Newry, Mourne and Down District Council has approved its annual performance assessment for 2025-26, recording progress in economic development, health and environmental enforcement while acknowledging that planning application standards were not met.

The Strategy, Policy and Resources Committee considered and approved the Assessment of Performance at a meeting on Thursday 13 August 2026. Councillor Callum Bowsie, chair of the committee, presented the report. He said the council had faced challenges during the year but remained focused on delivering essential services and community programmes.

During 2025-26, the council supported 317 local businesses and social enterprises through economic development programmes, which helped create 252 jobs. More than 28,000 people took part in targeted health programmes. Over 930,000 paid attendances were recorded across the council's six leisure centres. The council awarded £1.97 million through its Financial Assistance Scheme to 361 local projects. Environmental enforcement activity increased, with more fixed penalty notices issued for littering, dog fouling and fly-tipping, and more fines paid.

The assessment also identifies areas where further progress is required. The statutory standard for processing major and local planning applications and enforcement cases was not achieved during 2025-26. The council said it remains committed to improving performance in these areas. While all community clean-up requests were supported, biodegradable municipal waste sent to landfill rose from 429 tonnes in 2024-25 to 509 tonnes in 2025-26, an increase of 18.6%.

The council will use its Corporate Plan 2024-27 and Performance Improvement Plan 2026-27 to build on progress and address areas requiring improvement. Further details will be published on the council website by 30 September 2026.