Councillor Mark Cooper is the Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey for 2023-2024.
Councillor Cooper has lived in Monkstown all his life with strong family roots across the Borough. He has faithfully represented the Threemilewater area since first being elected to the Council in 2019.
His interest in politics stemmed from his grassroots community work with the Monkstown Community Association based in Monkstown Jubilee Centre where he was inspired by the difference that community leaders could make to the daily lives of those living and working in the area.
Councillor Cooper is committed to supporting and growing the local economy; assisting small start ups through to large scale businesses. He has a particular interest in the creation of training and job opportunities for local people, to enable them to realise their personal ambitions. Recognising the importance of working with public and private sector partners, Councillor Cooper is keen to build on the Borough’s reputation as an outward and forward looking Council, which delivers for business.
Mark also works in his Party’s constituency office in North Belfast. Having served on the Housing Community Network then the Central Housing Forum, he is now on the Housing Council for Northern Ireland.
Since taking up his role in Council he has served on the Community Planning Committee taking the Chair in 2020/21 and on the Operations Committee where he was Vice-Chair 2019/20.
He is a strong advocate for the Deaf Community and brought forward the motion for the British Sign Language/Irish Sign Language charter to ensure Council Services are open and accessible to all and help resolve barriers between service providers and users.
Recognising the importance of Remembrance, Mark brought forward a motion to commemorate the Auschwitz/Birkenau holocaust annually at a specially-commissioned memorial in Monkstown Jubilee Centre’s garden.
Duties and Responsibilities of the Mayor
As Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Mark Cooper, BEM has a number of duties and responsibilities, including:
- presiding over council meetings and, in the case of equality of votes, he has a second or casting vote
- promoting and raising awareness of the Council’s main objectives and priority issues
- encouraging and supporting all aspects of life in Antrim and Newtownabbey by attending civic and public events
- receiving distinguished visitors to the Borough
- acting as host on behalf of the council and the citizens of Antrim and Newtownabbey at civic functions
- acting as a spokesperson to the local, national and international media
- providing an appropriate response on behalf of Antrim and Newtownabbey at times of local, national and international catastrophe
- supporting and encouraging charitable and other appeals as appropriate
- promoting Antrim and Newtownabbey’s business, commercial, cultural and social life
- promoting Antrim and Newtownabbey as a place of excellence in which to live to do business and as a tourist destination