The panel is made up of 12 mayors from throughout Victoria.

Its purpose is to provide Local Government Minister Natalie Hutchins with advice on legislative and strategic issues that affect councils.

Cr Jones is the only rural councillor on the panel.

‘‘I am very pleased to have been selected,’’ she said.

‘‘We will be discussing a range of issues relevant to the local government sector.’’

Cr Jones said she would take the panel as an opportunity to express issues rural councils faced.

The panel met for the first time on Wednesday.

‘‘It was good to have our first meeting, and it was fantastic to meet the other representatives,’’ she said.

‘‘One of our main topics for discussion was rate capping.

‘‘It is obviously a topic of great relevance to all Victorian councils at the moment.’’

Ms Hutchins said the meetings were an opportunity for mayors to address any issues they had with what was happening on the ground in their communities.

‘‘The first meeting looked at a range of issues, including consultation for the fair go rates cap, the state government’s commitment to review the Local Government Act 1989 and the role councils can play in closing the gap in their communities,’’ she said.