NEWLY elected mayor Ken Halstead has promised Highlanders a more “inclusive” council.
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Cr Halstead was elected to the top job by five of his fellow councillors at the first meeting of the new council term on September 28.
He will serve as mayor for a two-year period, following recent reforms by NSW Minister for Local Government Paul Toole to create stable councils of integrity throughout NSW.
The new mayor is no stranger to local government, with his recent election as councillor marking his third term on council.
Cr Halstead joined council for the first time in 1995, and served a second term from 2008. It’s not Cr Halstead’s first time in the top job – the Burradoo man previously served as mayor in 2011.
Although the local government changes mandate a two-year mayoral term, councillors were able to select either a 12 or 24-month term for the role of deputy mayor.
Councillors voted unanimously that the deputy mayor would also serve a two-year term.
Following another five to four vote, Councillor Ian Scandrett was elected to the role.
However, the five to four split that characterised much of the previous council term was again apparent in the voting pattern for the two leadership positions.
Councillors Grahame Andrews, Ken Halstead, Gordon Markwart, Ian Scandrett and Larry Whipper formed the majority vote, and voted in favour of Ken Halstead for mayor and Ian Scandrett for deputy mayor.
Councillors Duncan Gair, Graham McLaughlin, Peter Nelson and Garry Turland were unsuccessful in their votes for Duncan Gair as mayor and Garry Turland as deputy.
The meeting was not without some tension, which peaked when Cr Gair announced his intention to campaign for a popularly elected mayor in future.
Cr Gair wished the new mayor well in his role, but said the existing process was not effective in a nine-councillor scenario.
“It may have worked with twelve councillors but I believe the way this is conducted is fractious and does not do anything for council,” he said.
Although it’s too early to tell just how well this group of nine will work together, community hopes are high for a co-operative cohort of councillors – and Cr Halstead reaffirmed that’s on his agenda.