What Happened at the Council’s Policy & Governance Meeting?
Key Takeaways from 2 December 2025 (Antrim Civic Centre)
The Council’s Policy and Governance Committee met on Tuesday 2 December 2025, and while much of the discussion focused on internal governance, there were several updates that directly affect residents across the borough.
From home working for council staff to possible street name changes and dual-language signage.
Here’s a breakdown of the main talking points and what they mean for locals.
✅ Council Performance: Targets on Track (So Far)
Councillors approved the Quarter 2 performance report for the Council’s 2025/26 Corporate Performance and Improvement Plan.
In short, the Council believes it is largely on track with its targets so far this year. These reports are part of a legal requirement to show how well council services are performing and where improvements are needed.
👉 Why it matters:
This is the mechanism used to hold council departments accountable even if the detail can feel distant from day-to-day life, it underpins everything from bin collections to planning and customer services.
🏡 A Street Name Change in Toomebridge? Residents Get the Final Say
One of the more locally interesting items involved a request to change the spelling of Marion Hill to Marian Hill in Toomebridge.
Council officers found that both spellings have been used interchangeably for years, sometimes even on the same property’s paperwork. The applicant argued that “Marian” is historically correct, dating back to the estate’s construction in 1954.
However, councillors agreed on an important principle:
👉 The spelling will only be changed if every single affected household agrees.
Letters will be sent to the 16 affected properties
Residents will have four weeks to respond
If even one household objects (or doesn’t respond), the name will not be changed
👉 Why it matters:
Changing an address affects passports, bank accounts, driving licences and legal documents so residents, not the Council, get the final say.
💻 Home Working Trial Gets a Big Thumbs Up
The Council’s “Work Smart” pilot, which allows eligible staff to work from home one day a week, received overwhelmingly positive feedback.
Key findings included:
91% of staff said it had a positive impact on work and wellbeing
96% said they’re still doing their jobs effectively
Nearly 90% of managers said they’re confident managing staff remotely
Reduced commuting helped staff wellbeing and productivity
The pilot will continue, with further reviews planned before a final decision is made.
👉 Why it matters:
This could shape how the Council operates long-term with potential knock-on benefits for service continuity, staff retention, and even environmental impact due to less travel.
🪧 Dual-Language Street Signs: One Area Under Review
There are no new applications for dual-language street signs at the early or final stages, but one street is currently under review:
Arthur Crescent, Newtownabbey (BT36 7AL) is at the resident-consultation stage
Residents on that street are being canvassed, and the outcome will be reported back to councillors.
👉 Why it matters:
Dual-language signage can only proceed following a resident-led process, so community opinion remains central.
📞 Customer Services Update: How Is the Council Performing?
The Council also reviewed how it handled customer contact between July and September 2025, including service requests, consultations and complaints.
This ties into the wider goal of making residents feel “valued and engaged”, although no major issues were flagged at this stage.
👉 Why it matters:
These reports influence future changes to how residents interact with the Council from phone calls to online services.
🧑💼 Staff Absence: Better Than Average, But Still a Challenge
While the Council ranks 3rd best in Northern Ireland for sickness absence overall, short-term absences increased slightly this quarter.
The good news:
Long-term absence dropped significantly
A formal action plan is already in place
👉 Why it matters:
Staff availability directly affects service delivery, particularly in frontline roles.
🏛️ Governance Rules Updated
Councillors approved a refreshed Code of Governance, which sets out how the Council makes decisions, manages risk, and stays accountable.
This document will now be published on the Council’s website.
👉 Why it matters:
It’s about transparency giving residents clarity on how decisions are made behind the scenes.
🔌 One Final Note: IT Issues in the Chamber
A councillor raised concerns about connectivity problems during meetings. The Council’s IT team has been asked to investigate.
👉 Why it matters:
Reliable tech is essential for livestreams, remote attendance, and public access to meetings.
The Bottom Line
While much of the meeting focused on internal processes, there were some real community-level issues discussed particularly around:
Resident consent for address changes
Home working for council staff
Dual-language signage
Service performance and accountability
If you like seeing plain-English summaries of local council meetings, this is exactly the kind of discussion that shapes everyday services often without much public attention.
Source: Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council