Decision on name cost ratepayers £3k

Three DUP, two TUV, and one PUP councillor, requested the ‘call-in’ procedure, which requires a council to obtain the opinion of a practicing barrister or solicitor, where the review has been requested on the grounds that the decision would disproportionately adversely affect any section of the inhabitants of the district.

Cllr William McCandless, Ulster Unionist Party Councillor for Coleraine said: “A decision to continue to use the name of Causeway Coast and Glens, which was used during the shadow council period, was backed by a majority of councillors in a democratic vote in March of this year. It really beggars belief that a small group of six councillors could not accept a democratic decision and felt the need to seek a legal opinion on the decision at a cost of almost £3,000 to the ratepayers of the borough.

“We are disappointed and angered that six members legally challenged a decision surrounding the name of the new council.

“None of their reasons stacked up. Of all the things the new Council has to do to gain the respect of the general public, spending almost £3,000 to get legal advice on whether to challenge the decision to name the Council Causeway Coast and Glens, was certainly not one of them.”