PLANS AND PERFORMANCE

In 2005, the Council produced its first Corporate Plan, a document which used five core themes, together with a series of strategic aims and objectives, to map out the future focus of the Council's work. Two years later, in 2007, the Council undertook a mid-point review of the Plan, in recognition of the simple fact that we deliver our services in an ever-changing world and, indeed, that you live and learn. The Plan needed to reflect any shift in emphasis, whether in terms of internal policy or external demands, if it was to remain a living, breathing document that could truly guide our work and help deliver our aspirations for the Ards Borough. The outcome of that re-examination of the original Corporate Plan is included in the formal Review Report for 2007/08 which summarises how the Council performed in each of its five Corporate Themes.

In 2009, when the Plan was due for renewal, the Council decided to review and extend it, rather than begin the process afresh, given that the merger with North Down Borough Council was set to take place in May 2011.

The Corporate Plan naturally influencs the development of other departmental and service-specific plans, from our Development Strategy to the Service Delivery and Improvement Plans which are produced and reported on annually for each of the Council's 13 separate service units.

Copies of the Council's Corporate Plan, annual Review Reports, along with other plans and performance reports, can be viewed and downloaded here, as can financial information, including the annual statement of accounts and report from the Northern Ireland Local Government Auditor.

Details of the current financial year's district rate increase and budget allocations are available here .