Concern over council's 999-year lease plans

Portballintrae is a seaside village in County Antrim

A financial watchdog has raised fresh concerns about land deals carried out by Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council.

The Northern Ireland Audit Office is questioning proposals to grant 999-year leases for land at Portballintrae, County Antrim.

It said some of the issues identified are a repeat of those it found in an investigation in 2022 - which described a council culture of "bypassing best practice" and criticised the authority over its decision to grant a right of way to a hotel developer for £1.

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council said it had "not reached a final decision" on the lease and it will be considered "in due course".

Auditor queries 'such a long lease'

The latest concerns relate to proposed extensions in 2023 of two leases for land in Portballintrae to 999 years.

Local government auditor Colette Kane said a review had identified "several issues" with council procedures "some of which are repeated issues from the extraordinary audit".

In a letter to the council's chief executive David Jackson, seen by BBC News NI, she said these issues included:

• Use of "verbal updates" to councillors and information "omitted" in reports

• "Approval was not sought" from Stormont's Department for Communities in line with local government legislation

• "No clear evidence of adequate challenge" from councillors

Ms Kane questioned the basis for proposing the granting of "such a long lease", saying it "effectively makes this a disposal of council property".

She also said she would send her letter to the Department for Communities because "some of the issues raised are similar to findings from the extraordinary audit".

No council decision on lease

The correspondence, which was sent in March, was due to be discussed at a council committee meeting held last week behind closed doors.

In a statement, the Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO) said it wrote to the council in November 2023 about concerns it had received about proposed extensions of land leases, and subsequently carried out a review.

A spokesman added: "Following this review, in March 2024 the local government auditor wrote to the council's chief executive, identifying issues of concern regarding the procedures followed by council.

"These included some issues that had previously been identified in her July 2022 report on the extraordinary audit of the council.

"The NIAO understands that an agenda item on this matter was included in the most recent meeting of the council's land and property sub-committee, but that a final decision on the lease extension has yet to be taken."

The council said it has "not reached a final decision on this matter".

A spokesman said councillors were provided with a report at a committee last Wednesday "which detailed all background information in relation to the leases".

"The report also included the NIAO correspondence received in November 2023 and the response issued by council to the queries raised within it," he added.

"The council awaits the NIAO's response to its correspondence. A further report will be brought to council in due course."

The Department for Communities was also approached for comment.

It is the latest controversy to emerge in recent years at Causeway Coast and Glens council.

In 2022, the extraordinary audit found a culture existed of "bypassing best practice and guidance to get land deals done".

The report came after it emerged the council granted a right of way in Portstewart to a hotel developer for £1 in 2016.

The audit said there was a "failure to demonstrate that best price was obtained" and a "case for finding the easement has not been granted lawfully".

In 2023, a report by Northern Ireland's public services ombudsman said issues raised in the council's planning processes were "closed down and ignored".

The council has previously said changes have been made to its land and property processes and pledged to "comply with its obligations".