New DUP mayor appointed for Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council replacing Alliance councillor

Councillor Brian Higginson of the DUP is now the borough’s first citizen, with alderman Aaron McIntyre of the Alliance party taking up the position of his deputy.

They today replace mayor Amanda Grehan (Alliance) and her deputy Hazel Legge (UUP).

Mayors are supposed to effectively leave behind their party affiliation while serving in the mayor / deputy mayor posts.

Parties generally agree to take turns in both posts, with the pattern generally reflecting the make-up of the council; for instance, Lisburn and Castlereagh is dominated by the DUP (14) followed by Alliance (13), with the UUP next (with six seats).

It was the last of NI’s 11 councils to announce new mayors.

In a statement following his appointment, mayor Higginson said it was “a great honour” and that he is “humbled by the confidence my colleagues have placed in me”.

“I am especially proud to be the first councillor from Castlereagh South to hold the office of mayor,” he said.

"The trust and support shown to me by the residents of Castlereagh South means a great deal.

"My approach as a public representative has always been to work hard, listen carefully and deliver outcomes that make a real difference to individuals, families and communities.

"That will remain my focus as mayor.”

He hailed the two mayoral predecessors for their “dedication and distinction throughout the past year”, particularly “their commitment to inclusivity and community engagement”.

He named the NI Air Ambulance as his official charity for his term, saying: “Their dedication, skill and compassion make an extraordinary difference to families across our region, and I look forward to helping raise both awareness and vital funds for their service.”

Deputy mayor McIntyre said it is “a privilege” to hold the post.