Wagga councillors Vanessa Keenan, Greg Conkey back climate emergency position amid Cr Paul Funnell's push to have them sacked

Councillor Paul Funnell has lodged a formal complaint calling for the city's mayor Greg Conkey and Cr Vanessa Keenan to be dismissed from their elected duties.

The move comes in response to the Local Government NSW conference this week, where a motion was marginally passed (51-49 per cent) for the peak body to lobby the state government for a climate emergency declaration.

Crs Rod Kendall, Yvonne Braid, Keenan and Conkey represented the city at the conference and each had a vote on the outcome. While Crs Kendall and Braid voted against the motion, Crs Keenan and Conkey have not revealed their position.

Based on the assumption they voted to support the motion, Cr Funnell has called for their dismissal. It is his opinion that they should have voted in accordance to Wagga council's position.

A motion to declare a climate emergency was approved by Wagga councillors in July, but was then narrowly overturned two weeks later, pending community consultation on the issue.

"We had a clear resolution of council to not declare a climate emergency and they have used ratepayer money ... to attend a conference and vote against the resolution of council," Cr Funnell said.

Cr Conkey said he has represented the council and the community, which in this case is divided on the climate emergency matter, therefore the interests of the public have been heard.

"I haven't divulged how I voted, but Cr Funnell can take a guess, but there was no direction given to how we had to vote," he said.

Cr Keenan said Cr Funnell's comments towards people who had differing views on climate action was concerning.

"It is very clear through calling members of the public child abusers, through calling for a vote of no confidence in the mayor, calling for councillors to be removed for stupidity and now suggesting councillors be dismissed based on some assumptions on how we (might have voted) - and on something that council hasn't taken a position on. It is concerning" she said.

Cr Keenan said the "pressure by another councillor" will not change the way she represents the community.

General manager Peter Thompson said the councillors had not breached any policy.

However, he understands there will be discussions about creating guidelines for future conferences.

"They could vote according to what they thought was appropriate, but my view is they should have regard for the organisation's position at the conference," he said.