Amanda Cohn was speaking at Monday night's council meeting where a plan for the municipality to lower discharge rates in 2025, 2030 and 2040 and then be carbon neutral in 2050 was adopted.

The Greens councillor said they were the result of a year of reassessing what was possible for the council.

"I'm very proud that these are the targets that we're looking at," Cr Cohn said.

"It's a significant improvement on what we were looking at a year ago.

"I think this is really showing leadership as an organisation, when you compare us with comparable councils in NSW and nationally, and it's also really meeting community expectations for council leadership for action on climate change."

Under the plan, the council will cut emissions, including waste, by 10 per cent by 2025, 20 per cent by 2030 and 80 per cent by 2040.

Councillor David Thurley called the targets "achievable but ambitious" and successfully added a rider to review them in 12 months.

"This is such a dynamic space....we need to keep well abreast of the changes that are occurring in this area," Cr Thurley said.

"To just sit on these targets and leave them there wouldn't (be right), we can do much better and I think in 12 months we (should) have another look."

Meanwhile, the council on Monday night took another step towards installing security cameras at Lavington.

The council approved a plan to fund the first stage of the cameras to the sum of $248,500.

However, there was debate about whether the city should use part of a $2 million allocation it has received from a federal government program for the work.

Councillor Murray King argued that no ratepayers' money should bankroll the project when another pot existed which could provide the city with a saving of $273,000 and allow the proposed three stages to be done as one.

"We get value for money from one contractor who will come in and he will finish the job," Cr King said.

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"If we have the opportunity to potentially...not spend up to $273,000 of ratepayers' money we should take it straight away."

Former mayor Alice Glachan noted the council had many other projects to fill out the $2 million package.

Councillors were told by the city's chief executive Frank Zaknich that a list of suggested works would be presented to a council meeting on November 9.

Cr Cohn, who has previously opposed the cameras, added the funding element to her objections.

"If it's primary aim is to improve the efficiency of local police operations it really should be paid for by another level of government," she said.

"I'm not okay with this being prioritised in the short term with ratepayers' money."

Councillor Darren Cameron, who moved the motion, responded to Cr King and Cr Cohn.

He said the former had not "got hold of the right end of the stick".

"There's nothing in expediting this part of that will preclude the chance of all three later if the funding is available," Cr Cameron said.

In reacting to Cr Cohn, he said a state government of any political hue would not fund security cameras.

Cr Cameron proclaimed the majority of Lavington residents were "certainly in favour" of CCTV.