Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has advanced plans to offer discounted leisure centre memberships to emergency services staff, veterans, and now serving military personnel.

The Neighbourhoods and Communities Committee accepted an amendment to a proposal that originally extended the council’s corporate membership rate to Police Service for Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, Health and Social Care, and Northern Ireland Ambulance Service employees, as well as veterans. Councillor Marc Collins successfully moved to include serving armed forces personnel, with Councillor Matthew Warwick seconding.

Council director Matt McDowell told members that extending the scheme to military families would be more costly, and the amendment stopped short of that wider inclusion. The committee heard that the current corporate rate is £25 per month, compared with a standard membership of £29.80 and a concessionary rate of £20.90.

A legacy arrangement already lets emergency services personnel access a corporate rate at The Amphitheatre leisure centre in Carrickfergus. The new policy, once ratified, would standardise that offer across the borough’s facilities and widen eligibility.

A report before the committee stressed that any reduction in membership income must be balanced against the need to keep leisure services financially sustainable. Alderman Billy Ashe described the proposal as a potential income generator, while Councillor Warwick said it would show serving personnel they are valued and would be a positive for the borough.

The proposal now moves forward for formal council approval.