The incumbent mayor was happy to throw his hat in the ring yesterday ahead of last night's round table meeting where likely contenders were expected to emerge.

While council veteran Jacinta Ermacora has already flagged her mayoral ambitions to The Standard, and is widely expected to be Cr Neoh's only opponent, she did not return calls yesterday.

Outspoken councillor Peter Hulin ruled out a tilt at the top job at Monday night's annual meeting, saying he "wouldn't be prepared to be the mayor with the councillors that are presently there".

He said he hoped his ally Cr Jennifer Lowe would nominate, but realised she was unlikely to get the numbers. "I'm convinced that she would be by far the best candidate for mayor and do a lot of good in healing the rift that is in the council at the moment," Cr Hulin said yesterday.

Cr Lowe also said it was not her time to stand as a candidate, adding the role of mayor would force her to "toe the party line".

Crs Andrew Fawcett, Rob Askew and John Harris all declined to comment before last night's meeting.

While Cr Neoh said there were other councillors with the skills and the knowledge to take on the role, he believed the continuity he could offer would be important.

"I think it takes a lot to understand council processes, particularly the planning situation," he said.

"I believe over the past five years I've got a good handle on that."

Cr Neoh said his platform centred on fulfilling the four-year contract to which the council, as a group, had committed.

"Our main aim is to deliver the main initiatives in that council plan."

He believed he had what was needed to unite the seven councillors.

"I think I've shown leadership in this area and I've been professional.

"It would be disappointing if the council that were elected to govern took almost an opposition approach to their contribution, because all seven councillors are the council," he said.

He said he was not interested in alliances and that each councillor had been elected to exercise his or her judgement on each issue in the interests of the community.