Last week Sinn Fein councillor Paul Butler said his party would not give the cross community support which new legislation would require if his party did not get elected to any of the top posts at Lisburn Council's AGM this week.

Unionists dismissed it as an empty threat, but it has now emerged that after fears were first raised last October about city status being withdrawn when the boundaries are changed in two years time, Mr Mackenzie wrote to the Council's Chief Executive saying he had looked into the matter."

"I note that at the time of the last major reorganisation of local government in 1973, provision was made in the Local Government Act (NI) 1972 for authorities which enjoyed city or borough status before the changeover - see Sections 2 and 132.

"The question is, therefore, for the Department of the Environment to consider in framing the necessary legislation to give effect to the reorganisation of local government. I have drawn it to the Department's attention."

Speaking after this week's AGM Mr Butler reiterated his stance that his Party would not be supporting legislation to allow Lisburn to remain as a city.

"We are obviously disappointed once again that Lisburn Council don't seem to be capable or willing to share power with Sinn Fein," said Mr Butler.

"Yet again they carved up all the positions amongst themselves and the message that sends out if that they are not signed up to partnership politics.

"They need to understand that issues such as city status won't be supported by Sinn Fein in the Assembly."

However, unionists said that until Sinn Fein showed it was capable of representing all the citizens of Lisburn they could not be considered for any of the top posts.

Outgong Mayor Ronnie Crawford pointed out SF members had not even attended many of the civic functions which had been held during the year.