Action Plan.

Comments in relation to PIO3 suggest that we should make more use of direct methods of engagement with our customers and that we should engage more via digital platforms and social media. Council has committed to improving engagement with all customers by establishing a Customer Care Project Team who will consider the feedback provided. Council has also invested in an on-line Consultation Hub, which provides a digital platform for surveys, questionnaires and consultations. Council’s Communications team already engage with the public across a range of digital platforms and media but further development of this can be considered.

Comments made in relation to PIO 4 relate to concerns about the environment and the impact of development on our infrastructure. These matters are currently being addressed, and will continue to be addressed, by Council’s Planning department through the exercising of its primary functions, including Development Management and the preparation of a new Local Development Plan. In addition, our Planning and Building Control Departments have recently carried out service reviews of their working practices, resulting in agreed Action Plans, which will be implemented during 2019/2020 to deliver service improvements.

Comments in relation to PIO 5 suggest that Council should take a more holistic approach to health and well-being that includes strong community partnerships, with Council as a facilitator, and suggests better use of outdoor spaces to promote well-being. There is a strong focus on this objective within the Community Plan and Council’s Corporate Plan. A Healthy Community Thematic Action Planning Group has been set up to facilitate partnership work to reduce health inequalities and provide opportunities for everyone to be healthy and active and Council take an active role in this group. In addition, Council’s Play Strategy and Action Plan and Tourism Strategy outline Council’s commitment to providing health, cultural and social opportunities to our citizens.

Council’s 2019/20 Performance Improvement Plan was published on 27 June 2019 and can be viewed here: https://www.armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk/download/44/performance-plan-2015-16/27225/performance-improvement-plan-for-2019-20.pdf