Landmark first meeting of new Mid Ulster super council

Councillors considered business which included the nomination of Cllr Cáthal Mallaghan as Presiding Councillor (Chairman) for the next ten months.

Cllr Mallaghan said: “I am very honoured to be nominated by my Party for the role and thank my colleagues for supporting me.

“Throughout the next 10 months we will build the new Mid Ulster District Council using the best aspects of what will be our former Councils and bring forward new ideas to complement existing structures.

“I want to get through a huge amount of work so when we come to the Annual Meeting next year our Council is fit for business and we are in a position to provide an excellent service to all our citizens”.

The new Council will operate in shadow form during a transitional period until 31 March 2015 and exist alongside Cookstown District Council, Dungannon & South Tyrone Borough Council and Magherafelt District Council.

Cllr Mallagahan concluded: “Our Council should be people centred, our fundamental principle should be equality and our policies should secure our citizen’s needs.

“We need to be value for money and provide excellent customer service.”