Reset begins as Nedlands council elects deputy mayor at first meeting

The newly elected Nedlands council held its first ordinary meeting last week, appointing councillor Jenny Mathews as deputy mayor following a competitive four-way contest.

Cr Mathews, who served as director-general of the Department of Local Government from 2008-2017, cited her extensive background in the sector as solid grounds to become deputy mayor.

“As a former diplomat with more than 20 years’ experience, this is an area where I believe I can bring a significant contribution,” she said.

During the meeting, four councillors put their hand up for the role of deputy mayor.

Newcomer Ms Mathews beat veteran councillor Rebecca Coghlan and other first-timers Rachel Kristensen and Glenn Ruscoe into the role.

The two-hour meeting marked the first formal sitting since the new nine-person council was sworn in earlier this month.

The council also established a recruitment and selection committee for a new CEO to replace the incumbent Arthur Kyron.

Mr Kyron was appointed as the city’s interim chief executive in October last year, after it was revealed then-CEO Keri Shannon had taken immediate and indefinite leave in the wake of a confidential performance review.

The new council was set to appoint a new CEO this month.

Instead Mr Kyron’s contract was extended for a further six months, just prior to the election, to help bridge the caretaker period and provide the incoming council with more time to recruit a permanent replacement.

Council also adopted its schedule of meetings through to December and made a series of appointments to committees, including the audit and risk committee and development assessment panel.

The Wednesday meeting marked a clear departure from the once-dysfunctional atmosphere that was frequent during former council led by then-mayor Fiona Argyle.

For the past eight months, the chambers have been vacant of elected councillors after it was sacked last year and replaced by three commissioners to help get the city back on track.

The city’s ordinary council meetings will take place on a Wednesday once a month. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday May 27.