Mayor sworn in, names ‘strategic thinker’ as deputy

chaired by councillor Gerald Hope, with councillor Barbara Faulls as deputy.

‘‘This committee – environment and planning – is a natural fit given the environmental issues facing our region and their direct links to our planning work,’’ Taylor said.

‘‘Councillor Hope was deputy chair of the previous environment committee and has a strong environmental background in his own right.

‘‘He was the obvious councillor for the role,’’ Taylor said.

‘‘Councillor Hope will also chair a new climate change sub-committee which will bring a greater focus to the work council is already doing in this space.’’

Meanwhile, the new economic, finance and community committee would be chaired by councillor Jamie Arbuckle, with councillor Dawson as deputy.

‘‘Part of this committee’s remit is to focus on economic and social recovery in the wake of Covid-19,’’ Taylor said.

‘‘Councillor Arbuckle is one of our most experienced councillors ... and has a breadth of both council and community knowledge.’’

A new Blenheim CBD sub-committee would be established, chaired by Taylor, which would have the assets and services and economic, finance and community committee chairs and deputies.

Taylor said this new sub-committee would focus on the long-term needs of Blenheim’s CBD.

Eight new councillors had joined the chamber this term: two councillors in the Marlborough Sounds ward, two in the Wairau-awatere ward, three in the Blenheim ward, and a Ma¯ori ward councillor.

First-time councillor Jonathan Rosene was named deputy chairperson of the assets and services committee.

Rosene just made it onto council, leapfrogging Cyril Dawson between the preliminary and official results, beating Dawson by 13 votes.

Ma¯ ori ward councillor Allanah Burgess was led with a karakia into the council chambers by Waikawa Marae chairperson Rita Powick.

Local Democracy Reporting is Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air.