The latest figures from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) reveal that while councils across the UK have added £7.8 billion to their combined debt, the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council (CCGBC) has successfully reduced its debt.

As of the end of the 2024/25 financial year, the CCGBC’s debt stands at £45,933,000, down from £49,971,000 at the end of the previous year, marking an reduction of 8%.

In contrast, UK councils now owe a staggering £122.2 billion to lenders, which equates to approximately £1,791 per resident. This represents a seven per cent increase from £114.5 billion, or £1,677 per resident, reported just a year prior.

The CCGBC’s achievement is particularly noteworthy as every other region in the UK has experienced an increase in debt levels over the same period other than Northern Ireland, which managed to reduce its overall debt by around £3 million – other than Mourne and Down Council which saw an increase of 13.31% – bringing the total borrowing by Northern Irish councils to £410,741,000, or about £214 per person.

The figures reflect borrowing including both short-term and long-term borrowing from various sources such as banks, building societies, and public corporations.

A spokesperson for the council stated, “During the past 10 years Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council has worked hard to reduce the debt which it inherited from its former Councils. 

“This was achieved through sound financial management,  prudent budgeting and successful applications for external funding.  As a result borrowing has fallen from a peak of circa £76 million to a figure of just over £40 million in the current financial year.

 “During the same period Council invested approximately £41.5m in its facilities across the entire Borough. There is no doubt that Causeway Coast and Glens has helped significantly reduce the overall local government borrowing in Northern Ireland.”

Total debt per NI council at the end of the 2024/25 financial year:

  • Antrim and Newtownabbey  £50,126,000 (-7.18%)
  • Ards and North Down £58,231,000 (-7.16%)
  • Armagh City Banbridge and Craigavon £49,219,000 (-12.18%)
  • Belfast City £33,146,000 (-13.95%)
  • Causeway Coast and Glens £45,933,000 (-8.08%)
  • Derry City and Strabane £31,596,000 (-8.49)
  • Fermanagh and Omagh £2,646,000 (-17.60%)
  • Lisburn and Castlereagh £18,875,000
  • Mid and East Antrim £49,562,000 (-6.92%)
  • Mid Ulster, and Newry £3,109,000 (-9.81%)
  • Mourne and Down £68,298,000 (13.31%)