Councillors recently voted to accept a recommendation from general manager Keith O'Leary to reduce their number from 12 - but in the end it came down to the casting vote of the mayor, despite the councillors unanimously agreeing at their November meeting to reduce to nine.

And while six of the councillors changed their original vote, they all agreed the casting vote of the mayor needed to be made a thing of the past.

During debate, Cr John Weate said that having nine could result in a more equitable representation throughout the shire and deliver more of a collegiate vote on issues rather than the present 12, which had been more adversarial.

Cr Carol McCaskie said that Cr John Chadban had been placed in an impossible position with having to exercise his casting vote on issues and that an odd number would result in better local government.

"I am absolutely committed to an odd number," she said.

Cr Lynette Lawry said that everyone she had spoken to on the issue wanted either 11 or 13.

"No-one wanted nine."

Deputy mayor Jan McWilliams said she believed councillors represented the whole shire.

"I am as fair to the rest of the shire as I am to people up here in Forster Tuncurry. Representation is out of order at present - we have three from Tea Gardens-Hawks Nest and only two from Forster Tuncurry. It should not make any difference where you come from - you should represent the whole shire."

Cr Len Roberts said there was no guarantee that the council would get representation from all the villages.

"It's about not having to have a casting vote and out in the smaller areas people are saying we need 11," Cr Roberts explained.

"Going to nine might be just that more of a burden for councillors."

Faced with a motion to reduce their numbers to 11, and a tied vote of six all, the mayor said he had once again been placed in an invidious position of a tied vote.