Deputy Mayor Henk van de Ven says that too many political speakers dominated this year’s conference at Tamworth and spent “a great deal of time saying nothing and filibustering when answering questions”.

He is demanding a 15-minute time limit for individual speeches and 15 minutes for all questions and answers.

Former mayor Patricia Gould, a veteran of local government annual conferences since 1974, agrees politicians tend to keep on speaking past their allotted time.

“It’s hard to stop them talking,” Cr Gould told Monday’s council meeting when discussing options for organising next year’s Albury conference, expected to attract 800 to 1000 delegates.

Cr van de Ven, who has attended six such conferences, said he left Tamworth with a sour taste in his mouth because delegates failed to complete the agenda due to MPs’ speeches and organisational flaws.

“The conference was late starting on the first day and we never caught up,” he said.

“The agenda was abandoned on Wednesday because it was so far behind.

“This disadvantaged councils who had raised motions, only to find that without a quorum, the motions could only be sent to the executive.

“If the agenda had been adhered to everyone would have got a go.”

Cr van de Ven said conferences should focus on council issues where delegates could influence policy.

He suggested the Albury conference should invite only the Premier, Opposition Leader, Local Government Minister and his or her Opposition shadow.

The traditional mayor’s reception on the conference eve “should not finish so late that people could get dinner for themselves if they were still hungry after the finger food.”

Cr van de Ven’s comments will be passed to the association.