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.
History On 2 December 2021, the councils chief executive Anne Donaghy was suspended and stated her intention to take legal action for discrimination. In January 2023, she announced her retirement.
In 2022, another DUP councillor, Marc Collins, was suspended for abusive tweets directed at Sinn Féin MP John Finucane and his family.
Mayoralty
Mayor
FromTo Name Party20152016Billy Ashe 20162017Audrey Wales 20172018Paul Reid 20182019Lindsay Millar 20192020Maureen Morrow 20202021Peter Johnston 20212022William McCaughey 20222023Noel Williams 20232024 Gerardine Mulvenna 20242025Beth Adger 20252025William McCaughey 20252026Jackson Minford 2026Present Thomas Gordon
Deputy Mayor
FromTo Name Party20152016Timothy Gaston 20162017William McNeilly 20172018Cheryl Johnston 20182019Cheryl Johnston 20192020Beth Adger 20202021Andrew Wilson 20212022Matthew Armstrong 20222023Beth Adger 20232024Stewart McDonald 20242025Bréanainn Lyness 20252026Tyler Hoey 2026Present Bethany Carson-Ferris
Councillors For the purpose of elections the council is divided into seven district electoral areas (DEA):
AreaSeatsBallymena7Bannside6Braid7Carrick Castle5Coast Road5Knockagh5Larne Lough5
Party strengths PartyElected2014Elected2019Elected2023Current 16151412UUP9788 3777TUV5556 3244Independent2323SDLP1100UKIP1000
Councillors by electoral area
Premises
The council is based at The Braid at 1–29 Bridge Street in Ballymena. The building comprises the old Ballymena Town Hall, completed in 1928, and a large modern extension along Bridge Street, completed in 2008. The building was formerly the headquarters of Ballymena Borough Council and also includes a museum and arts centre.
Population The area covered by the council has a population of 135,338 residents according to the 2011 Northern Ireland census.
References
External links
Official tourism website