Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council Operations Committee Meeting Highlights March 2026

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council’s Operations Committee met on Monday 2 March 2026, with a mix of practical local issues, licensing decisions and service updates on the table.

From waste collections and summer schemes to cleaner streets and licensing applications, there was plenty discussed that will matter to residents across the borough.

Here are the main points local people are likely to care about most.

One of the biggest talking points was the latest update on waste and recycling services provided by Bryson Recycling.

Council officers told members that collections had improved noticeably since the start of February, even with disruption caused by Storm Chandra. Several steps have been taken to steady the service, including more staff being recruited, closer supervision in problem areas, weekly performance reporting and a Quick Response Team vehicle working in the borough for emergency requests.

Another point likely to reassure residents was that no council resources were needed in February to help with waste collections. Officers are still holding weekly meetings with Bryson and keeping pressure on areas where standards are still slipping.

For anyone who has had ongoing collection problems, the Director of Environment and Sustainability Services also agreed to respond to members individually about issues they had raised on behalf of residents.

Families will want to keep an eye on the summer schemes update, with booking due to open on Tuesday 19 May.

The proposed 2026 programme includes schemes at Sixmile Leisure Centre, Valley Leisure Centre, Ballyearl Arts and Leisure Centre, Merville House, Lilian Bland, Kilbride Church/St Brides, Hydepark, Ballynure and Crumlin Leisure Centre, along with outdoor sports activity camps and sports specific camps in July and August.

There will also be inclusive summer schemes, continuing the council’s partnership work to support children with additional needs. These schemes are expected to include activities such as sensory play, inclusive wheelchair games, biking and arts and crafts.

Members also raised concerns about the current booking system. In response, the Director of Estates and Recreation said an alternative booking system would be looked at, while a wider review of the summer scheme programme is due in the autumn.

That will be welcome news for parents who have found booking stressful in previous years.

Littering across the borough was raised under any other business, showing it remains a live issue for councillors and residents alike.

The council’s Head of Environmental Health and Wellbeing said patrols would be increased in problem areas identified by a member, and more signage would also be put in place. On top of that, a future report on enforcement activity is due to come back to committee.

For residents frustrated by litter building up in certain spots, this was one of the more direct commitments made during the meeting.

A decision on an annual entertainment licence for Cotter’s Park in Randalstown was pushed back until next month.

The application relates to events in a communal building on the site and would cover dancing, singing, music and similar entertainment from Thursday to Sunday, between 2pm and 1am, with no more than 31 people on site.

The report said no objections had been received during the consultation period and that noise control measures were already in place, including quiet hours, noise monitoring and limits on outdoor activity late at night.

Even so, councillors agreed to defer the decision so the applicant can make representations directly to the committee, with the council’s legal representatives also present.

That means this is one to watch at the next meeting, especially for nearby residents and anyone interested in how entertainment licences are handled.

While Cotter’s Park was delayed, councillors did approve an annual entertainment licence for The Greedy Goat on Main Street in Crumlin.

The application covers the ground floor bar, first floor restaurant and first floor function space. It includes entertainment such as music, dancing, singing, amusement machines, pool or snooker style games and certain sporting displays, with late opening hours on several nights of the week.

Approval was granted subject to all licensing rules being met and with no objections from statutory or public consultees.

For Crumlin locals, this was a clear decision that could shape the venue’s offering going forward.

The committee also approved a new framework for celebratory discs on council-owned land.

Up to now, the report said there had been no formal process, which had led to inconsistent decisions around who could be recognised, how requests were assessed and where discs could be placed.

The new framework is meant to bring more structure and fairness. It sets out how promotional signage and celebratory displays should be handled, with rules around eligibility, applications, design, safety and display periods.

There was one important amendment made by councillors. While the usual plan is for applicants to cover the costs, charities and volunteering groups will be exempt from charges.

That means community organisations may still be recognised without being put off by the bill.

The council agreed to support the nomination of Antrim Town for the Best Kept Ireland Towns Awards 2026.

The all-island competition shines a light on places that show strong community pride, cleanliness and environmental quality. Judging is due to take place in May, with the awards ceremony planned for June in Dublin.

For local people, this is one of those smaller agenda items that still says something positive about the area and how it wants to present itself.

DoubleTree by Hilton, Templepatrick has been re-approved as a venue for civil marriages and civil partnerships.

No objections were received during the public notice period, and the premises had been inspected and found suitable.

This is a straightforward renewal, but it matters for couples planning ceremonies in the borough and for the local hospitality trade too.

A proposed increase in Houses in Multiple Occupation licence fees was discussed, but instead of being signed off there and then, the matter will now go to Full Council.

The proposal would raise the HMO licence application fee to £62 per occupant per year from 1 April 2026, along with increases for licence variations such as adding a new managing agent or new occupant.

Officers said the change is tied to the need for the shared licensing scheme to operate on a cost-neutral basis, rather than leaving the wider ratepayer to carry the cost.

A member also asked officers to check whether the council could charge the maximum fee allowed.

This one may not grab headlines, but it could matter for landlords, tenants and the wider rental market.

The committee approved a draft council response to a DEFRA consultation on domestic solid fuel burning.

The consultation covers tighter emissions limits for stoves, appliance and fuel labelling, periodic retesting and stronger enforcement powers. The council backed the general direction of travel, while also pointing out the need for support for households in fuel poverty and people living in rural areas who may have fewer heating options.

Parts of both Antrim town and Newtownabbey already fall within Smoke Control Areas, so this is not a totally new issue for the borough.

Still, it shows air quality and public health are staying high on the agenda.

Another consultation response approved at the meeting dealt with plans for a single construction regulator.

This follows wider concerns raised after the Grenfell Tower fire and aims to reduce fragmentation in how building safety, construction products and professional standards are regulated.

The council backed the proposal in broad terms, though officers said more clarity is needed around funding, legislation, data sharing, governance and how local circumstances would be taken into account.

This is one of the more technical items from the meeting, but it has longer term importance when it comes to standards, accountability and public safety.

Residents around Abbey Community College’s new campus may be glad to hear that concerns were raised about the condition of Bridge Road.

A member flagged soil and debris on the road surface, and the Director of Estates and Recreation said the contractor had been contacted. The contractor has committed to regular cleaning, with council officers set to monitor the situation.

It is a fairly local issue, but the sort of thing that often matters a lot to nearby drivers, walkers and residents.

This was one of those committee meetings where the agenda mixed the everyday with the long term.

There were practical updates on bin collections, summer schemes and litter, along with licensing decisions that affect local venues and wider discussions around housing, construction and air quality.

For many residents, the main takeaways will be the improving waste collection picture, the planned summer schemes, extra attention on littering and the delayed decision on Cotter’s Park in Randalstown.

There was also a warm send-off for Matt McDowell, who was thanked by the Chair and councillors from different parties for his years of service to the council.

Source: Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council

Read the full minutes from the March 2026 Operations Committee Meeting.