The Northern Ireland Executive is on the verge of agreeing the number of new super-councils there is to be as part of the review of public administration.
It is expected that during discussions at Stormont today a Sinn Fein/DUP compromise of 11 new councils will be agreed.
The current 26-council system dates back to the 1970s but was first tipped for change after an in-depth review recommended the largest reform in local government for over three decades. The then Secretary of State, Peter Hain, fixed on cutting back from 26 to just seven 'super' councils.
Sinn Fein initially supported the plan but the main unionist parties felt that opting for seven super councils would lead to the loss of local identity and preferred the option of a 15 council model.
An announcement of the agreed 11 super-council deal is expected shortly.
(VB/JM)
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