Motion To Increase Public Voice In Local Events Defeated At Full Council

A proposal aimed at increasing councillors’ oversight of council-run events has been rejected following a vote at a full council meeting held this evening.

The motion, brought forward by Darryl Wilson, had previously been considered by the council’s Leisure and Development Committee as part of discussions on the authority’s events strategy and budget for the 2026–27 financial year.

The strategy covers a wide range of events across the borough, from large-scale attractions such as the North West 200 and the Lammas Fair, to smaller community-based events including local fairs and Christmas light switch-ons.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Wilson acknowledged the work of council staff and praised the events team for delivering a busy programme across a wide geographical area with limited resources. However, he said he remained concerned that some traditional elements of local events were being lost over time, citing health and safety requirements as a contributing factor.

As an example, he referred to the removal of the truck and tractor cavalcade from the Ballymoney Spring Fair, which he said had been a key feature for many attendees.

Mr Wilson’s proposal had called for councillors to receive a report six months in advance of each major event, setting out how the event had previously been delivered, the proposed programme for the following year, the allocated budget and promotional plans. He said this would allow elected members to bring feedback from residents to council officers at an earlier stage, helping to shape events before final decisions were made.

The proposal received support from Democratic Unionist Party members but was opposed by councillors from other parties and was ultimately voted down when it was brought before the full council this evening, overturning the move.

Mr Wilson said he was disappointed by the outcome and questioned why the proposal had been rejected. He argued that it risked limiting the ability of elected representatives to reflect public opinion within council decision-making.

He stressed that the intention was not to challenge council officers, but to work collaboratively with them, and said councillors had a responsibility to ensure public voices were heard.

He added that elected representatives were there to give the public a voice within council when decisions are made, and said he believed that role should be strengthened rather than restricted, particularly when decisions affect community events that many residents value.