Five new performance improvement objectives have been set out by Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council for the next year and Councillors are particularly impressed to see betterment of Council’s cemetery services on the list.
The new draft objectives were outlined to members at a Governance, Resources and Strategy Committee meeting recently.
At the meeting members were informed that – in line with the statutory duty to put in place arrangements for continuous improvement – the Council is required to develop and publish a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP), by 30 June.
As a published document, the PIP outlines and explains what Council hopes to achieve, how they plan to deliver it and how citizens/other stakeholders will be better off as a result.
A draft PIP for the period 2026/27 – including five new Performance Improvement Objectives – was issued to members for their consideration and input. This will then progress to a consultation period spanning eight weeks before the final report will be published in June.
The five objectives included that Council will aim to reduce the average number of days sickness absence lost per employee; reduce Council’s environmental impact through the development and implementation of a Climate and Sustainability Action Plan; improve Waste Management Services through the implementation of technological solutions and continued communication; improve the Council’s Cemetery Service to ensure a safe, high quality, customer-focused, and resilient bereavement service; and improve on recruitment processes to ensure vacancies are filled in a timely manner.
Having considered the objectives outlined, Cllr Keith Haughian offered to propose the draft plan, with praise for the measures put forward: “I am happy to propose that.
“Those five points are pretty much bang on. I’d be surprised if there was much difference in the chamber. I think they’re pretty much – four of them certainly – I would have definitely had on the list so I’m happy to propose tonight. Thank you for the work involved.”
Seconding, Cllr Julie Flaherty noted objective four as being particularly welcome: “I am more than happy to second Cllr Haughian’s proposal.
“I am really happy to see objective four included, I think that is a timely intervention there, ‘We will improve Council cemetery service’. This is one of our core Council services that has been, maybe, underrated perhaps, I would say.
“What I see there are very sensible… me being me I would like to have seen it quicker… but I’m realistic enough to know that it’s a very big and important service in Council so great to see that and happy to second.”
Cllr Flaherty appeared to have taken the words out of Cllr Peter Lavery’s mouth as he too joined in support of objective four: “I suppose myself and Cllr Flaherty are on the same wavelength tonight.
“I was just going to come in and make similar comments. It’s a really important service that needs to function perfectly, 100% of the time and I know since the new Heads of Department came in there has been a lot of studies in this sector regarding the cemeteries and everything associated with it.
“It is very positive to see this getting up the agenda a wee bit to get a bit of progress on some of the outstanding issues in that sector. It is very good and I concur with Cllr Flaherty.”
