The big issues they have dealt with include deciding on smoking bans across a large section of the city centre, supporting the sacking of the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery director and imposing rates on retirement village residents for the first time.

Other issues that have often taken up more Launceston City Council meeting time have included whether aldermen should be issued with the new electronic notebooks instead of laptops, whether a ratepayer should be made to rebuild a chimney removed from a house during a renovation and whether to temporarily fence the Cataract Gorge swimming pool.

The performances of aldermen during the year have often reflected their individual interests.

MAYOR ALBERT VAN ZETTEN

Seven out of 10:

HE has kept council meetings quietly under control when there have been times that a lesser person would have reprimanded aldermen for acting like children.

He has also grown in the role of the city's leader, speaking better at public occasions. He sounds best without notes but even his prepared speeches now have less of a sermon feel about them.

He needs to be brave enough to cut off debate at council meetings when aldermen start repeating what previous speakers have already covered.

DEPUTY MAYOR FRANK NOTT

Five out of 10:

TAKES his role seriously but tends to pontificate on matters that have already been adequately debated.

Alderman Nott gets points for being out and about, keeping in touch with ratepayers at as many community events as he can manage.

He loses points for being too earnest.

ROBIN McKENDRICK

Five out of 10:

ONE of the last of the council old guard who still has strong views about the issues in which he is involved - particularly AFL football and the future of Aurora Stadium and the York Park precinct.

He gets points for pushing motions through to keep council meetings moving and his sense of humour.

He loses points for his impatience with those who don't share his way of thinking.

ANNETTE WADDLE

Four out of 10

ALDERMAN Waddle brings a commonsense approach to her council job that often means that she is the first to cut to the core of the matter being debated.

She gets points for her knowledge across a range of matters.

She loses points for an apparent lack of interest at many meetings.

JEREMY BALL

Five out of 10

HIS presence on the council has helped change the tone of meetings and the public perception of the council.

Alderman Ball gets points for articulate argument that often encourages his fellow aldermen to think outside the square with him for a minute.

He loses points for calling for a public meeting on almost every issue when sometimes a tough council decision is needed.

ROB SOWARD

Six out of 10

HE is a fresh face on the council who is still working hard.

He wins points for raising and driving issues that are not always popular but need attention.

Alderman Soward loses points for criticising state and federal bureaucrats even though they are sometimes right.

IAN NORTON

Four out of 10

ANOTHER alderman who has helped raise the tone of debate around the council table so that people are not concerned about expressing points of view that once would have been ridiculed.

Alderman Norton wins points for dragging aldermen into the 21st century with his IT knowledge.

He loses points for sitting back and not contributing to debate.

TED SANDS

Four of 10

ALDERMAN Sands brings strong opinions to the council table founded on a firm belief that he is there to fight for the rights of the city's less fortunate residents.

He wins points for his succinct, blunt delivery when others are fluffing around the edges.

He loses points for refusing to bend from an often dogmatic opinion. Alderman Sands doesn't suffer gladly the people that he thinks are fools.

TONY PECK

Five out of 10

ALDERMAN Peck brings sound business sense and worldly experience to the council.

He wins points for his affable manner and his positive approach to problem solving.

He loses points for not paying attention.

IVAN DEAN

Five out of 10

HE is one of the most persistent aldermen who asks more questions on behalf of ratepayers and pursues more community issues than most.

He wins points for sticking to what are often unpopular views and winning, like his campaign to ban smoking in public places.

He loses points for always taking the negative point of view.

ROSEMARY ARMITAGE

Six out of 10

A DETERMINED fighter for the community who is not afraid of pushing council staff to get things done.

Alderman Armitage wins points for working hard at being a community representative.

She loses points for always having something to say even when it's been said before.

RAY SHIPP

Four out of 10

ALDERMAN Shipp has always had the best interest of the North at heart and a lifetime's knowledge of the region to go with it.

He wins points for his history stories. He has one to relate for most issues that the council debates.

He loses points because it really is time for him to enjoy doing something else for a while so that his seat becomes available for another new face on council.