Mid and East Antrim: 'Failure to effectively manage bonfire-related activity' identified as a potential risk for council
“Failure to effectively manage bonfire-related activity across the borough” has been identified as a potential risk for Mid and East Antrim Borough Council.
It has been added to the council’s corporate risk register which is monitored by senior management on a quarterly basis. It was presented for consideration of inclusion by councillors at a meeting of the council’s Audit and Scrutiny Committee.
Minutes of a committee report on the subject said it was described by an independent committee member, who is not a councillor, as “very constructive”, adding the “new risk” for consideration was a “valid risk for council”.
A report presented to a meeting of the Audit and Scrutiny Committee, last week, noted the corporate risk relating to bonfire activity in the borough has now been listed.
The council’s corporate risk register also includes the potential risk of failing to maintain financial sustainability; risk of failing to successfully deliver the City Deal investment in Mid and East Antrim; the risk of failure at Seven Towers Leisure Centre, Ballymena, due to ageing infrastructure; failing to deliver dry recycling harmonisation, which will extend the blue bin recycling system to the Carrickfergus and Ballymena areas; risk of cyber attack and disruption to information systems; resistance to “transformational change, modernisation and improvement”; failure to attract and retain key skills and leadership and failure to deliver and embed key phases of the ‘Tech One’ IT programme.
Meanwhile, at a meeting of the council in March members agreed to put in place a pilot bonfire management programme.
The issue was first placed on the council’s agenda in January 2023 following the death of father-of-two John Steele, who was in his 30s, and who died while helping with the building of the Antiville bonfire, in Larne, on July 9 2022.
Councillors have considered a report providing the outcome and recommendations arising from a consultation on bonfire management conducted by Act Initiative, a registered Belfast-based charity.
Minutes of the discussion in March showed queries from councillors regarding liability to council of structures on council land, confirmation of undisclosed costs of the pilot scheme and “criteria of the organisations/groups to receive funding for the events”.
It was proposed by Ballymena Independent Councillor Rodney Quigley and seconded by Carrickfergus Castle DUP Alderman Billy Ashe MBE to approve a bonfire management pilot programme be put in place for 2026 “as outlined in the ACT Initiative report”. Minutes also stated five Alliance councillors noted their “disagreement with the proposal”.
An Alliance spokesperson said in a statement issued after the meeting "these proposals fail to tackle the main issue facing Mid and East Antrim and are yet to clarify what action council is duty bound to take when there is a risk to life or property identified – a consideration that cannot be overlooked in the context that a man sadly lost his life in Larne.”
A spokesperson for Mid and East Antrim Council said: “The council has appointed an independent third party to engage directly with bonfire builders. This engagement aims to secure agreement to a clear protocol which focuses on improving safety and reducing negative impacts.
“Specifically, this includes the removal of dangerous materials from bonfires, promoting safer construction practices, and encouraging more positive and responsible behaviours in relation to flags, emblems, and other materials.”
Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter