New council chief

Dr Donaldson will start work as Chief Executive designate in the near future to lead the preparations and convergence work for the new council in the run up to it taking over from the current two councils on April 1 2015.

She will then take up the position of Chief Executive of the new council from this date.

Mr Durkan said: “I extend my warm congratulations to Theresa and wish her well in the journey ahead.

“As new structures are being put in place which will transform local government, the real drive behind the transformation will be the leadership and partnership working of elected members and Council staff. It will be their dedication, determination and drive, their courage and imagination, their goodwill and generosity of spirit which will deliver a much more effective, efficient, citizen centred and responsive system of local government.

“Theresa’s appointment is the next important step in Lisburn and Castlereagh’s transition towards this.”

Elections to the new 11 councils will take place on May 22. At this stage the new councils will operate in ‘shadow form’ until they take over on April 1 2015. During this period it will be business as usual for the current 26 councils.