Mayor names new deputy

New Marlborough mayor Nadine Taylor, shortly after being sworn in herself, has named a ‘‘strategic thinker’’ as her deputy.

Taylor said at the first full council meeting of the term yesterday afternoon that new deputy mayor David Croad had excelled as a councillor over the past three years.

‘‘We work well together, and I’m confident he has the qualities and skills required to be outstanding in the role,’’ Taylor said. Croad would also chair the assets and services committee, which oversaw the management of the council’s big-budget items, as Taylor revealed the rest of her council line-up and committee structure. Taylor chaired the assets and services committee last term.

Taylor said Croad held a high level of understanding as to the ‘‘workings’’ of the committee.

‘‘He is a strategic thinker, a skill that is ideal when considering the council’s 30-year infrastructure plan, the Three Waters reforms and our extensive capital expenditure programme,’’ Taylor said.

Croad said he was honoured to accept the role of deputy mayor.

‘‘I look forward to supporting our outstanding mayor, and the new group of councillors,’’ he said.

He said he would help support the council to make ‘‘really good decisions’’ and ‘‘keep Marlborough moving’’.

Taylor had decided to mostly retain the previous term’s committee structure, but the ‘‘planning’’ component of the planning, finance and community committee would be heard in the environment committee –