Community festivals, policing partnerships and programmes tackling violence against women are among the services under threat in Ards and North Down after the local council confirmed it has received no funding from Stormont for the current financial year. The shortfall stems from the Assembly’s failure to agree a budget for 2026-27.

A council spokeswoman said no money had arrived from central government and there was no indication of when any payment might come, or if allocations would be reduced. The council is keeping community groups informed and will release funds once formal letters of offer are received.

The funding affected includes money from the Executive Office for Good Relations work and initiatives to end violence against women and girls. The Department of Justice-backed Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) and Department for Communities grants for festivals and running costs of volunteer-led groups are also stalled.

Councillor Pete Wray, chair of the borough’s PCSP, said the uncertainty meant groups were preparing to scrap events that should have been booked and paid for over July and August. He listed cultural celebration programmes, projects addressing anti-social behaviour on beaches and in towns, and the basic running costs of volunteer organisations as all now in limbo.

With the Assembly about to enter its summer recess, Mr Wray said the council may have to use ratepayers’ money to cover the gap. He warned this would amount to giving an unsecured loan to Stormont departments, as there was no guarantee of reimbursement, but argued the consequences of non-delivery would be too severe to do nothing. He described the situation as shameful and called on the council to press ahead with projects at risk despite the financial uncertainty.