‘Super’ Council meets for first time

Three quarters of the Mid & East Antrim seats, which now literally pack the Chamber at The Braid where the meeting will take place, will be occupied by unionists -DUP (16), UUP (nine) and TUV (five).

Sinn Fein and Alliance will take three seats apiece, Independents two, UKIP one and one SDLP.

In preparation for the historic event, a ‘mock’ meeting for members, officers and staff was staged last Tuesday in the Braid.

It is understood that at tonight’s first official meeting of the new authority, the decision to appoint a chairperson for the 10-month shadow period until April 1, 2015, will be taken and that the issue of borough status will also be high on the agenda.