‘Diamond Dinner’ date costs local ratepayers £1,500

COUNCILLORS have approved the booking of three civic tables at a County Dinner to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee at a cost of £500 per table.

The decision was made at last Monday night’s monthly meeting of the local authority in response to a letter from the Lord Lieutenant of Co. Antrim welcoming civic support for the celebrations by the County Antrim Councils coming together to organise a programme of festivities.

In her correspondence she referred to the dinner to be held on May 31 and expressed the hope that guests from all walks of life would be represented.

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Ballymena Council’s Chief Executive Anne Donaghy pointed out that three tables of 10 (at a cost of £10 per head) had been provisionally reserved.

Cllr Jane Dunlop said she had no objection so long as it wasn’t a case of having “the same old people” sitting around the tables.

And, while Cllr Monica Digney expressed concern that the cost involved was “putting burden on the ratepayer, the Mayor, Cllr Hubert Nicholl responded: “The Diamond Jubilee is not going to happen again in our lifetime”.

Councillors in attendance subsequently agreed to the booking of three tables.