Deputy mayor Amanda Cohn also retained her role for the next two years 5-4 with Cr van de Ven also unsuccessful in the anticipated two-way battle.

The re-elected mayor and deputy mayor agreed the results were a vote for stability, but the vanquished challenger said he was told the relationship between the pair was “toxic” at the height of the Englehardt Street abortion clinic debate.

Cr van de Ven went a step further and said Cr Mack had reneged on a deal for him to become deputy mayor if he didn’t oppose Cr Mack for mayor.

“Three weeks ago he changed his mind around that deal,” Cr van de Ven said.

“He will firmly deny that of course, but I believe he has because I wouldn’t be here publicly saying he has reneged on a deal if I didn’t believe he had.”

Cr Mack vehemently denied a deal had been done between the pair.

“Nothing of the sort was agreed upon and it smacks of sour grapes to me,” Cr Mack said.

He said he was still weighing up whether to stand as a candidate in next year’s NSW election.

“There is the time and the cost associated with running is quite substantial,” he said.

“I don’t have a sugar daddy or sugar mummy like Gladys Berijiklian or Michael McCormack so I will have to consider my own financial status.”

Cr Cohn said she was excited to serve another two-year term as deputy mayor despite an unsuccessful move by Cr Darren Cameron to make the term only one year.

“From the point of view of the community they are a bit sick of seeing politicians play musical chairs with leadership roles and I hope the community will see stability from council as a great thing so we can get on with the job,” she said.

Cr Cameron voted for Cr Mack in the mayoral election and for his challenger, Cr van de Ven, in the deputy mayor election.

Also voting against Cr Mack for mayor were Cr Graham Docksey and potential state election rival Cr Alice Glachan.

Cr van de Ven said as a former mayor he would be an ideal support for Cr Mack if he stood for state parliament against a still to be confirmed Liberal candidate.

“I’ve been mayor before and know the role, know the duties,” he said.

“I was prepared to step in and hep him if he decided to go for higher representation honours.

“I would be the better person to have as the deputy mayor than perhaps Cr Cohn.”

Cr Mack said he “loved the job” of mayor.

“There is a lot of work to be done,” he said.

“I think the Two Cities, One Community stuff is just in its infancy and quite embryonic at this point.

“We need to keep driving that forward and making sure it is embedded into our community and we get the runs on the board.”