McCrum is new council Chairman; Ingram new Vice-Chair

And Ulster Unionist councillor Liz Ingram is the new Vice-Chairman following their election at the council’s AGM this afternoon (Friday).

Before the election the UUP’s John Hanna said that, under the powersharing initiatve, the new council term would see a DUP Chair with a Sinn Fein Vice-Chair.

David Herron then proposed Councillor McCrum in a motion which was seconded by Jim McElroy. There were no other proposals put forward and the motion was passed.

Sinn Fein’s Paul Gribben then proposed Brendan Curran for the Vice-Chairman’s roll; this was seconded by the SDLP’s Seamus Doyle. However, Dromore councillor Hazel Gamble then put forward Jim McElroy’s name for the position. And that was followed by the nomination of Councillor Ingram by her UUP colleague Glenn Barr.

The election went to a vote and after the first round of voting Councillor Curran was eliminated. Councillor Ingram was elected in the second round of votes with the backing of the SDLP and Sinn Fein members.

For more on this story see Tuesday’s Leader.