Council to appeal for more money from Durkan

Derry City and Strabane District Council is calling for support from other councils in Northern Ireland for their proposal to make an appeal to the Minister over cuts to the rates support grant.

Causeway Coast and Glens council agreed to the request after being informed of the plan by Council officer David Wright. During a report on council finances, Mr Wright said: “It’s been well documented from the rate-setting process last year about the cuts to the rates support grant. We lost two per cent in that round, a cut from taking it from £18.3 million to £15.5 million.

“There is a request from one of our partner councils, Derry City and Strabane District Council, who are wanting to approach the Minister but they want to approach the Minister with a united voice, to see if there is anything that can be done.”

Councillors voted in favour of sending the Mayor, DUP Councillor Michelle Knight-McQuillan and the Corporate Policy and Resources Chairman, UUP Councillor Norman Hillis, as part of the delegation to the Minister.

COURTHOUSE CLOSURE

Plans to close Limavady courthouse will place an “extra burden” on an already “strained” court system in Coleraine, UUP councillor Aaron Callan has said. Causeway Coast and Glens council is to formally oppose the closure.