Robin Swann, the North Antrim Ulster Unionist Party Assembly and Chairman of the Stormont Committee for Employment and Learning, has welcomed the news that the Minister of the Environment has instructed Ballymoney Borough Council to re-run the process to appoint members to the transition body overseeing the introduction of the new council.
Mr Swann said:
“When Ballymoney Borough Council first selected its members of the transition committee, it did so on the basis of the current party strengths giving a breakdown of one Sinn Fein and four DUP representatives.
“This was despite my Ulster Unionist Party colleague, Councillor Tom McKeown, pointing out that the appropriate basis for making the appointments was on party strength at the election in 2011, which would give a representation of three DUP, one UUP and one SF.
“While the DUP may prefer to share power with Sinn Fein without other unionists having oversight, I am delighted that the Minister of the Environment has instructed Ballymoney Borough Council to re-run the selection in keeping with normal practice.
“The transition committees will wield significant powers in determining the future of local government, and given the Stormont experience, the thought of only Sinn Fein and the DUP having a say in the way local government develops fills me with dread.
“No doubt they have already agreed behind the doors to work with each other to carve up the new bodies, but I am glad that my colleague Councillor McKeown will have the chance to shine a light on their malevolent plotting.”