ARDS BOROUGH COUNCIL AT YOUR SERVICE

One of 26 local authorities in Northern Ireland, Ards Borough Council administers an area of approximately 140 square miles with a population of 70,000. Twenty three councillors are elected to represent the people of Ards.

The Council performs a host of diverse functions, ranging from street cleaning and refuse collection to operating a retail craft outlet and public aquarium.

Whatever the responsibility or undertaking, Ards Borough Council strives to ensure that services are delivered to the highest standards within available resources. We are committed to identifying and meeting the needs of the residents of the Ards Borough and to delivering services to their satisfaction. In other words, we aim to demonstrate 'Best Value', in line with Government recommendations.

There are a number of key issues which are likely to affect the Ards Borough, and therefore the Council, over the next number of years and we have embarked upon a process which will see plans drawn up to address those issues. We have already reviewed five of our services according to the rigours of the Best Value regime and each of our other services will be subject to the same scrutiny in the next four years.

For the next two years we will focus on five key issues, or strategic themes, to guide our work. They are:

• Planning and Development
• Community Involvement
• Provision of Services
• Corporate Development
• Business and Industry