Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council's Community Development Committee met on 15 April 2026 at Mossley Mill. Here is a plain-English summary of the decisions made and topics discussed.
A packed events programme for the rest of 2026
Decision: Approved
Members signed off on the council's events plan for the remainder of 2026, covering everything from outdoor concerts to a brand-new beer and cider festival. The Arts, Culture, Tourism and Events team runs events that attract more than 185,000 attendees each year, alongside supporting third-party events such as SuperCup NI and the Pipe Band Championships.
The Ballyclare May Fair returns for a week-long programme themed around the 250th anniversary of American independence, featuring talks on Ulster's historical links with the USA, a traditional horse fair, the Mayor's Parade, and family events. The Ulster-Scots Agency is providing funding and programming support.
Home and Garden Show Ireland is getting a makeover in 2026, adding a Home Show strand for the first time. Interior designer Suzanne Garuda joins horticulturist David Domoney as a Show Ambassador. After poor attendance caused by bad weather in each of the past two years, the event will be largely undercover in two large marquees at Antrim Castle Gardens. The show will also launch a year-long photography competition as part of the PEACEPLUS Our Historic Borough programme.
Other highlights approved include Party in the Park at Antrim Castle Gardens on 2 August with a USA250 theme, Shoreline Festival at Jordanstown Loughshore Park on 23 August, and Spinning Yarns at Mossley Mill Civic Square on 29 August. Brighter Nights returns to Lilian Bland Community Park in Glengormley throughout July and August, attracting more than 10,000 participants last year.
One entirely new event is the Antrim and Newtownabbey Beer and Cider Festival, taking place on 19 and 20 June at Antrim Castle Gardens in partnership with CAMRA NI. To mark the Old Courthouse's 300th birthday, a weekend of free historical entertainment is planned for September's European Heritage Open Day, including tours, talks and a living history theatrical re-enactment.
Enchanted Winter Garden will return in December with more animation and entertainment, and ticket prices frozen at 2025 levels. Last year's event attracted more than 90,000 visitors and achieved an 87% satisfaction rating.
Irish language and Ulster-Scots bursaries awarded
Decision: Approved
Twenty-six residents of the Borough will each receive a £250 bursary to help cover the cost of participating in Irish language Gaeltacht summer courses or Ulster-Scots cultural activities. Of the 30 applications received, 22 were for Irish Language support and 4 for Ulster-Scots, with all 26 meeting the required criteria.
Budget: £7,500 available | Cost of awards: £6,500 | Remaining: £1,000
An all-party panel of elected members reviewed the applications and recommended all 26 for funding. Councillor P Dunlop declared an interest in this item.
Free theatre venue for older people's event
Decision: Approved
The Newtownabbey Arts and Cultural Network (NACN) has been granted free use of the Theatre at the Mill for a one-off community event in May 2026. The evening will bring together older residents from across the Borough, including those from retirement homes who may experience loneliness or social isolation, for a night of live country music in a relaxed setting.
NACN argued it could not afford even the discounted community rate, operating on limited grant funding that it prioritises for youth development and outreach. The organisation also confirmed there were no alternative venues suitably equipped for an event of this scale. The council's potential lost income from the booking is £1,035, with staffing costs of £921.
Cultural bursary for young performer
Decision: Approved
A £500 bursary was approved for a resident of the Borough under 18 years old to attend the British Youth Music Theatre (BYMT) summer programme in Hull from 25 July to 9 August 2026. The programme is a 16-day residential experience for young people aged 11 to 21, with the applicant selected alongside more than 30 others from across the UK.
Cultural Grant Aid and Bursary budget 2026/27: £23,000 | Remaining after this award: £22,500
Good Relations grants: five groups to receive funding
Decision: Approved
Five community groups will share £7,900 in Good Relations Grant funding for 2026/27, supporting activities and events that promote good relations across the Borough. Fifteen applications were received in total; nine met the minimum threshold score of 60%, and the top five scorers were recommended for funding. The remaining four eligible applications will sit on a reserve list should additional money become available from The Executive Office during the year.
Total budget: £8,000 (subject to receipt of a Letter of Offer from The Executive Office)
Councillor H Magill declared an interest in this item.
CCTV to be installed at Neillsbrook Community Centre as a pilot
Decision: Approved as six-month pilot
Following a series of vandalism and anti-social behaviour incidents at Neillsbrook Community Centre in Randalstown since May 2025, a CCTV camera will be installed on the exterior of the building covering the 3G pitch. The installation will run as a six-month pilot, after which officers will report back to committee with PSNI-led data and evidence on levels of anti-social behaviour and associated costs.
Installation cost: approximately £7,000 | Annual cloud storage subscription: £720 | Repair costs over past 6 months: £1,894
Members also agreed that officers will bring a separate report and business case to the next committee meeting on the possibility of CCTV at the Centenary Way toilet area in Ballyclare, where similar ongoing anti-social behaviour has been occurring for the past five years.
Two major park upgrades move forward
Decision: Approved
Plans to upgrade two popular parks on the shores of Belfast Lough have both been given the green light to progress to the next stage of the council's Capital Programme.
At Jordanstown Loughshore Park, the preferred option involves works to the ground floor of the existing coffee shop, additional car parking, and an upgrade of the toilet and changing facilities. The project will now move to Stage 2, involving the appointment of a consultancy team and preparation of a full business case including planning and procurement.
At Hazelbank Park in Newtownabbey, a more ambitious scheme has been approved at outline stage. This involves increasing car parking to 193 spaces, developing a new play park, converting the unused bowling pavilion into a café, and providing new toilet facilities including Changing Places provision. Works are expected to proceed on a phased basis, with the café prioritised. A full business case with current costs will be brought back to members before any final investment decision is made.
Community centre management agreements extended
Decision: Approved
Two further community organisations, Globe After Schools Club and Queens Park Women's Group, have been approved to enter the council's four-stage process for potentially taking on Service Management Agreements to operate council-owned community facilities. Six organisations were already progressing through this process, which includes training, mentoring, and business planning funded through the PEACEPLUS Our Shared Borough programme.
The council owns 11 community facilities, three of which are currently managed by community organisations under existing agreements at Monkstown Jubilee Centre, The Sovereign Complex, and the Northern Ireland Centenary Community Centre Ballyduff. The arrangement has been shown to reduce running costs and increase community use compared to direct council operation.
Updated rules for free venue hire
Decision: Approved
The council's Community and Culture Pricing Policy has been updated to give clearer guidance on when free use of facilities can be considered. From now on, organisations applying for free use must demonstrate they cannot afford the community rate, that they have no access to a suitable alternative venue such as a school hall, and that their event contributes to the council's Corporate Plan. Routine performing arts bookings not linked to a specific fundraising or one-off occasion will no longer be eligible for free use.
Royal visit to Randalstown noted
Decision: Noted
Members noted an update on the visit by HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh to Randalstown on 3 March 2026. The Duchess visited Randalstown Library to meet participants of the council's Women in Leadership Programme, which was set up to honour the legacy of the late Queen Elizabeth II. The Tidy Randalstown Group also had the opportunity to meet the Duchess in recognition of their long-standing contribution to the town. The Director of Community and Culture agreed to bring forward suggestions for a permanent way to commemorate the visit.
Consultations members may wish to respond to
Members were informed of two active public consultations and agreed to respond on an individual or party-political basis rather than as a council body.
The Executive Office has launched a consultation on a draft Framework for Race Relations and Delivery Plan 2026–2028, which sets out a vision for a society free from racism and racial inequality. The consultation closes on 3 June 2026 and is available at the Executive Office website.
The Home Office has launched a targeted consultation on Family Returns, covering proposed changes to support and enforcement arrangements for families without immigration status. The consultation closes on 28 May 2026.
RAISE programme update
Decision: Noted
A second call for locality-led projects under the Department of Education's RAISE (Raising Aspirations in Schools through Education) programme closed on 22 April 2026. The programme addresses educational disadvantage and is active across two localities in the borough, with Antrim receiving £421,450 and Newtownabbey £530,133 in combined base and pupil-based funding.
Community and Culture Business Plan approved
Decision: Approved
The Community and Culture Directorate Business Plan for 2026/27 was approved. Progress on the plan will be reported quarterly to the Council Leadership Team and twice a year to this committee. The plan sets out how the directorate supports the council's priorities and measures performance across all departments.
Source: Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council