Foreword
Welcome to our Performance Improvement Self-Assessment (2024-2025).
Marking a decade on from Local Government Reform
Twenty twenty four to 2025 marks ten years since the introduction of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014 and the statutory Duty to Improve. Over the last decade, Belfast City Council has further enhanced and embedded its approach to performance improvement through a new comprehensive improvement framework. This has supported enhanced evidence-based decision-making, strategic alignment, and resulted in more responsive services.
Reflecting on 10 years of progress
Since the reform of local government in 2015, Belfast City Council has:
- strengthened governance and accountability through integrated planning and reporting structures
- led on regional collaboration, particularly in planning reform, waste strategy, and economic development
- built a culture of continuous improvement, supported by a dedicated improvement team and cross-departmental engagement
- aligned performance objectives with strategic priorities to improve outcomes for residents and businesses.
This foreword reflects on that journey while the report itself focuses on performance against the six improvement objectives set out in the 2024–2025 Performance Improvement Plan.
These objectives are directly aligned to the Belfast Agenda and the council’s Corporate Plan, driving inclusive growth, environmental responsibility, and enhanced service delivery.
Performance highlights for 2024-2025
- 100 per cent improvement actions were either completed or meaningfully progressed
- 82 per cent of performance indicators were on or above target
- 80 per cent of indicators showed improving trends
Looking ahead
The findings of this report have informed the development of the council’s new:
- Planning and Performance Management Framework
- Corporate Plan 2025–2028
These will further embed a performance culture, strengthen organisational alignment, and ensure the council continues to meet the evolving needs of its citizens.
As we move into the next decade of local government, Belfast City Council remains committed to delivering services that are efficient, equitable, sustainable, and innovative – ensuring that every improvement makes a real difference to the people of Belfast.
If you have an idea for improvement, we would like to hear from you. Please contact us by email [email protected], or visit our Performance and Improvement page on YourSay (link opens in new window) website where you can give feedback and view our Self-assessment report 2024-2025 and Performance Improvement Plan 2025-2026 in an alternative format.
