Every four years the residents and ratepayers of The Hills Shire elect 12 Councillors and the Mayor.
Prior to 2017 the Councillors elected the Mayor and Deputy Mayor on an annual basis. However, following a constitutional referendum in 2012 to determine the method of election of the Mayor, electors now cast a vote on who should be elected as Mayor for the full four year term.
Traditionally, the twelve Councillors elected to The Hills Shire Council, represent a Ward. Three Councillors are elected to each Ward (Central, North, East and West).
Prior to the proclamation dated 12 May 2016, whereby that part of the then Hills Shire Council below the M2 was moved to the City of Parramatta, the Hills Shire was divided into four wards. The proclamation removed all wards. Council resolved on 11 October 2016 to re-establish four wards after approval was received from the Department of Premier and Cabinet. Reinstatement of the four (4) Ward structure (Central, East, North and West) within The Hills Shire Council was gazetted on Tuesday 24 January 2017, effective immediately.
The 2012 Constitutional Referendum
The Constitutional Referendum conducted in conjunction with the elections on 8 September, 2012 with the following question:
Do you favour the election of the mayor by electors for a four year term which will necessarily increases the number of Councillors by 1?
favoured the YES case:
| YES |
49,018 |
| NO |
43,702 |
| TOTAL |
92,720 |
| INFORMAL |
7955 |
| TOTAL |
100,675 |
Therefore from September 2017 Council's Mayor is elected by the people rather than by fellow Councillors and there will be 13 Councillors on Council.