‘Council could advise Chancellor on prudent budget management’

CAUSEWAY Coast and Glens Council spent almost £4.5m less than it expected providing services over the last financial year.

Contributing to the surplus was better than expected income from leisure centres attributed to the refurbishment of gym facilities.

The council also received a one-off VAT rebate from HMRC and more rates income than was estimated at the start of the year.

The positive financial performance has allowed the council to further reduce debt inherited from its four predecessor councils in 2024/25.

Around £5m was paid off over the past 12 months.

Causeway Coast and Glens now owes just under £42m, down from a high of £72m in 2015 when the local authority was established.

“Such a reduction has been made as a result of close financial monitoring of capital spend and expenditure limits imposed by this council in an effort to keep these costs under control,” finance director David Wright told elected members on Monday.

Councils and other public bodies are required to prepare and submit accounts to the Department for Communities (DfC) by 30 June each year.

They must also be scrutinised by the Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO) before being signed off by elected members.

With the NIAO audit almost complete, elected members were asked to approve the accounts for 2024/25 last Monday evening at a special council meeting.

Finance Committee member, Edgar Scott commended officers for producing a “sound and well managed set of accounts.”

He drew attention to further factors contributing to the surplus including building control income and aggressive pursuit of additional grants.

With extra cash now placed in reserve funds he said council finances were in “a very good place.”

“We can be very proud of the financial performance we had in 2024/25,” said Alderman Scott.

He said the council’s usable reserves were now £32m which would stand the council in good stead were it to hit harder times

He added: “Having said all that we need to be mindful of the economic outlook. I know we have in the coming year an expense we didn’t have which is employers’ national insurance which we are told is going to be roughly £900k.

“We have to be mindful of staff costs, property maintenance costs, energy costs – all those will present challenges.”

Alderman Scott did however warn members over absent income form Ballycastle car parks, suggesting councillors had “whipped the matt” from under officers when they overturned a decision to impose charges.

The u-turn came after the rates-setting process had taken place following outrage in the town, concerns over Rathlin Islanders’ parking arrangements and claims minimal consultation had taken place.

“We need to be careful what we do,” said Alderman Scott. “When we set something, we should stick by it.”

But, he concluded: “The strength of our reserves and the results we have achieved are a result of disciplined management.

“The road ahead will still require some measure of diligence and foresight.

“Let us commit to retaining the high standards we achieved in 2024/25.”

Echoing Alderman Scott’s assessment, the DUP’s Mervyn Storey suggested the beleaguered Chancellor of Exchequer could learn from management of the Causeway Coast and Glens finances.

“I'm aware of another senior financial person who, in a number of weeks time, would probably be glad to be presenting to the nation a set of accounts like that,” he said.

“So maybe if someone wants to give Number 11 A ring they might be able to avert the financial crisis that that particular person is dealing with.”