Mid and East Antrim Borough Council will debate a motion on Monday evening to create a Retail Task Force for Ballymena, Larne and Carrickfergus town centres. The meeting takes place at The Braid in Ballymena.

DUP Councillors Andrew Clarke and Gregg McKeen proposed the motion. Clarke represents Coast Road, and McKeen represents Larne Lough. The task force would include elected members, council officers, retail and hospitality representatives, business organisations, town centre partnerships and other stakeholders.

The group would review footfall patterns, consumer behaviour, infrastructure, accessibility, public realm, diversification and investment opportunities. It would also assess town centre boundaries for possible redefinition into Enhanced Zones for targeted interventions like public realm improvements, business support, marketing and incentives.

The task force aims to produce a strategic action plan with short, medium and long-term measures to strengthen retail and town centre resilience.

Independent Councillor Lawrie Philpott supports town centre improvements but questions the proposal's costs and overlap with Ballymena's existing Business Improvement District, funded by a business levy.

Philpott seeks clarity on how the task force would integrate with the BID and whether Ballymena businesses would fund both structures while Larne and Carrickfergus businesses do not. He calls for consultation with town centre businesses before proceeding.

Instead of new bureaucracy, Philpott proposes direct aid such as business rates relief, discounted waste collection and reduced parking charges in council car parks. He notes pressures from online shopping on high streets across Northern Ireland.