Ashburton’s new Mayor Liz McMillan is set to receive a 4% pay bump, while the salary for deputy mayor's role will drop by almost $30,000.

McMillan, the former deputy mayor, is stamping her mark on the role with some minor changes to council operations.

Ashburton District Council also signed off on its remuneration and meeting schedule for next year.

The independent Remuneration Authority set the mayor’s salary at $148,924, a 4% increase from $142,829.

Deputy mayor Richard Wilson will receive $57,420, down from the previous term's $86,116 salary for the deputy.

Wilson said it didn’t worry him as he is “not on the council for the money”.

“I’m in if for the community good.

“It’s an honorarium, not a wage.”

If it was about money, he would spend the time on the farm instead, he said.

Wilson will also be the council representative on the Rangitata Diversion Race Management Limited board and will receive directors’ fee.

The council's new executive committee consists of McMillan, Wilson and councillors Carolyn Cameron, Russell Ellis, and Phill Hooper.

Cameron will chair audit and risk committee, and Ellis will again chair the three waters committee, Hooper will chair the activity briefings.

Last term, councillors began on $46,274 in 2022 and finished on $49,809.

This term's remuneration pool of $490,425 will have four councillors on the executive committee (Wilson, Cameron, Ellis, and Hooper), each receiving a $57,420.

The other five councillors are on $52,149.

The remuneration authority needs to sign off on the allocations.

Councillors are also entitled to allowances that reimburse them for expenditure required in undertaking their duties.

The allowances and reimbursement policy will be reviewed in November and will include discussion on a new clause enabling an allowance for a member’s home security system - up to $4,500 for installation and an additional $1,000 annually for maintenance and monitoring per councillor.

Community and open spaces general manager Toni Durham said it was not currently budgeted for and “would be an increase to the budget if we were to put it in the policy”.

The council policy also makes provision for a mayoral vehicle, which contains options for private use with salary adjustments.

McMillan said she would “be choosing the best option” in terms of cost impacts.

Chief executive Hamish Riach said McMillan had indicated she would follow previous mayor Neil Brown's move to select an existing car in the council fleet that was coming up for replacement.

“It’s not a secret she will have a council car.”

He said a mayor was entitled to claim mileage for council business if they use a personal car, and if they use a council-supplied car, it is factored into the salary.

Meanwhile, the council also confirmed it will shift its meeting schedule to a three-weekly cycle of full council meetings on Wednesdays, previously being held on the first and third Wednesdays each month.

By Jonathan Leask