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| You Are Here » Ballymena Borough Council » Council » Departments | |||
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The responsibility for servicing the needs of Ballymena’s 58,500 residents rests very firmly on the shoulders of Council officials, and more specifically the chief executive and the directors of each of the Council’s six departments. To find out more about the role of each department, click on the links provided.
Acting Town Clerk and Chief Executive Mr Ronnie McBride has the unenviable task of managing the corporate relations and providing strategic direction for all Council activities. The role involves developing corporate policy and ensuring council strategies, policies and programmes are delivered, on time and on budget. To this end, the chief executive and his team work very closely with Council members and ratepayers. Mr McBride takes a personal interest in customer service. He welcomes feedback, be it positive or negative, from ratepayers, and monitors the comments to identify what the Council is doing well and areas where it can improve. Relationships with other organisations and bodies – which have a positive impact on the region and ratepayers - are also nurtured by this office. The team co-ordinates and provides administrative support for the District Policing Partnerships and Local Strategic Partnerships. For full details on Town Clerk and Chief Executive's Department click here.
THE GROUP SYSTEM The North Eastern Group is based in Galgorm, Ballymena and has as its constituent Councils, Antrim, Ballymena, Carrickfergus, Larne, Magherafelt and Newtownabbey. The other Groups are - Northern Group, based in Derry; Western Group, based in Omagh; Southern Group, based in Craigavon and; South Eastern Group, based in Downpatrick. The reorganisation of approximately one hundred Local Authorities in 1973 resulted in the creation of twenty-six local Councils. Each Council has responsibility for administering and enforcing the Building Regulations in its own area. To promote consistency and uniformity within the service, Council Building Control departments work in partnership. This relationship was first introduced in 1973 by an Order in Council, was reviewed in 1994 and is known as the Group System. There are five Groups, plus Belfast City Council. The original reasons for introducing the Group System were: • To provide uniformity of application and enforcement of the Regulations • To provide economies of scale in resourcing and flexibility in deployment of staff • To provide specialist advice within each Group • To provide a training and development mechanism • To develop and retain quality staff through the provision of a career structure THE ROLE OF THE GROUP UNIT Overseeing the work of Building Control in each Group area is a Committee of Elected Members. These “Group Committees” are composed of two Councillors from each of the constituent Councils who meet quarterly with Group Officers to co-ordinate and monitor the service both within and between Groups. Co-ordination includes matters such as standards of inspection, statistical data and enforcement of statutory provisions. The Group Units also have a statutory role to assist constituent Councils in the development of their annual Building Control Business Plans. Complaints regarding service delivery may also be directed to the Group Chief Building Control Officer. For full details on North Eastern Group Building Control click here.
If you are constructing a new building, altering or extending existing premises, installing new fittings, or you plan to change a buildings use, Director of Building Control Services Maurice Watterson and his team need to be consulted. It is their responsibility to ensure that all building work adheres to the relevant laws. But the team’s works is not restricted to bricks and mortar, it is also concerned with what happens inside the premises. Entertainment licensing also fall within their portfolio. For full details on Building Control Department click here.
This department deals with all things financial from money coming in to money going out. Under the leadership of Mrs Sandra Cole, this vital council office ensures that the organisation gets best value for money, that every penny of ratepayers’ money is accounted for, and that additional European support grants are secured whenever possible. While you might expect their role to include debt collection and credit control, their ‘policing’ remit goes much further to include property management and maintenance. For full details on Finance Department click here.
Ronnie McBride heads the team responsible for our cultural development, and the provision leisure services within the Borough. With the restoration of the town hall and the construction of new arts and museum complex underway, they have plenty to keep them occupied. However, this team’s work is not restricted to recreational matters; they are also tasked with maintaining access to the countryside, sports management, tourism development and sister cities partnerships. For full details on Development, Leisure and Cultural Services click here.
This department is tasked with protecting the health, safety and well being of residents and visitors to Ballymena Borough. It is a role they take extremely seriously. Under the watchful eye of the Director of Environmental Health Services, Alex Kinghorn, the team coordinates a wide range of services aimed at improving public health and awareness of key health and environmental issues. Their remit is wide, and ranges from waste disposal and dog control to food safety and environmental protection. For full details on the Environmental Health Department click here.
The Personnel, Policy & Operational Services department is the largest Council department comprising approximately 40% of the total Council workforce and carrying out a wide and diverse range of tasks and responsibilities. As Director of Personnel, Policy & Operational Services Rodger McKnight is responsible for ensuring that direct services such as refuse collection, street cleansing and grounds maintenance are delivered across the Borough in a professional and efficient manner. As the Council’s Chief Personnel Officer he is also responsible for the recruitment, retention and training and development of all council employees. In addition the department’s policy section is tasked with the drafting and delivery of a wide range of policies and procedures from equality schemes to corporate planning For full details on Personnel Policy & Operational Services click here. |
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Ballymena Borough Council © 2006 | T: 08456 581 581 | E: council.reception@ballymena.gov.uk |
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