Deputy Presiding Councillor Cllr Maurice Devenney.
The newly elected DUP (Democratic Unionist Party) deputy presiding councillor of the Derry City and Strabane District Council has pledged to work for all the people of the area.
Cllr Maurice Devenney was elected unopposed to the position at the first anngal general meeting of the”super council” in Derry’s Guildhall last night.
Sinn Fein Cllr Maolíosa McHugh, who stood in the Derg district electoral area in Strabane, was elected unopposed as the presiding councillor.
The new council will sit in “shadow form” with Derry City Council and Strabane District Council until it comes in to effect on 1 April next year.
Speaking after last night’s meeting, Cllr Devenney described it as an “historic occasion” for the city and district.
He said: “Last night’s meeting was an important milestone and the start of a historic journey for local government.
“The new council has a number of significant challenges over the next few months as we prepare to become a new Council and a new identity.
Presiding Councillor Maolíosa McHugh
I am delighted that as deputy presiding councillor I will have a leading role in those decisions and will work to represent people from all areas to ensure we all get best value and quality services.”
The main business at the meeting was the appointment of councillors to the various council committees of Governance and Strategic Planning (14 members), Resources and Finance (14 members), Service Transformation (14 members) and Shadow Planning (20 members).
Items relating to Governance arrangements for the new council and a schedule of meetings for the term ending 31 March 2015 were also discussed.
Thirty-nine of the 40 elected representatives attend the meeting – an apology was offered on behalf of Strabane-based Paul Gallagher was unable to attend due to a previous engagement.
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