NSW Local Government Association president Keith Rhoades at the NSW Local Government Association’s annual conference.
A PEAK body for NSW councils has taken steps to ensure delegates remain in Dubbo long enough today to finish the business of their annual conference.
NSW Local Government Association president Keith Rhoades said he had made clear to the more than 500 representatives the importance of having a quorum (half-plus-one of voting delegates) inside the chamber.
It had also condensed the number of items on the agenda, he said.
The association conference has created controversy in previous years after the early departure of a significant number of delegates stopped further discussion and voting on core business.
Mosman mayor Anne Connon said hundreds of motions had lapsed while some delegates were outside having coffee and chatting or had left early, News Limited reported last year.
When asked yesterday if he was confident the conference would boast a quorum for its duration, Cr Rhoades, also a Coffs Harbour councillor, said measures had been taken to try to achieve the outcome.
"I never use the word 'confident'," he said.
"I just do my job to make sure the delegates know they have a responsibility, and having a quorum at any meeting, whether it be a local school P and C or whatever, it's about ... the rules you work by."
Cr Rhoades sat in the chairman's seat yesterday as delegates began to debate more than 90 motions put forward by councils from across NSW.
"What we have seen in 2012 here in Dubbo is complete reduction in the number of motions that are going to conference," he said.
"We normally average about 220-230, we've got just less than 100 (this year) but they're all matters that are very relevant and important to local council.
"I'm just quietly sure we will get through it and it will be well-supported by delegates here attending conference."
Conference time is divided between consideration of motions and presentations by guest speakers.
The conference adjourns this afternoon at 4pm and concludes with a gala dinner at Taronga Western Plains Zoo tonight.