In preparation for the next local government election on September 10, 2016, it had to be determined at the August ordinary meeting how many councillors there would be for the next term of office.

Cr Ben Shields campaigned for the number of councillors to reduce to either five or seven, but Cr Allan Smith said with the future of local government uncertain, now was not the time to make a change.

Cr Smith said there shouldn't be any decisions made until the state government finalised their structural and operational plans for councils.

"I think we are biting off more than we can chew if we are taking all of that on and we still want to make changes ourselves," he said.

"I don't think we should give the government a free kick at this council when they have something planned for this industry."

However, Cr Shields said not making changes to council because of what may happen didn't make sense to him.

"It's equivalent to saying we shouldn't take out the trash because we're selling the house one day," Cr Shields said.

"The main reason the government is moving to these council amalgamations is to get us into a better and more healthy financial state and I think one of the best ways we can do that is take a haircut ourselves right here, right now."

Cr Smith said he was still of the view there should be fewer councillors, he didn't think the timing was right and a decision should be made in the future when there was less uncertainty.

If councillors had voted for a reduction, a referendum would have to have been held.

"If we made the decision to reduce numbers it would go to the next election, then it would not take place to 2020 if it was accepted at referendum," Cr Smith said.

"By that stage this whole process of what's happening with local government could be over and done with, then a decision could be made clear as day without all this uncertainty."

Council must have at least five and no more than 15 councillors.