Mid and East Antrim Borough Council

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is a local authority that was established on 1 April 2015. It replaced Ballymena Borough Council, Carrickfergus Borough Council and Larne Borough Council.

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council
Logo
Type
Type
History
Founded1 April 2015
Preceded by
Leadership
Mayor
Gerardine Mulvenna, Alliance
Deputy Mayor
Stewart McDonald, TUV
Structure
Seats40
Political groups
Incoming Council
  DUP (13)
  UUP (8)
  Alliance (7)
  TUV (6)
  Sinn Féin (4)
  Independents (2)
Elections
Last election
18 May 2023
Meeting place
The Braid
Website
www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk Edit this at Wikidata

History

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On 2 December 2021, the councils chief executive Anne Donaghy was suspended[1] and stated her intention to take legal action for discrimination.[2] In January 2023, she announced her retirement.[3]

In 2022, another DUP councillor, Marc Collins, was suspended for abusive tweets directed at Sinn Féin MP John Finucane and his family.[4]

Mayoralty

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Mayor

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FromToNameParty
20152016Billy AsheDUP
20162017Audrey WalesDUP
20172018Paul ReidDUP
20182019Lindsay MillarUUP
20192020Maureen MorrowUUP
20202021Peter JohnstonDUP
20212022William McCaugheyDUP
20222023Noel WilliamsAlliance
20232024Gerardine MulvennaAlliance
2024PresentBeth AdgerDUP

Deputy Mayor

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FromToNameParty
20152016Timothy GastonTUV
20162017William McNeillyUUP
20172018Cheryl JohnstonDUP
20182019Cheryl JohnstonDUP
20192020Beth AdgerDUP
20202021Andrew WilsonUUP
20212022Matthew ArmstrongTUV
20222023Beth AdgerDUP
20232024Stewart McDonaldTUV
2024PresentBréanainn Lyness[5]Sinn Féin

Councillors

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For the purpose of elections the council is divided into seven district electoral areas (DEA):[6]

AreaSeats
Ballymena7
Bannside6
Braid7
Carrick Castle5
Coast Road5
Knockagh5
Larne Lough5

Party strengths

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PartyElected
2014
Elected
2019
Elected
2023

Current
DUP16151413
UUP9788
Alliance3777
TUV5556
Sinn Féin3244
Independents2322
SDLP1100
UKIP1000

Councillors by electoral area

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Current council members
District electoral areaNameParty
BallymenaRodney Quigley Independent
Matthew Armstrong TUV
Colin Crawford UUP
Bréanainn Lyness Sinn Féin
Reuben Glover DUP
Jack Gibson Alliance
Lawrie Philpott DUP
BannsideTimothy Gaston TUV
Stewart McDonald TUV
Ian Friary Sinn Féin
Thomas Gordon DUP
Tyler Hoey DUP
Jackson Minford UUP
BraidArchie Rae Sinn Féin
Beth Adger DUP
William McCaughey DUP
Christopher Jamieson TUV
Alan Barr UUP
Chelsea Harwood Alliance
Matthew Warwick TUV
Carrick CastleLauren Gray Alliance
David Clarke †‡‡ TUV
Billy Ashe DUP
Robin Stewart UUP
Bethany Ferris UUP
Coast RoadJames McKeown Sinn Féin
Andrew Clarke DUP
Geraldine Mulvenna Alliance
Angela Smyth DUP
Maureen Morrow UUP
KnockaghBobby Hadden Independent
Peter Johnston DUP
Marc Collins DUP
Andrew Wilson UUP
Aaron Skinner Alliance
Larne LoughMaeve Donnelly Alliance
Gregg McKeen DUP
Roy Beggs Jr UUP
Robert Logan Alliance
Paul Reid DUP

Population

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The area covered by the Council has a population of 135,338 residents according to the 2011 Northern Ireland census.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "Anne Donaghy: Suspended Mid and East Antrim chief takes legal action". BBC News. 2 December 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  2. ^ Hughes, Brendan (2 December 2021). "Council boss taking legal action over 'disability discrimination'". BelfastLive. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  3. ^ Hughes, Brendan (20 January 2023). "Council boss 'retires on health grounds' after year on suspension". BelfastLive. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  4. ^ Hargan, Garrett (29 June 2022). "DUP councillor Marc Collins suspended over tweets directed at Sinn Fein's John Finucane". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  5. ^ Ballymena, Love (4 June 2024). "Sinn Féin's deputy mayor strikes conciliatory tone as party holds office for first time in MEA". LoveBallymena. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  6. ^ "Current review of district electoral areas" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 September 2015.
  7. ^ "NI Census 2011 - Key Statistics Summary Report, September 2014" (PDF). NI Statistics and Research Agency. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 December 2014. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
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