Antrim and Newtownabbey Council’s assets rise to £196m

The figure was revealed at a meeting of the local authority’s Audit Committee remotely on Tuesday evening.

It is an increase from £189m worth of assets reported during the last financial year.

Speaking at the Audit Committee meeting, head of finance John Balmer also reported “significant capital activity” during the last financial year. This included expenditure of £3m on the Gateway Centre at Antrim Loughshore  which opened in December.

The sum of £800,000 was spent on new play areas in Rathcoole and at Lilian Bland Park, in Glengormley and £1.8m on refurbishment at leisure centres.

This includes the refurbishment of reception areas  to “increase accessibility” and the replacement of fitness equipment at Sixmile Leisure Centre in Ballyclare.

Mr Balmer told councillors the sale of gym equipment from Sixmile Leisure Centre was the council’s biggest disposal of assets along with eight refuse vehicles following the outsourcing of a waste collection contract in Antrim.

The council also sold two small pieces of land at Mossley Mill railway halt and at Steeple Green in Antrim.

Assets currently on the market include the toilet block at Castle Mall carpark in Antrim for £145,000.

Meanwhile, the cost of borrowing for the council has risen from £49.7m to £55.9m, which Mr Balmer said was needed to fund a capital spend of £8.5m.

He noted the council has paid out £1.3m in severances and a deficit in the pension scheme has increased by £10m.

He revealed the rates appeal reserve has been “emptied” by a payment to Belfast International Airport.

A fund for unforeseen emergency works required a pay-out for an emergency repair to the sea wall at Hazelbank.

However, he said that despite a decrease in the general fund by £1.38m, the reserves fund remains “within parameters”. The council had budgeted for a decrease of £750,000 in the rates setting.

Commenting on the council’s assets, Antrim Ulster Unionist Councillor Jim Montgomery said the local authority “needs to focus on resources that are more accessible”.

“We may need to do some reviewing of assets. We have to see if there are any we can dispose of.”

Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter

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