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Awards & Recognition
Carrickfergus Borough Council has received numerous awards and recognition over recent years.  These demonstrate both our continued efforts to achieve better service delivery at a reasonable cost, and the on going participation and involvement of the Carrickfergus Community.  

Charter Mark
2003 Cleansing Section (Combined Award - first of its kind in Northern Ireland)

Carrickfergus in Bloom
Carrickfergus Town has been awarded:
2005 Ulster in Bloom 2nd place – Large Town Category
2005 Northern Ireland Amenity Council Best Kept Sheltered Housing - Castlerocklands
2004 Ulster in Bloom 2nd place – Large Town Category
2003 Britain in Bloom Bronze Winner
2002 Ulster in Bloom Winner – Large Town Category
2001 Ulster in Bloom 2nd place – Large Town Category
1996 – 2000 Ulster in Bloom Winner – Large Town Category
1997 – 2001 Britain in Bloom Finalist
1998 Shell Best Kept Large Town Winner
1998 Shell Best Kept Large Housing Estate – Windmill Hill Estate
1998 Tidy Britain Award (awarded to the finalist who contributes most to the aims of the Tidy Britain Group).

Whitehead Town has been awarded:
2005 Ulster in Bloom 2nd place – Small Town Category
2004 Ulster in Bloom 2nd place – Small Town Category
2000 Ulster in Bloom 3rd place – Small Town Category
1998 Ulster in Bloom 3rd place – Small Town Category
1998 Shell Best Kept Small Town – Runner-up

Carrickfergus Marina
2002-Present 5 Gold Anchors Award – highest world wide accolade
2000-2004 European Blue Flag Award for quality of services/facility provision
1997-2004 Royal Yachting Association Berth Holders Charter
2001-2004 Royal Yachting Association Sailability Centre 2001- present

Corporate Management
2004 Best Marketing Initiative Carrickfergus Business Award
2002 APSE Public Partnership Working (Mid-Antrim Museum Service)
2002 SPIN Award - Best Website for NI - 2nd Place (public sector)
2001-2004 National Pool Lifeguard Qualification – All Lifeguards        
1998 Leisure and Travel Trade Best NI Marketing Award
1998 NITB Best International Event (World Optimist Sailing event) with a world record 41 participating countries and over 10,000 bednights.

Organisational Structure
Following the recently completed re-organisation, the Council’s structure comprises the Chief Executive’s Office and four other Departments. Reporting directly to the Town Clerk and Chief Executive (CE) are the senior management team of 4 Directors - ie the Directors of Building Services, Development Services, Environmental Services and Support Services.

Chief Executive’s Office
(Chief Executive: Alan Cardwell)
The Chief Executive’s Office comprises the Town Clerk and Chief Executive, his Personal Secretary, the Policy Officer and the Internal Auditor - all of whom report directly to the Chief Executive. The Chief Executive has overall responsibility for all Council’s executive business and is the organisation’s Chief Finance Officer. The Office covers the important areas of Corporate Planning, Business Improvement, Internal Audit, the Equality / Good Relations duties of the Northern Ireland Act (1998), Council’s representation on various partnership bodies and Local Government Elections. The Chief Executive is also Council’s link with Central Government Departments and Ministers on matters of major importance.

Building Services Department
(Director: Stephen Johnston)
The largest part of the Department's workload is in relation to Building Regulations which involve the checking of building plans, the approval of applications or (as required) the issue of rejection notices, the checking of fees and the inspection of sites once construction work has commenced. In addition to the above functions the Department also carries out a number of other subsidiary functions, including providing advice on access and facilities for disabled people, and the provision of lease and deed documentation for Council properties.

Other areas within the Department's remit are:

• Property Certificates
• Dangerous Structures
• Street Naming / Postal Numbering, Access
• Licensing
• Energy Conservation
• Water Conservation
• Facilities Management
• Asset and Project Management

The department comprises over one hundred staff working across four main sections, namely; Economic, Community, Leisure and Marketing. Highlighted below are the broad key areas of responsibility for each section. It should be noted that there is a significant degree of synergy between the various functions.

Economic Development Section

• Business Start
• Business Development
• Business Competitiveness
• Town Centre Management
• Local Strategy Partnership
• Regeneration

Community Development Section

• Community Centre Facility Management - 6 locations
• Community Development
• Community Relations
• Community Safety
• District Policing Partnership
  

Leisure Development Section

• Leisure Centre
• Ramparts Health and Fitness Suite
• Outdoor Leisure Facilities - 9 locations
• Playgrounds - 12 locations
• Carrickfergus in Bloom
• Countryside Access
• Cemeteries
• Parks and Countryside

Marketing Development Section

• Museums
• Marina, Harbour and Whitehead Boat Park
• Arts and Events Management
• Tourism
• Corporate Marketing
• Corporate Brand Management
• Corporate Public Relations
• Corporate Web and Internet Management

Development Services represent Council on various bodies including:

• Rural Economic Action Partnership (REAP)
• Core Regional Economic Development Body (CORE)
• Councils of the Metropolitan Area (COMET)
• Belfast Lough Sea and Shore Ltd (BLSS)
• Causeway Coast and Antrim Glens Regional Tourism Organisation (CCAG)
• Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust (CCGHT)
• Mid Antrim Museum Service (MAMS)
• Local Community Fund Management Board (LCF)
• Youth and Voluntary Arts (YAVA)

• Waste and Litter Collection and Disposal
  
• Recycling
  
• Food Control
  
• Health and Safety
  
• Consumer Protection
  
• Pollution Control
  
• Dog Control
  
• Environmental Health
  
• Planning Consultations
  
• Licensing and Regulatory Services
  
• Local Agenda 21

The administrative responsibilities include:

• Support to Council and Elected Members
  
• The Committee Secretariat
  
• Human Resource Function
  
• Registration of Birth, Deaths and Marriages
  
• Civic and Ceremonial Functions
  
• Public requests for Information
  
• Back-up to the Chief Executive

Financial services provided by the Department include:

The Department is also responsible for ICT support across Council.

How can we help you?
We’re here to help you, so if you have any queries about our services or require assistance in any area, please feel free to contact the relevant department from the directory below.