The councillors have agreed to fix the council's mayoral and councillor fees at the maximum allowable limit for a category three council.

The limits are set by the Local Government Remuneration Tribunal.

The mayor's annual fee now stands at $30,520, councillors will receive $13,980 and the deputy mayor's fee will be the same as the councillor fee, plus 10 per cent ($3052) of the mayoral fee.

Council's 11 councillors formerly received $13,440 each a year, while the mayor received $29,345 ($2934.50 of which was paid to the deputy mayor).

Council's general manager Keith O'Leary said given the ongoing pressures on council and the resultant councillor workload that an increase in the mayoral and councillor fees was justified.

The tribunal noted in its 2006 report to council that since 2003 councillors have received increases totalling 10.5 per cent and mayors have received increases totalling 14 per cent.

After considering key economic indicators and taking into account the views of the assessors, the tribunal determined that a four per cent increase in the fees for councillors and mayors was appropriate.

Council has generally adopted the maximum fee allowable in the past, although it is able to adopt a lesser fee within the range for a category three council.