PLANS, PERFORMANCE & POLICIES

Corporate Plan 2005-2009
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.

Corporate Plan 2005-2009
Corporate Plan Review Report 2007-2008
Corporate Plan Review Report 2008-2009

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

Corporate Plan 2009-2011
Corporate Plan Review Report 2009-2010
Corporate Plan Review Report 2010-2011 - to be published in late 2011.

Corporate Plan 2011-2015
Now that the merger with North Down Borough Council is no longer taking place, a new Corporate Plan is being created to cover the period 2011-2015. It will be going out for public consultation in the near future.

Other Strategies and Plans
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.

Service Delivery & Improvement Plans 2011-2012

Good Relations Strategy 2009-2011

Human Resources Plan 2009-2011

Please note that many of our plans (for example, those relating to development, good relations and human resources) will be reviewed in light of the new Corporate Plan 2011-2015 which is currently under development. As soon as these new plans are available they will be published here.

Performance
How we perform against our goals corporately is monitored annually in a Corporate Plan Review Report (see above), while individual services monitor their performance against their Service Delivery and Improvement Plans.

Naturally we monitor our financial performance and publish how we are performing against budget on a quarterly basis. Other financial information, including the annual statement of accounts and report from the Northern Ireland Local Government Auditor are also published here.

2011-2012 District Rate & Budget
Service Delivery & Improvement Plans - Performance 2010-2011

Budget Report 2011-2012 (1st quarter)

Budget Report 2011-2012 (2nd quarter)

Budget Report 2011-2012 (3rd quarter)

Budget Reports 2010-2011 (1st, 2nd, 3rd quarters)

Public Interest Report (November 2010) - Sale of former abattoir site, Newtownards

Annual Audit Letter For Year Ended March 2011 (Down Rural Area Partnership)

Annual Audit Letter For year Ended March 2011

Financial Statements For Year Ended March 2011

Financial Statements For Year Ended March 2010

Annual Audit Letter for the year ended 31 March 2010

Financial Statements For Year Ended March 2009

Annual Audit Letter for the year ended 31 March 2009

Financial Statements For Year Ended March 2008

Annual Audit Letter for the year ended 31 March 2008

Financial Statements For Year Ended March 2007

Annual Audit Letter for the year ended 31 March 2007

Policies
The Council has a raft of policies and procedures, a summary of which is provided here, along with other individual policies.

Summary of Council Policies

Data Protection Policy

Whistleblowing Policy