Council Reviews Progress and Performance in 2025-26

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council has approved its Assessment of Performance 2025-26, outlining progress made against key priorities over the past year and highlighting areas where further improvement is needed.

Considered and approved by the Strategy, Policy and Resources Committee on Thursday 13 August 2026, the Assessment reflects the Council’s ongoing commitment to delivering quality services, supporting local communities and improving outcomes across the district.

Chairperson of the Strategy, Policy and Resources Committee, Councillor Callum Bowsie said, “I am pleased to present this year’s Assessment of Performance. While 2025–26 presented a number of challenges, the Council remained committed to delivering essential services and providing valued programmes, events and initiatives for our residents, businesses and visitors.

“This Assessment of Performance provides an opportunity to reflect on the past year, recognising the achievements we can be proud of, acknowledging the challenges we have navigated and identifying the areas where we will continue to focus our efforts to improve outcomes for our communities.”

Among the achievements highlighted in the Assessment, the Council supported 317 local businesses and social enterprises through a range of economic development programmes, helping to create 252 new jobs. Other areas of progress included health and wellbeing, with more than 28,000 people participating in targeted health programmes and over 930,000 paid attendances recorded across the Council’s six leisure centres. Through its Financial Assistance Scheme, the Council awarded £1.97 million to support 361 local projects, while environmental enforcement activity increased, with more fixed penalty notices issued for offences including littering, dog fouling and fly-tipping, and an increase in fines paid.

Alongside these achievements, the Assessment identifies areas where further progress is required. The statutory standard for processing major and local planning applications and enforcement cases was not achieved during 2025-26, and the Council remains committed to improving performance in these areas. While 100% of community clean-up requests were supported, the amount of biodegradable municipal waste sent to landfill increased by 18.6%, from 429 tonnes in 2024-25 to 509 tonnes in 2025-26. 

Through its Corporate Plan 2024-27 and Performance Improvement Plan 2026-27, the Council will build on progress made and address areas requiring improvement, with a continued focus on improving quality of life and building a district everyone can be proud of.

Further information on the Council’s performance during 2025-26 will be available on the Council’s website by 30 September 2026 at www.newrymournedown.org.