THE NEXT Northern Ireland council elections have been postponed by two years to coincide with the redrawing of local boundaries. Northern Secretary Shaun Woodward said he made the decision to delay until 2011 the next local government poll at the request of Environment Minister Arlene Foster.
The number of local authorities is being cut from the current 26 to 11 under plans announced by the DUP Minister. Under the Review of Public Administration, a host of other reforms are being implemented in an attempt to contain the North's bloated State sector.
Mr Woodward said: "The Executive has agreed to recommendations for the creation of new local government districts by 2011. I have agreed to the request from the Environment Minister to hold the next council elections in May 2011, so that they may be held under the new local government structure."