Mid and East Antrim
Mid and East Antrim will comprise Ballymena, Carrickfergus and Larne Borough Councils. The transition is being led by the Mid and East Antrim Statutory Transition Committee (STC), made up of five members from each council. In this article, STC Chair Alderman Billy Ashe provides an update on the opportunities of reform and takes a look at the assets of the new Council area.
Local government reform is not just about doing things differently – it’s about doing things better, by transferring functions from central to local government. This is one of the biggest opportunities for us as councils. The transfer of planning and regeneration, added to the new duty of community planning, will create an opportunity for local elected representatives to shape our district and deliver on local need for our citizens.
Integrating these functions, combined with councils’ existing functions, will allow for a more productive, joined-up approach which makes the most of opportunities and best uses all the strengths available.
In Mid and East Antrim, I see real potential in our new area. Our cluster of councils has a comprehensive offering which includes Ballymena’s strong manufacturing reputation, the port in Larne and Carrickfergus, with one of the best medieval castles in Europe.
As Chairman, I am impressed with the assets and opportunities that each of the three councils are bringing to Mid and East Antrim, and this will help drive excellent sustainable growth. This article will give you a feel for the potential of this new council area. Even at this very early stage, I see opportunity in the diverse range of programmes, plans, initiatives and assets that the three councils offer – and how these can deliver better for the citizens when they are joined together. Working with the elected members across the three existing councils, I, as Chairman, am confident that we will all continue to work together at elected member and officer level, to ensure a smooth transition and to maximise the opportunities that local government reform presents.
Economy
The importance of creating a thriving council area with job creation, economic investment and growth opportunity is perhaps the most important challenge ahead for Mid and East Antrim. With a strategic location, international manufacturing and resilient local companies, the groundwork is in place for Mid and East Antrim to capitalise on signs of economic growth and build itself a strong and formidable economic identity.
Strategic location
Mid and East Antrim will benefit from its strategic location within Northern Ireland. With close proximity to both major airports, the port of Belfast and, of course, the port of Larne itself, the area is ideally situated for commerce. This will be further enhanced by the upgrade of the A8 which will improve road travel between Larne, Carrickfergus and Belfast and indeed the Northern Irish motorway network. In the Ballymena Borough Council area, the dualling of the A26 will enhance the strategic corridor linking Mid and East Antrim to the north of the province.
Manufacturing and enterprise
Ballymena’s strong manufacturing base employs a high percentage of the population (22.6 per cent compared to the Northern Ireland average of 10.9 per cent), and it is the location of choice for major international companies including Michelin and JTI. Ballymena also has a thriving social economy sector with 468 jobs created though a £3.7 million investment by Council to support the development of 12 social enterprise projects.
A sign of economic regeneration in Carrickfergus is the fact all three large industrial sites vacated in the 1980s now house vibrant industrial zones. These provide commercial and manufacturing facilities to both small indigenous businesses as well as globally recognised brands such as Schrader International, Ryobi and Douglas and Grahame.
In June 2013, Larne-based medical device manufacturer Terumo BCT announced the creation of 400 new jobs over the next few years. The Japanese company received over £2 million from Invest NI. Also in Larne, the manufacturing powerhouse of Caterpillar has been boosted by a new investment worth £7 million. A £1 million investment from Invest NI secured the deal, along with the Department for Employment and Learning offering £220,000 through its Assured Skills Programme. This will create 100 new jobs, many of which will be in Larne.
Partnerships
As demonstrated in Larne, the relationships between Mid and East Antrim and partners such as Invest NI will be critical to success.
Ballymena Borough Council has worked closely with the Ballymena Business Park, Invest NI, Northern Regional College and other key stakeholders to develop an integrated economic development strategy which aims to stimulate growth by addressing all related factors such as education, workforce and training. It is also tapping into the valuable resources and business acumen of people with Ballymena connections who live and work internationally via its Global Alumni Programme.
In Carrickfergus, the Council works closely with partners such as Invest NI and the Carrickfergus Enterprise Agency to attract inward investment and stimulate indigenous business start-ups.
Population
Having shaped the industrial landscape of Northern Ireland, the local populations of these three boroughs have remained resilient during what has been a challenging economic period. Mid and East Antrim has as a cornerstone to its economic strength a skilled workforce that wants to work. Larne, Ballymena and Carrickfergus council areas have all achieved an unemployment rate below the regional average.
