Performance Improvement

The Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014 sets out a General Duty of Improvement in that, "a Council must make arrangements to secure continuous improvement in the exercise of its functions". A Council must have regard in particular to improve the exercise of its function in terms of:

Strategic effectiveness
Service quality
Service availability
Fairness
Sustainability
Efficiency; and
Innovation.

Looking forward - Annual Performance Improvement Plan

The legislation sets out that for each financial year, a Council must set itself and work to achieve 'improvement objectives' relating to the areas outlined above.

Performance Improvement Plan 2024-25 (PDF, 1 MB) (opens new window)

Links to Council's Performance Improvement Plan for the two previous financial years can be downloaded below:

Performance Improvement Plan 2023-24 (PDF, 625 KB) (opens new window) (DOCX 448 KB)
Performance Improvement Plan 22/23 (PDF, 700 KB) (opens new window) (PDF 718 KB)

Looking back - Annual Self-Assessment Report

In addition, the legislation places a requirement on Councils to assess and report on their performance against the previous year and to compare its performance, so far as is practicable, with the performance of other councils in the exercise of the same or similar functions.

Links to Council's Self-Assessment Report for the two previous financial years can be downloaded below:

Above documents can be provided in alternative formats if required in relation to language or disability by contacting the Transformation Team at:

Ards and North Down Borough Council
City Hall
Bangor, BT20 4BT

or by telephoning 0300 013 3333

Annual Audit and Assessment

Each year the Local Government Auditor has to report whether each council has discharged its duties in relation to improvement planning, the publication of improvement information and the extent to which each council has acted in accordance with the Department's Guidance. The Local Government Auditor also has to assess annually whether a council is likely to make the required arrangements to secure continuous improvement in that year. This is called the "improvement assessment".