Newcastle Lord Mayor Ross Kerridge has met with Premier Chris Minns to outline his vision and priorities for the new council, including a review into aspects of the previous administration.
Cr Kerridge, a former Labor Party life member turned independent, described the meeting at Parliament House as amicable.
"He congratulated me and said they accepted the results of the election and were looking forward to working constructively with me," he said.
Among the issues on the agenda was Cr Kerridge's proposed review into the former council - a key plank of the Our Newcastle independents' election campaign.
Cr Kerridge said the review would cover areas including:
- council transparency, in particular access to information about the council
- the council's accounting systems to ensure financial reporting standards are best practice in line with NSW Office of Local Government standards
- the "alleged toxic culture" at the City of Newcastle, including the behaviour of senior management staff and
- the Scott Neylon/Jeremy Bath/Jason Sivo letter writing saga.
"I explained (to Chris Minns) that a key part of my election campaign had been to address the widely held concerns in the community about multiple aspects for the council," Cr Kerridge said.
"I suggested that the way forward on this was to conduct an external independent review addressing various issues that had been raised. I said I'd be putting this to the council, with the suggestion that we convene a procurement advisory panel independent of the council to suggest who should conduct a review and come back to us with possible candidates."
The review is expected to be finalised in the first half of next year.
Cr Kerridge said the Premier indicated that the review was a "reasonable strategy".
"I told him that the review was a key policy and following my election there was a community expectation that it would happen," he said.
"I have a clear mandate (to proceed with the review) and it would be disappointing if the other councillors don't support it. He (the Premier) seemed to agree with that."
Hunter Park, the implications of the government's housing strategy for Newcastle, and the anticipated decline in coal exports from Newcastle over the next decade were among other topics discussed.
"(The next decade) will be a time of challenge and transition," Cr Kerridge said.
"I reminded him (the Premier) that Newcastle had gone through much greater challenges in the 1980s with the downsizing of the major industries, and at the end of the 90s with the shutdown of BHP.
"We came through it; it's a dynamic region capable of change, and that's what makes life worthwhile."
Mr Minns said he looked forward to working with Cr Kerridge and the new council.
"I meet with mayors from all over the state, and it was great to meet lord mayor Kerridge last week," he said.
"Newcastle is one of my favourite places in the state and I look forward to working with Dr Kerridge into the future.
"The Hunter is responsible for an enormous amount of economic growth, and we need to continue to ensure we're creating jobs and opportunities for young people and businesses in the Newcastle region."
Cr Kerridge has also indicated that he will have a regular presence at City Hall, which was where the lord mayor's office was until 2019.
He is working out of former lord mayor Nuatali Nelmes' office, on Level 6 of the council's Stewart Avenue administration building, while details of how the City Hall office will work.
Level 6 Stewart Avenue is also the headquarters of council chief executive Jeremy Bath.
"I don't think it's essential for the mayor and the general manager to be in the same building," Cr Kerridge said.
