Identifying our performance improvement objectives for 2025-2026
All our key strategies and plans are informed and developed by listening to our residents, businesses, partners, staff, and elected representatives. Our 2025-2026 performance improvement objectives were developed through a three-phase process. In phase one, we reviewed the evidence base, in phase two, we engaged internally and in phase three, we conducted public consultation. The rich and diverse analysis and feedback we received throughout this process has been shaped into this revitalised Performance Improvement Plan 2025-2026.
Three-phase process
- Phase one: Review the evidence base
- Phase two: Engagement feedback
- Phase three: Public consultation
- Improvement objectives, delivery, and performance indicators approved
Phase one: Reviewing the evidence base
Understanding the needs of users, citizens and the internal and external environment is critically important. We analysed baseline evidence drawn from existing engagement findings, survey results, performance data and a review of relevant strategies and plans, including:
- results and trend data from our 2024-2025 Performance Improvement Assessment report.
- feedback gleaned from partners, residents, and other stakeholders as part of the consultation and engagement process for the Belfast Agenda’s refresh.
- ongoing monitoring and review of 2024-2025 Corporate Delivery Plan (via quarterly reporting) to identify areas of potential under-performance.
- inclusion of guidance issued by the Department for Communities and recommendations provided by the NI auditor (including the Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO) Section 95 report).
- evidence and issues arising from committee and meetings of the full council.
- areas for improvement emerging from the internal audit and risk management processes.
- priorities identified during the development of the new Corporate Plan 2025-2028 and rate-setting process.
- alignment with key council and city strategies including The Belfast Agenda and Corporate Plan 2025-2028.
- a review of customer complaints received.
- good practice data-benchmarking with other local authorities.
Phase two: Engagement feedback
Feedback was gleaned and approval granted from a series of internal engagements with members, Chief Officers, departments and key staff across the council. This included:
- templates completed and initial meetings held with departments to identify priorities and improvement activity.
- regular engagement with departmental teams and key officers, at every phase – ensuring alignment to departmental and service level budget setting and planning processes.
- priorities identified during corporate planning engagement with Party Group Leaders, elected members and the Corporate Management Team (CMT).
- reports presented and discussed at CMT, Strategic Policy and Resources (SP&R) Committee and the full council.
- approval granted through scheduled meetings with senior management teams, CMT, committee and full council meetings.
Phase three: Public consultation
An eight-week public consultation process was carried out to enable residents and stakeholders to inform our improvement objectives 2025-2026. This included an online survey via the council’s Your Say Belfast consultation and engagement website and two targeted focus groups. The survey was promoted using a range of communication methods including social media posts, posters in community buildings, email marketing to existing mailing lists, intranet promotion and websites. As part of phase three, we:
- received 88 survey completions via the Your Say Belfast website.
- facilitated two focus groups with 62 young people and nine older people to reflect their priorities and areas for improvement.
- worked closely with departmental teams and key officers to consider consultation feedback and refine the final Performance Improvement Plan.
- secured approval of the final objectives through the normal council governance cycle (CMT, the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee and the full council meeting).
Consultation feedback summary
This is a summary of the consultation results:
- 78.4 per cent strongly agreed or agreed with Our services improvement objective
- 86.3 per cent strongly agreed or agreed with Our people and communities improvement objective
- 81.9 per cent strongly agreed or agreed with Our place improvement objective
- 76.2 per cent strongly agreed or agreed with Our planet improvement objective
- 84.1 cent strongly agreed or agreed with the Our economy improvement objective
- 73.9 per cent strongly agreed or agreed with the Compassionate city improvement objective
The issues or improvements that respondents felt should be considered in relation to the draft 2025-2026 improvement objectives are thematically summarised. It is important to note that some of the areas highlighted as part of the public consultation process are already being progressed through existing strategies, plans, and programmes, and in partnership as part of the Belfast Agenda 2024-2028, for example housing provision, homelessness, and mental health.
Survey feedback summary
Our services
- Develop solutions that prioritise waste minimisation instead of more recycling campaigns.
- Assign extra resources to ensure waste collection services are more efficient and can reduce littering and clogging up streets with bins.
- Consider more specific improvement activity and actions relating to this objective.
- Whilst the implementation of the glass collection is a positive step forward, it should be extended across the city.
Our people and communities
- Enhance key local amenities such as re-surfacing works at the Bog Meadows to engage more people in their local areas.
- Invest further in sport and leisure facilities, specifically outdoor tennis courts to encourage more participation.
- Cost for leisure facilities is prohibitive for many people to access – consider more inclusive pricing to encourage participation.
- The council should proactively prioritise participation of residents in civic society and promote inclusion. Develop innovative ways to engage and support people and groups across the city.
Our place
- Focus on greater pedestrianisation of city centre, reducing vehicles in and around commercial and shopping areas as well as enhancing active travel infrastructure.
- Consider how to prioritise increasing use of communal green spaces that are easily accessible and open to the public.
- Work with partners to enhance public transport provision and infrastructure, including provision of bus stops at the council's facilities.
- Prioritise investment in addressing unadopted alleyways to deliver a ‘cleaner and greener’ city.
- Progress works with property developers and landowners to increase housing in areas where new housing is needed.
- Vacancy across the city not just the city centre needs to be addressed as dereliction is a major problem in housing as well as businesses.
Our planet
- Whilst acknowledging positive tree planting ambitions across the city, it’s also important to recognise the importance of hedges to the environment and beauty of the city.
- Reducing car use in the city and encouraging shared car schemes to try and address issues of parking across the city. Consider options to promote access to short-term car usage, for example GoCar in Ireland.
- Consider practical ways to educate and raise awareness in relation to climate change such as community science projects on air quality across the city.
- The council should use their leadership position as part of this theme to deliver more positive actions alongside partners.
Our economy
- The council should be encouraging local supply chains and reducing exporting of resources as waste that other businesses could use as material in production to deliver a ‘circular economy’.
- An events strategy for outdoor concerts in Belfast is required to set out the approach in terms of event frequency in Belfast Parks in particular.
- Greater promotion, emphasis and visibility of arts and culture as key economic drivers that help to showcase what the city has to offer both for residents and visitors.
Compassionate city
- Important that the council tackle the root cause for numerous issues in relation to violence against women and girls of which drug use and increased immigration are considered to be enablers.
- Whilst it is commendable that the council is taking the lead on poverty, this should be an issue for Central Government to deliver on.
- There needs to be more focus on disability – a disability strategy should be in place with associated improvement objectives around inclusion and accessibility in terms of goods, facilities and services.
- The council should make a commitment to rigorously understanding the causal factors of inequality, poverty and violence and to lead the city to change them so that the difference between those who are well off and those who are not, is reduced.
- Focus on the services to support the most at risk, those with disability, homeless, addictions issues and review ways of working, for example, combining the family support hubs, Complex Lives, community safety and embrace joined-up working.
Focus group feedback
Two focus groups were carried out with sixty-two young people aged 18 to 24 and nine older people, to better understand the needs and priorities of these traditionally under-represented target groups. A summary of the key feedback from each focus group is shown.
Feedback from older people's focus group
Communication and awareness
The council should consider more traditional methods to engage and communicate with older residents. Many don’t or can’t access online methods and therefore don’t stay informed. Providing more frequent newsletters, brochures, key contact details and radio announcements would be beneficial.
Better understanding of older people's needs
Older people's needs are often overlooked. Older people would welcome direct engagement with elected members to look at opportunities to help support them.
Increased public toilet provision
The lack of public toilet provision across the city restricts older people from getting out and about. Older people feel apprehensive that they won’t be able to access toilet provision and therefore can become isolated from society. Reviewing toilet provision and how the city can better accommodate older people should be prioritised.
Working with partners
The council should be a civic leader and demand more from key partner organisations to improve the quality of life and provision for people across the city. Improving our roads, availability of public transport and improving accessibility of all facilities are key issues which should be delivered on.
Feedback from young people's focus group
Mental health support
Mental health is a major issue for young people with more and more individuals seeking support. Service demand is vastly outweighing supply and thus many young people cannot access the support they need. The council should work with partners to consider interventions and supports to help address the challenges presented.
Social justice
Young people want to live in a city that is inclusive and equitable, ensuring everyone has the same rights and access to basic necessities. The council therefore has a key role to play in terms of addressing systemic inequalities and discrimination, through delivering interventions and programmes that promote a society where everyone can thrive.
Youth unemployment
Accessing good quality jobs is a priority for young people. Some feel that the cost-of-living crisis and political decisions (National Insurance increase) could lead to higher levels of youth unemployment. Young people would like to see better training and educational opportunities to ensure they are better equipped to access and sustain employment.
Homelessness
Homelessness was noted as a key issue for young people who feel more dedicated and holistic support is required. The council should consider how they can help tackle the issue to reduce stereotyping and review practical solutions to support those in need, for example extend Complex Lives, transform derelict buildings into safe spaces.
Ending violence against women and girls
Addressing the growing issue of violence against women and girls is a major priority for young people who feel that the council has a key role to play in terms of providing infrastructure, delivering legislation and education to help tackle the societal issue. Young people feel that the council needs to show leadership and work with partners to ensure that Belfast is a safe place for everyone.
Climate change
Young people noted the positive work of the council in terms of the leading role in helping to address climate change in Belfast. They also stressed the importance that this work continues to be prioritised and elevated further to safeguard future generations.
