Looking forward: performance improvement objectives 2026-2027
Our performance improvement objectives, are clearly aligned with the Belfast Agenda 2024-2028 and Corporate Plan 2025-2028. Reflecting on our 2025-2026 performance and feedback from residents and stakeholders, we will continue to progress five out of the six performance objectives identified in the previous year, with refined associated actions. To meet the evolving needs of the city we have broadened the scope of Our planet objective:
- 2025-2026
- We will champion climate action; protect the environment and improve the sustainability of Belfast.
- 2026-2027
- We will create a sustainable, nature-positive city.
We are, therefore, committed to these improvement objectives during 2026-2027:
Our services
We will continue to adapt and improve our services to better meet the needs of our residents and stakeholders.
Our people and communities
We will improve our local areas and provide opportunities to support our residents to become healthier and engaged.
Our place
We will create a more vibrant, attractive, and connected city (including the city centre).
Our planet
We will create a sustainable, nature-positive city.
Our economy
We will stimulate inclusive growth and innovation, help businesses to start-up and grow and create opportunities for more and better jobs and employment.Compassionate city
We will support our most vulnerable people to make Belfast a more caring, safe and inclusive city.
We have assessed each of these objectives and consider that they all meet these statutory aspects of improvement:
- strategic effectiveness
- service quality, availability, and fairness
- sustainability
- efficiency
- innovation
Improvement objective 1: Our services
In addition to the specific improvement activities set out, we will implement our regular programme of service redesign and adjustments to ways of working through the implementation of risk and audit actions to continually adapt and improve our services.
Belfast Agenda outcome for our services
Belfast is a vibrant, attractive, connected and environmentally sustainable city.
Corporate Plan themes and priorities for our services
- Delivering effective and efficient services
- Foundations for success - Creating a fit for purpose organisation
Improvement objective for our services
We will continue to adapt and improve our services to better meet the needs of our residents and stakeholders.
Why is this important for our services?
- Feedback from residents focused on improving the delivery of services
- Identified as a priority by elected members
- Aligned to the Corporate Plan
What will we do to achieve improvement objective 1: Our services?
- Deliver the Customer Focus Programme to enhance our services and customer experience.
- Continue to deliver the Planning Service Improvement Plan.
- Deliver a street cleansing programme to create a cleaner and greener city.
- Deliver the kerbside glass expansion programme to enhance customer service and improve recycling rates, (conclude phase 1, launch phase 2).
How will we measure success for improvement objective 1: Our services?
| Measures of success | Cross-cutting themes and objectives | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Resolving 65 per cent of corporate complaints within time frame | Our people and communities | ||
| Introducing improvement actions for 80 per cent of corporate complaints | Our people and communities | ||
| Submitting one bid to the BRCD AI readiness fund to develop an AI solution that enhances the customer experience | Our people and communities | ||
| Achieving the 30-week target for average processing time for major planning applications (statutory indicator) | Our place | ||
| Achieving the 15-week target for average processing time for local planning applications (statutory indicator) | Our place | ||
| Concluding 70 per cent of enforcement cases within 39 weeks (statutory indicator) | Our place | ||
| Achieving less than 12 week-average processing time for householder applications and advertisement consent applications | Our place | ||
| Achieving less than six-week average processing time of tree works applications and Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) | Our place | Our planet | |
| Providing 23,000 additional households with kerbside glass collections | Our planet | ||
| Collecting 650 tonnes of kerbside glass (phase 2 expansion) | Our planet | ||
What is our wider policy impact for improvement objective 1: Our services?
- Regional: Waste Legislation NI (various), Waste Management Plan NI, Local Government Finance Act 2011, Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011, Strategic Planning Policy Statement (SPPS).
- Local: Belfast City Council Resilience Strategy, Local Development Plan (LDP) 2035, Financial Regulations 2015, Putting You First: Transforming Customer Experience, Belfast City Council Complaints, Comments and Compliments policy, People Strategy, Achieving Through People Framework, Digital Strategy.
Improvement objective 2: Our people and communities
In addition to the specifics set out, we will improve our local areas and improve health and wellbeing for our residents, by delivering programmes of work and activities contained within the Belfast Agenda 2024-2028, the draft Corporate Plan 2025-2028, committee plans and supporting departmental and business plans.
Belfast Agenda outcome for our people and communities
Belfast will be a city where everyone experiences good health and wellbeing.
Corporate Plan themes and priorities for our people and communities
- Making life better for all our residents
- Health inequalities and community and neighbourhood regeneration
Improvement objective for our people and communities
We will improve our local areas and provide opportunities to support our residents to become healthier and engaged.
Why is this important for our people and our communities?
- Recent health data shows that life expectancy overall has stopped increasing and there is a growing need to tackle obesity and increase the levels of physical activity across Belfast.
- Based on resident feedback.
- Aligned to Belfast Agenda and Corporate Plan priorities.
What will we do to achieve improvement objective 2: Our people and communities?
- Enhance our playgrounds, to ensure that we continue to provide high quality facilities and equipment across the city.
- Increase the number of visits to our leisure centres, to participate in sport and physical activity.
- Deliver animation and outreach activities in community, play and leisure development programmes.
- Deliver improvements to parks and open spaces to improve people’s health and wellbeing as agreed under the Physical Programme.
- Progress the current Leisure Programme to transform the quality of the council's leisure facilities.
- Progress the development of projects in the Pitches Programme to enhance the quality and availability of sports pitches across the city.
- Progress delivery of the £10.28 million Neighbourhood Regeneration Fund to help develop facilities that support neighbourhood tourism, improved environmental sustainability and social economy activity within communities.
- Progress the development and delivery of the council’s Physical Programme to enable needs-led investment across the city, for example Capital Programme, Neighbourhood Regeneration Fund, Belfast Investment Fund, Local Investment Fund, Social Outcomes Fund, PEACEPLUS, Urban Villages and other initiatives.
How will we measure success for improvement objective 2: Our people and communities?
| Measures of success | Cross-cutting themes and objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Investing £580k and delivering the annual playground improvement programme | Our place | Our planet |
| Increasing number of visits to our leisure centres to 3.4 million | Our services | |
| Increasing the number of adult and junior leisure centre monthly prepaid memberships (including swim school) to 31,750 | Our services | |
| Increasing number of community, play and leisure outreach programmes delivered to 250 | Our services | |
| Increasing number of events in our parks to 360 | Our services | |
| Increasing number of people attending events in our parks to 200,000 | Our services | |
| Delivering animation programmes in five new or refurbished parks (Páirc an Lonnáin, Lower Shankill Park, Páirc Nua Chollan, Marrowbone and Pitt Park) | Our services | |
| Progressing major improvements to three parks (Ballysillan Playing Fields, Waterworks, Alexandra Park) | Our services | Our place |
| Progressing major improvements to one open space (Cathedral Gardens) | Our services | Our place |
| Progressing three projects under the Leisure Programme | Our services | Our place |
| Completing 10 projects under the Physical Programme | Our services | Our place |
| Developing 100 projects under the Physical Programme | Our services | Our place |
| Progressing construction of one pitch and design development of four pitches | Our services | Our place |
| Supporting 20 organisations through the £10.28 million Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF) programme | Our services | Our place |
| Completing two projects through NRF | Our services | Our place |
What is our wider policy impact for improvement objective 2: Our people and our communities?
- Regional: Programme for Government (PfG) 2024-2027 'Our Plan: Doing What Matters Most', Active Living the Sport and Physical Activity Strategy for NI (2022), Making Life Better – Strategic Framework for public health, Whole Systems Approach to Obesity Prevention, Regional Development Strategy (2035), SPPS.
- Local: The Department of Health’s Annual Health Inequalities report, The World Health Organisation’s Belfast Healthy Cities Strategy, LDP, BOSS, Get Active Belfast – A framework for physical activity – Active Belfast Partnership.
Improvement objective 3: Our place
In addition to the improvement action, we will create a more attractive, vibrant, and connected city by delivering programmes of work and activities contained within the Belfast Agenda 2024-2028, the draft Corporate Plan 2025-2028, committee plans and supporting departmental and business plans.
Belfast Agenda outcome for our place
Belfast will be a vibrant, attractive, connected and environmentally sustainable city.
Corporate Plan themes and priorities for our place
- Creating a liveable and connected, vibrant and competitive city.
- Connectivity, active and sustainable travel
- City regeneration and investment
Improvement objective for our place
We will create a more vibrant, attractive, and connected city (including the city centre).
Why is this important for our place?
- Based on resident feedback.
- Identified as a priority by elected members.
- Aligned to Belfast Agenda and Corporate Plan priorities.
What will we do to achieve improvement objective 3: Our place?
- Undertake work to safeguard and enhance the council’s historic, heritage and tourism assets including Belfast Zoo, historic cemeteries, Wilmont House, Floral Hall, Fernhill House, St George's Market and the Assembly Rooms.
- Oversee the delivery of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2026, the world’s largest annual festival of Irish music, song and dance.
- Continue to work with the preferred developer for the leisure-led development at Giant’s Park.
- Deliver the Greenways and the Access to the Hills Programme to improve the connectivity of the city.
- Deliver the Vacant to Vibrant Programme 2026-2027 to address citywide vacancy rates.
How will we measure success for improvement objective 3: Our place?
| Measures of success | Cross-cutting themes and objectives | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Delivering improvements to the Belfast Zoo | Our people and communities | ||
| Completing condition surveys at three historic cemeteries | Our people and communities | ||
| Completing the feasibility study for Wilmont House | Our people and communities | ||
| Completing health and safety works at Floral Hall | Our people and communities | ||
| Commencing health and safety works at Fernhill House and courtyard | Our people and communities | ||
| Installing new stalls in St George’s Market | Our people and communities | ||
| Commencing health and safety works at the Assembly Rooms cluster | Our people and communities | ||
| Attracting 700,000 visitors to the Fleadh | Our people and communities | Our economy | Compassionate city |
| Creating 1,000 volunteering opportunities to support hosting the Fleadh event | Our people and communities | Our economy | Compassionate city |
| Progressing planning permission for Phase 1 Adventure Hub at Giant’s Park | Our people and communities | ||
| Progressing four greenways to improve the connectivity of the city (Sydenham Greenway, Blackstaff Greenway, West Belfast Greenway and Colin Greenway) | Our people and communities | Our planet | |
| Progressing four trails including Black Mountain, Glencairn, Ligoniel and Squire’s Hill | Our people and communities | Our planet | |
| Occupying 28 previously vacant citywide properties through the Vacant to Vibrant intervention | Our people and communities | ||
| Awarding £700,000 through Vacant to Vibrant funding to citywide traders | Our people and communities | ||
What is our wider policy impact for improvement objective 3: Our place?
- Regional: Eastern Transport Plan 2035 (under development); Regional Development Strategy 2035, Programme for Government.
- Local: Belfast City Centre Regeneration and Investment Strategy (BCCRIS); A Bolder Vision for Belfast; Belfast Resilience Strategy, LDP.
Improvement objective 4: Our planet
In addition to the specific improvement actions set out, we will champion climate action; protect the environment and improve the sustainability of Belfast by delivering our normal programme of work contained within the Belfast Agenda 2024-2028, draft Corporate Plan 2025-2028, committee plans and supporting departmental and business plans.
Belfast Agenda outcome for our planet
Belfast is a vibrant, attractive, connected and environmentally sustainable city.
Corporate Plan themes and priorities for our planet
Our services, Our people and communities, Our place, and Our planet.
Improvement objective for our planet
We will create a sustainable, nature-positive city.
Why is this important for our planet?
- Climate change is a global concern. Since we declared a climate emergency in 2019, recognising the serious environmental, social and economic challenges posed by climate change, we have been taking action to transition Belfast to an inclusive, zero-emissions and climate-resilient economy in a generation.
- The council has statutory responsibility.
- Identified as a concern by residents and stakeholders.
- Aligned to Belfast Agenda and Corporate Plan priorities.
What will we do to achieve improvement objective 4: Our planet?
- Deliver an effective waste management service across the city.
- Continue to deliver Belfast City Council's Tree Strategy and action plan to help manage and improve the tree scape in the city.
- Continue to deliver the council’s Corporate Climate Action Plan to increase the climate resilience of the council’s assets and services and to achieve net zero emissions, and to increase the climate resilience of its assets and services (over 20 actions including a Sustainable Food Policy, energy audits of council buildings and retrofitting of council buildings).
- Develop the Local Biodiversity Action Plan to set out our approach to address threatened species and habitats and protect and restore biological systems.
- Progress a potential heat network that aims to decarbonise the heat supply to buildings in the city.
- Protect and enhance our local environment and natural eco-systems.
- Embed sustainable food practices and partnership working in Belfast.
- Enable the city to decarbonise at scale.
How will we measure success for improvement objective 4: Our planet?
| Measures of success | Cross-cutting themes and objectives | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Achieving 40 per cent of council municipal waste sent for recycling | Our services | Our people and communities | Our place |
| Reducing the tonnage of biodegradable council collected waste that is landfilled to 1,500 tonnes (statutory indicator) | Our services | Our people and communities | Our place |
| Achieving 43 per cent of household waste collected sent for recycling (or prepared for re-use) (statutory indicator) | Our services | Our people and communities | Our place |
| Achieving 160,000 tonnage of council-collected municipal waste arisings (statutory indicator) | Our services | Our people and communities | Our place |
| Delivering four projects as part of the Belfast Tree Strategy | Our people and communities | Our place | |
| Progressing at least 50 per cent of the council’s Corporate Climate Action Plan short-term priorities | Our services | ||
| Establishing four new species rich grassland meadows in open spaces across the city | Our people and communities | Our place | |
| Undertaking further studies, modelling and market engagement on a potential heat network to explore options to lower the cost of heat and secure grant finance | Compassionate city | ||
| Undertaking maintenance and monitoring of the demonstrator site and support the replication of co-designed nature-based solutions with communities in at least four satellite sites | Our people and communities | ||
| Launching a citywide Sustainable Food Strategy, to reduce food waste, support community growing and ongoing monitoring of activities | Our people and communities | Compassionate city | |
| Developing and launching a web-portal to increase the take up of rooftop solar across Belfast | Our people and communities | ||
What is our wider policy impact for improvement objective 4: Our planet?
- Regional: The Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022, Northern Ireland Climate Change Adaptation Programme 2019-2024, Energy Strategy –The Path to Net Zero Energy, Draft Green Growth Strategy, PfG, Second Cycle NI Flood Risk Management Plan 2021-2027, Strategic Planning Policy Statement.
- Local: Belfast Resilience Strategy, A Net Zero Carbon Roadmap for Belfast, A Bolder Vision for Belfast, Belfast Local Development Plan (LDP), Belfast Open Spaces Strategy, Belfast Air Quality Action Plan, Belfast Green and Blue Infrastructure Plan, Belfast (Draft) Economic Strategy, Belfast (Draft) Adaptation Strategy, Belfast Local Area Energy Plan.
Improvement objective 5: Our economy
In addition to the specifics set out, we will stimulate inclusive growth and innovation, help businesses to start-up and grow and create opportunities for more and better jobs and employment by delivering our normal programme of work contained within the Belfast Agenda 2024-2028, draft Corporate Plan 2025-2028, Committee plans and supporting departmental and business plans.
Belfast Agenda outcome for our economy
Belfast is a place where everyone benefits from a thriving and prosperous economy.
Corporate Plan themes and priorities for our economy
- Creating inclusive and sustainable growth, learning and opportunity.
Improvement objective for our economy
We will stimulate inclusive growth and innovation, help businesses to start-up, grow and create opportunities for more and better jobs and employment.
Why is this important for our economy?
- Based on resident feedback
- Identified by elected members as a priority
- Aligned to Belfast Agenda and Corporate Plan priorities
What will we do to achieve improvement objective: 5 Our economy?
- Work with the Enterprise Support Service to deliver Go Succeed to increase the number of new business starts and help existing businesses to grow.
- Deliver employment and upskilling academies in priority sectors in line with industry demand.
- Deliver the Smart Belfast urban innovation programme to enhance Belfast’s capacity for digital innovation.
- Deliver a Belfast Learning City Festival to increase awareness of opportunities to engage in lifelong learning across Belfast.
- Deliver an enhanced Belfast Business Promise (BBP) programme implementing learning and recommendations from the programme review.
- Continue to recruit suitable entry level posts, for example, placement opportunities, and run an annual apprenticeship programme as part of the council’s People Strategy action plan, to support our inclusive growth ambitions.
- Support our suppliers by helping business cashflow through the prompt payment of invoices.
How will we measure success for improvement objective 5: Our economy?
| Measures of success | Cross-cutting themes and objectives | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Promoting 325 jobs through business start-up activity (this equates to delivery of 542 completed client-led business plans under business start activity) (statutory indicator) | Our people and communities | ||
| Supporting 712 Belfast individuals or entrepreneurs through start-up activity via Go Succeed | Our people and communities | ||
| Supporting 323 Belfast businesses through business growth activity via Go Succeed | Our people and communities | ||
| Supporting 75 per cent of participants to move into a positive outcome from an employment or upskilling academy | Our people and communities | ||
| Supporting 425 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to engage in digital innovation | Our people and communities | Our place | |
| Awarding £600,000 funding to organisations to engage in digital innovation | Our people and communities | Our place | |
| Enabling 70 per cent of festival participants to improve their awareness of lifelong learning opportunities | Our people and communities | Our place | Compassionate city |
| Supporting 50 organisations to sign up to the Belfast Business Promise (BPP)1 accreditation | Our people and communities | Compassionate city | |
| Supporting 10 businesses (existing BBP members) to improve their recognition level (reaching Member or Ambassador status) | Our people and communities | Compassionate city | |
| Producing six good practice case studies to highlight the BBP journey and inclusive growth practice | Our people and communities | Compassionate city | |
| Increasing the number of work placements to 60 | Our people and communities | Compassionate city | |
| Paying 90 per cent of invoices within 30 calendar days | Our services | ||
| Paying 80 per cent of invoices within 10 working days | Our services | ||
What is our wider policy impact for improvement objective 5: Our economy?
- Regional: A 10X Economy - Northern Ireland’s Decade of Innovation; Innovation Strategy for NI 2014-2025, Draft Circular Economy Strategy for Northern Ireland, Dublin Belfast Economic Corridor Action Plan, PfG.
- Local: Belfast Economic Strategy 2022-2030, Belfast Inclusive Growth Strategy, Belfast Region City Deal, SMART Belfast - Belfast Urban Innovation Framework 2022-2026, Belfast City Council Social Value Procurement Policy.
Improvement objective 6: Compassionate city
In addition to the specific actions set out, we will support our residents through the cost-of-living crisis by delivering of our normal programme of work contained within the Belfast Agenda 2024-2028, the draft Corporate Plan 2025-2028, committee plans and supporting departmental and business plans.
Belfast Agenda outcome for compassionate city
Belfast is a place where everyone fulfils their potential.
Corporate Plan themes and priorities for compassionate city
- Making Belfast a welcoming, caring, and inclusive city – leaving no-one behind.
- Inclusive Growth and Anti-poverty.
Improvement objective for compassionate city
We will support our most vulnerable people to make Belfast a more caring, safe and inclusive city.
Why is this important for compassionate city?
- Based on resident and stakeholder feedback
- Identified as a priority by elected members
- Part of our statutory duty
- Aligned to Belfast Agenda and Corporate Plan priorities
- Evolution of policy environment (Strategic Framework to End Violence against Women and Girls (EVAWG)
What will we do to achieve improvement objective 6: Compassionate city?
- Deliver local community actions plans as part of the PEACEPLUS programme, to fund community activities and infrastructure projects that help build peace and reconciliation in Belfast.
- Progress delivery of up to five capital projects across the city as part of the PEACEPLUS Local Action Plan to promote inclusive and shared spaces across Belfast, for example, Sanctuary Theatre, Distillery Street Redevelopment Project, Annadale Open Space, Access to the Hills and LGBTQIA+ Hub.
- Deliver a Community Support Plan to support local communities and residents across the city.
- Deliver a programme to help End Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG).
How will we measure success for improvement objective 6: Compassionate city
| Measures of success | Cross-cutting theme and objectives | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delivering 10 local community programmes | Our people and communities | Our place | ||
| Awarding £5.4 million of Community Support Plan (CSP) funding through the large community support grant | Our people and communities | |||
| Progressing five capital projects under the PEACEPLUS Local Action Plan | Our people and communities | Our place | Our planet | |
| Administering £1.2 million funding through the Regional Change Funding to EVAWG expert organisations | Our people and communities | |||
| Increasing the knowledge of at least 70 per cent of participants about what violence against women and girls is | Our people and communities | |||
| Improving the understanding of at least 70 per cent of participants who report a better understanding of the underlying causes of EVAWG | Our people and communities | |||
| Increasing the confidence of at least 70 per cent of participants to help EVAWG | Our people and communities | |||
What is our wider policy impact for improvement objective 6: Compassionate city?
- Regional: The Executive’s Child Poverty Strategy, NI Audit Office Child Poverty in Northern Ireland Report, The Trussell Trust State of Hunger Report, Department for Communities (DfC) Poverty and Income Inequality (PII) Report, Strategic Framework to End Violence against Women and Girls (EVAWG), NI Act 1998 (Section 75), Race Relations Order 1997, PfG.
- Local: Belfast Inclusive Growth Strategy, Belfast City Council Social Value Procurement Policy, Equality Scheme, Good Relations Strategy, PEACEPLUS Programme.
Footnote 1
Currently the Belfast Business Promise is undergoing a review process to transition and refresh the model.
