Carrick charter to be used

Three options were put forward earlier this year as part of a consultation, with the majority of members within the newly-created super-council backing the continuation of boroughship.

This could be achieved by extending one of the existing borough charters of Carrick, Larne, or Ballymena, so that it will cover the whole of the new district, or by making an application to the Secretary of State for a new charter.

A third option, to take no action and therefore remain as a district council, was also outlined.

At a meeting of the super-council’s Policy and Resources Committee last month, Knockagh councillor John Stewart advised members that the authority had already decided to become a borough at the earliest opportunity and to use the Carrickfergus charter.

Mid and East Antrim Council Chief Executive Anne Donaghy advised members that it may be unlikely to have everything in place for April 1, 2015, but that it was hoped to have an agreement in place regarding the civic aspect of borough status.

Meanwhile, ‘Mid and East Antrim’ was officially confirmed as the name of the new super-council last month following a public consultation.