A COUNCIL has vowed to implement "action plans" after less than half of its environmental targets for the past year were met.
Members of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council slammed the "dreadful" figures released last week showing the council's environmental services department met just 35.7 percent of its targets for 2022/23.
A progress report on the department was raised at a recent meeting of the council, showing how another 35.7 percent of targets "have fallen slightly short or are behind schedule", while the remaining 28.6 percent have “not been achieved or have been missed”.
DUP councillor Stephen Moutray said the figures were "somewhat concerning", while Ulster Unionist Julie Flaherty said the data was "dreadful", adding: "I have a real concern about this department."
The council’s strategic director of neighbourhood services, Jonathan Hayes, said: “Over the summer months we will be updating members with a view to a more detailed report in relation to action plans and outcomes associated with the work to which a number of these items currently relate."
Referring to the target figures, he added: “This has not gone unnoticed from a senior management point of view."
Meanwhile, the council has proposed a new £400 fine for those caught fly-tipping in the borough.
The local authority's interim head of environmental health, Elizabeth Reaney, said the fine sum would show a "zero tolerance to environmental crime".
If ratified, the fine will be enforceable from August 1.
