Council Elections to be held on May 22

Those elected will sit on the shadow Mid and East Antrim Council until April 2015.

Provision has been made by government where a transitional period will run from May 22 until April 1, 2015, when the new Councils will adopt their full role, responsibilies, powers and functions.

The newly elected councils, acting in shadow form, will have the statutory authority and democratic mandate to make policy decisions that will shape the direction of the new council before it becomes fully operational.

Current Ballymena District Clerk and Chief Executive Anne Donaghy was, last month, appointed as chief executive of the new Mid and East Antrim District Council.

It is understood Mrs Donaghy will start work as CEO designate in the near future to lead the preparations and convergence work for the new council, taking up the position of chief executive of the new authority on April 1, 2015.

The new so-called super councils for Northern Ireland will replace the current 26 district councils with mid & East Antrim comprising Ballymena, Carrickfergus and Larne.

A full timetable of election activity is available to view on the Ballymena Borough Council website.