A full meeting of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council was held on Tuesday 2nd November 2021.
Before overseeing the business of the evening, the Mayor expressed his sympathy to Councillor John McAuley on the death of his mother, and he invited members to stand for a moment’s silence in her memory.
During the meeting, elected members ratified the following decisions:
Environmental Services committee
Snow/ice clearing
Renew an arrangement with Department for Infrastructure (DfI Roads) for the clearance of snow and ice from paths and pedestrian areas.
Verge maintenance
Enter into an agreement with DfI to trial a ‘cut and lift’ approach for the next seven years to establish if grass cutting can be reduced to reduce costs and promote biodiversity.
Festive Lights
Replace lights infrastructure to ensure lighting provision mirrors that of previous years.
Portrush Harbour
Grant preferential mooring to Portrush Sea Cadets ahead of its existing position.
Leisure and Development committee
Portrush Recreation Grounds
Include the provision of a wheelchair accessible swing as part of the ongoing development work at the site.
Sperrins Future Search
Continue to fund the Sperrins Partnership Project up until March 2023 and, subject to review, until October 2023 at a cost to Council of £22,000 per annum.
Alchemy ‘Activate’ Pilot Programme
Include the Alchemy ‘Activate’ programme in the future business development plan with a budget allocated at £10,000 per annum. The pilot programme was created in June to support start-up businesses that have participated in Invest NI’s ‘Go For It’ programme with a focus on business set up, finance, HR, sales, marketing and social media.
Town Centre Experience Fund
Run the Town Centre Experience Fund as a pilot scheme with a call for applications during the 2021 financial year.
The Fund aims to bring different ideas together and develop cohesive thinking around activities which can improve the town centre experience for users. The project will open for grants of up to £4000. Groups of traders/town centre stakeholders will be encouraged to work together to introduce new experiences, activities, marketing, or event development within their respective areas.
The grant will be confined to the four main hubs; Ballycastle, Ballymoney, Coleraine, Limavady and eight town centres; Ballykelly, Bushmills, Cushendall, Dungiven, Garvagh, Kilrea, Portrush, Portstewart, as defined in the Northern Area Plan. The proposed outcomes include increased promotion and awareness of the retail offer within our towns to contribute to the residential and visitor experience; promote town centre businesses to encourage growth; keep spend within the Borough and promote town centres as multifunctional places.
It was also agreed that the Fund is run on an annual basis through the funding grants programme.
MUGA Floodlights
Approve the installation of floodlights at Ballykelly and Bushmills MUGAs which will greatly enhance access to sporting and recreational opportunities in both areas, with anticipated expenditure of £56,000.
Festive Fund Grants
Approve grants to 11 successful applicants to facilitate festive celebrations within the Borough’s smaller towns, villages and hamlets.
Sale of the Dunluce Centre
Members voted in favour of not selling the site to the preferred bidder and instead go back to the market again.
Corporate Policy and Resources
City Status
Make an application to gain city-status for Coleraine as part of a competition to grant this prestigious and rare civic honour to a select number of worthy places in the United Kingdom.
Adoption of new policies
Approve the adoption of an Agile Working Policy, Breastfeeding Policy and Eye Test Policy.
As per normal Council procedures, all decisions are subject to the ‘call-in’ process.
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