At a statutory meeting on December 4, the council resolved not to appoint a deputy mayor meaning all four councillors would provide back-up to Cr Smith.

The Birch Ward councillor will be in Lithuania next September for the 2007 World Ploughing Championships.

"Someone will be appointed," he said. "I will have four deputy mayors."

If unavailable to represent council, Cr Smith said he would appoint the appropriate ward councillor to take on the council's responsibilities.

"I will certainly be delegating," he said.

Hepburn Shire Council chief executive officer Victor Szwed said the deputy mayor was not paid any more than other councillors.

He said the appointment of a deputy mayor was optional.

"Three-quarters of rural councils don't have a deputy mayor," he said.

"With only five councillors, it's different to when you have seven or nine."

Mr Szwed said all four councillors should be supporting the mayor.

Cr Smith said he believed in a strong focus on the council and the community working together for the betterment of the shire.

"The council is exploring models for community planning where communities would develop their own plans prioritising what they want for the future and what they need to do to get there," he said.

"We believe that striving to work with our communities in this way has a lot of merit and we can go a long way to achieve better outcomes."

Cr Smith said he would be a strong advocate for improving the local road network and encouraging new businesses to operate within the shire and employ local people.

Cr Smith is a fourth-generation farmer from Rocklyn.

He is married to Rhonda and has one son and one grand-daughter.

Cr Smith is vice president of the Daylesford Highland Gathering committee, a CFA member, Rocky Lead Landcare Group president, a Justice of the Peace and a Mt Prospect Cemetery Trust trustee. He will chair the council's

next meeting at the Daylesford Town Hall on Tuesday, December 19, at 7pm.