Mayor Greg Conkey and deputy mayor Dallas Tout are due to attend the Historisches Stadtmauerfest Historic Wall Festival in Wagga's sister city Nordlingen in Germany.

Cr Conkey told The Daily Advertiser that previous mayors had attended, via invitation, the medieval festival and Wagga's sister city relationship with the historic Bavarian town dated back to the 1960s.

"We will be going ahead to elect an acting deputy mayor; you cannot elect an acting mayor," he said.

"Both Dallas and I are on official duties and there's a 12-day period when we are both overseas and while I'll be on official duties up until (September 9), Dallas doesn't get back until the 14^th.

"We did think about not having any acting person in the role but we feel that (Wagga) is a large city and we need somebody there to sign any documents that are required.

"Councillors can be called to sign official document but we felt this was the best way to proceed."

Cr Conkey will ask for a leave of absence from September 2 to 23 and Cr Tout will ask for a leave of absence from August 20 to September 14.

Cr Conkey said the council would pay for a return economy airfare for himself and other members of the delegation were paying their own way.

Cr Paul Funnell said there was no need to adopt an acting deputy mayor as seven councillors would not be on leave during the nominated period.

"There's no need for it, there's no role. There's seven councillors still in town," he said.

"The mayor and general manager have called for it and I've said 'look, this is just ridiculous'.

"There are seven councillors around and this is what we employ the general manager for."

Cr Conkey said he believed that there were two councillors who might put their hands up for the acting role but did not indicate who he would vote for.

"We'll see on the night how many people are contesting the position before I vote," he said.