FERMANAGH and Omagh District Council has disputed the contents of an Opinion piece by Reggie Ferguson published on February 29, 2024 [‘Council’s ‘cosy cartel’ cannot continue - we need answers’].

The Council say the claim that rates have been increased by 70 per cent since 2015 is “factually incorrect”.

Since the inception of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council in 2015, the district rate element for the domestic ratepayer has increased by 25.68 per cent (cumulative calculation).

According to its most recent audited accounts, Statement of Accounts for the year ended March 31, 2023, the average number of employees (Full-Time Equivalent) was 707, not “in excess of 1,000”, as was reported.

This comprises 562 full-time and 230 part-time employees.

The total salary costs (including pension contributions) as detailed within the Council’s most recent audited accounts, Statement of Accounts for the year ended March 31, 2023, was £30,201,188.

The total revenue raised by the Council during this period was £56,408,968.

Salary costs represented 54 per cent of total revenue raised by the Council for the year-end 2022/23, not 80 per cent, as was claimed.

The claim that the Council has not engaged with Lakelanders Swimming Club and prepared “proper contingency measures” ahead of the development of the Lakeland Forum has also been disputed.

The Council says its officers have engaged with representatives of the Club on several occasions since 2019 to discuss the proposed redevelopment of Fermanagh Lakeland Forum.

These engagements have included discussion on the support the Council may be able to provide to the Club during the redevelopment phase.

Engagement began in 2019, with the Club feeding into the Pre-Strategic and Outline Case Consultation.

The Council says its officials and technical consultants for the project have met with Club representatives on at least four occasions (March 3, 2022; June 19, 2023; August 21, 2023; and October 17, 2023), and says it has invited the Club to engage at each key stage of the project development, seeking input. This engagement continues.

The Council says a comprehensive range of engagement activity with the public and key stakeholders has been ongoing on this important strategic project for the region.

This has included a Pre-Strategic Outline Case Consultation, in 2019, and a Planning Pre-Application Consultation, from November 28 to December 19, 2022.

The Impartial Reporter is committed to both scrutinising public authorities and expressing robust opinions on various matters.

However, should any articles authored by our staff or freelance contributors contain inaccuracies, we will promptly review them.

Therefore, we are happy to outline Fermanagh and Omagh District Council’s position and provide this clarification.

This correction has been published following an upheld ruling by the Independent Press Standards Organisation.