Deadline for registering for Business Grants is 20 May 2020
We asked which areas of support would be most valuable to our businesses.
You told us that access to finance was one of the most important issues.
Please note that the registration deadline for the £10,000 and £25,000 grant schemes is this Wednesday - 20 May 2020.
This also includes businesses that occupy rental properties.
Find out more about the schemes, eligibility and how to register here: bit.ly/2LC1izv
It is important to note, a short time after launching this consultation on our draft Performance Improvement Objectives 2020/21, the Government announced a nationwide lockdown, in response to the global Coronavirus pandemic. Consequently, this also had an impact on the number of responses received.
In demonstrating Council’s commitment to meaningful consultation process and ‘Closing the Loop’, and as a method of best practice, we include a summary on ‘You Said, We Did’ section within our Consultation Hub.
During an 8-week period of consultation, we asked for feedback on our draft Performance Improvement Objectives (PIOs) for 2020/21. 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. Thank you for this feedback.
|
PIOs |
% of Respondents in agreement |
% of Respondents in disagreement |
% of Respondents who didn’t provide an answer |
|
60 |
40 |
0 |
|
100 |
0 |
0 |
|
80 |
0 |
20 |
|
60 |
20 |
20 |
|
40 |
20 |
40 |
|
40 |
20 |
40 |
Officers carried out an analysis of those responses received. The additional / supplementary comments and valuable feedback we received as part of this consultation have been passed to relevant departments for their consideration.
During April – July 2020, Council continued to liaised with the Department for Communities (DfC) seeking guidance/consideration of options in relation to the impact of Covid 19 and 2020-21 Performance Improvement Plan.
On 17 August 2020 Council received formal notification from DfC stating:
Council will continue to engage with the Department to ensure a collaborative approach is taken, along with the other 10 councils in relation to our statutory performance duties next year.
For further information please contact the Performance and Audit Department by emailing: performance@armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk
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:
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.
For feedback on current service provision and perception of value for money for getactiveabc memberships at the Orchard Leisure Centre to ensure the best possible service is provided to our customers.
A total of 34 people completed the Survey.
Over 70% of respondents rated their getactiveabc memberships as either excellent or good value for money. The remaining 29% rated their membership as average in terms of value for money, but none of the surveyed customers rated their membership as ‘poor value for money’
Awareness rates of membership options was an area which was highlighted as needing to be addressed; 58% were aware how many people the family membership covered while 41% were unaware.
As a result of your feedback, we have ensured that more getactiveabc membership promotional material is now available as well as increased information posts on Facebook about family membership options.
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.
|
PIOs |
% of Respondents in agreement |
% of Respondents in disagreement |
% of Respondents who didn’t provide an answer |
|
100 |
0 |
0 |
|
89 |
11 |
0 |
|
89 |
11 |
0 |
|
56 |
11 |
33 |
|
89 |
11 |
0 |
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
Question 1: Are you happy with the opening hours?
Question 2 : Are you happy with the cleanliness of the facilities?
Question 3: Are you happy with the condition of the sanitary ware in the facilities?
Question 4: Are you happy for the provision for ALL user groups?
Question 5: Are you happy with the location of the facilities?
Answer 1: 73% of respondents said that they were either satisfied or very satisfied with the opening hours, however, 15% were dissatisfied and 12% were very dissatisfied.
Answer 2: 58% of respondents said that they were either satisfied or very satisfied with the cleanliness of the facilities, however, 23% were dissatisfied and 18% were very dissatisfied.
Answer 3: 50% of respondents said that they were either satisfied or very satisfied with the condition of the sanitary ware in the facilities, however, 32% were dissatisfied and 18% were very dissatisfied.
Answer 4: 56% of respondents said that they were either satisfied or very satisfied with the provision for ALL user groups, however, 26% were dissatisfied and 19% were very dissatisfied.
Answer 5: 79% of respondents said that they were either satisfied or very satisfied with the location of the facilities, however 14% were dissatisfied and 7% were very dissatisfied.
As a result of this we plan to:
As part of Council’s Capital Play Development Programme, the play park in Lurgan Park has been designated for refurbishment with an investment of £250,000.
It was suggested that the current existing site (Site 1) might not be in the best location and a potential new site (Site 2) had been identified close to the entrance at Waves Leisure Complex, Robert Street.
Council asked residents for their views on which site they feel would better suit the new District Play Park in Lurgan Park
Responses:
Site 1: Total responses 136 = 33.58%
Site 2: Total responses 268 = 66.17%
The majority of respondants agreed that site 2, beside Waves Leisure Complex (Robert Street entrance) was the most suitable site.
However, after this survey closed a public meeting was held and Council was contacted regarding a number of potential difficulties using the site chosen.
Council asked for guidance from Heritage Lottery Fund and Health & Safety in relation to the site; their advice stated that the site identified (site 2) could not be used for the new play area.
The play area will remain in the existing site (subject to planning permission), however, it will be larger and will have all the equipment that was previously chosen as part of the consultation with schools and the public.
To view the 3D walkthgough video of Lurgan Park new play area; please scroll down to the link below:
For feedback on the level of cleanliness and housekeeping at the Orchard Leisure Centre to ensure that we provide the best possible service for our customers.
A total of 103 people completed the survey of those 73 were current members of Orchard Leisure Centre.
42 respondents filled in the open ended comment section, the following trends for areas needing attention were evident;
As a result of your feedback we carried the following work: