Both general manager Peter Thompson and mayor Cr Greg Conkey are gunning for two meetings every month in an attempt to boost council productivity and increase the speed with which applications are addressed.

The current procedure for council to consider business provides for an ordinary meeting on one occasion per month.

Cr Greg Conkey put forward the proposal at January’s ordinary meeting after labelling the current system of monthly meetings and public forums “flawed”, “a disgrace" and "in need of a fix".

“Meeting twice a month will streamline our operations and ensure issues aren’t deferred for extended periods of time,” he told the assembled council.

However, the proposal was deferred after receiving mixed reviews from councillors and leading community members, chief among them Crs Kerry Pascoe and Vanessa Keenan.

Cr Pascoe expressed doubts over the proposal, suggesting council conduct a policy and strategy meeting halfway through the month, while Cr Keenan objected to a prospective increase in councillor workload without further consideration.

In a statement provided in council’s business agenda, Mr Thompson stressed increased meetings would not put strain on councillors.

“Increasing the frequency of Council meetings will not increase the business which needs to be considered,” he said.

“As a result, with twice the meetings to deal with the same volume of business, meetings should be shorter and the material which must be reviewed as part of each business paper will be reduced for each meeting.”

Mr Thompson also identified increased costs of live streaming council meetings and redistribution of chair duties as potential downsides. 

Councillors have now enjoyed almost a month to reassess the proposal and one in particular is keen to resolve the issue. 

Former mayor Cr Rod Kendall supports increasing the numbers of meetings and is hopeful the “right decision’” will be found next Monday night.

“When the topic has been debated, I have always stood up in favour of increasing the regularity with which council meets,” he said.

“I believe it is important to maximise our output and this is the way to do so.”

Others remain squarely against the proposal.

“I don’t understand how councillors can process the relevant materials and make reasonable decisions in such a short period of time,” Cr Dan Hayes said.

“There’s a lot of learning to be done in this role and I want to be making reasonable decisions.”