Craigavon Borough Council facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Craigavon Borough
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| Area | 378 km2 (146 sq mi) Ranked 19th of 26 |
| District HQ | Craigavon |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| EU Parliament | Northern Ireland |
Craigavon Borough Council was a local government body in Northern Ireland. It looked after parts of Armagh, Down, and Antrim. This council helped manage local services for the people living there.
In May 2015, Craigavon Borough Council joined with two other councils. These were Armagh City and District Council and Banbridge District Council. Together, they formed a new, bigger council called Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon District Council. This change was part of a plan to reorganise local government in Northern Ireland.
The main office for Craigavon Borough Council was in Craigavon. This town is located right by Lough Neagh, a very large lake. Craigavon itself was a new town. It was built between the towns of Lurgan and Portadown. The council area also included smaller towns like Waringstown and Donaghcloney.
The council had a yearly budget of about £15.5 million. This money helped provide many services for the 93,023 people living in the area.
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How the Council Worked
The Craigavon Borough Council area was split into four main voting areas. These were Central, Loughside, Lurgan, and Portadown. People in these areas voted for 26 councillors every four years.
These councillors would meet once a year in June. At this meeting, they would choose a new Mayor and Deputy Mayor. These roles were important for leading the council's work.
Political Parties in the Council
In the last elections for the council in 2011, several political parties were chosen. The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) won nine seats. Sinn Féin won eight seats. The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) had six seats. The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) won four seats. Finally, the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland won one seat.
Elections and Changes
The next election was supposed to happen in May 2009. However, the government decided to delay it. This was because they planned to create fewer, larger councils by 2011. This plan was later changed in 2010. So, the 2011 Northern Ireland local elections went ahead as planned. These elections chose the last group of councillors before the council was officially closed down. The big change to fewer councils finally happened on 1 April 2015.
The Craigavon area was also part of a larger voting area called Upper Bann. This area included part of the Banbridge district. People in Upper Bann voted for representatives in the Westminster Parliament in London and the Northern Ireland Assembly in Belfast.
Leaders of Craigavon Borough Council
The Mayor was the main leader of the council. They were chosen by the councillors each year. The Deputy Mayor helped the Mayor and took their place if needed. Many different people served as Mayor and Deputy Mayor over the years. For example, the last Mayor of Craigavon Borough Council was Colin McCusker. He was from the Ulster Unionist Party. His Deputy Mayor was Catherine Seeley from Sinn Féin.
What Services Did the Council Provide?
Local councils like Craigavon Borough Council provided many services for their communities. These services helped make the area a better place to live.
- Managing Coney Island: The council helped look after Coney Island, Lough Neagh. This island is owned by the National Trust. The council managed it for them, making sure it was well-maintained.
Population of the Area
In 2011, a count of all the people living in the area was done. This is called a census. The census showed that 93,023 people lived in the area covered by Craigavon Borough Council.
