Plan unveiled for seven 'super councils' in North

Proposed "unexciting" names for the North's planned seven new "super councils" and their boundaries were yesterday unveiled by the Northern Ireland local government boundaries commissioner, Dick Mackenzie.

Under the review of public administration, Northern Ireland is to have seven councils instead of the current 26 councils, which some politicians have complained will create a sectarian green/orange local government carve-up, roughly along a respective west-south/east line in Northern Ireland.

Mr Mackenzie yesterday released his proposals for consultation, while acknowledging that the names of the councils are unimaginative. They are: Inner East, East, South, North East, Belfast, West and North West.

"The names are not very exciting, I admit," said Mr Mackenzie. "But I am sure I will hear suggestions to change these names, and I am anxious to hear all views."

It is proposed that each council area will have 60 members, although Mr Mackenzie indicated that there was a possibility that Belfast, which will have by far the biggest population, could have more. Overall the number of councillors will be reduced from 582 to 420.

The Belfast local government district will expand from a current council population of 277,000 to 320,000 by incorporating the present council areas of Belfast and parts of Castlereagh, Lisburn city and North Down.

At present, Alliance holds the balance of power in Belfast. The expansion takes in additional unionist and nationalist areas and politicians will be examining whether these changes are likely to shift the current position either in favour of unionism or nationalism. It appears clear however that the remaining six proposed councils will be three unionist - North East, Inner East and East - and three nationalist - North West, West and South. Populations in these six council areas range from 200,000 to 280,000.

The public consultation will conclude in May next year and a final decision on the "super councils" is due to be made by July.