The council, in providing feedback to the state government on the draft local government bill suggests that it, as a democratically-elected body, had the right to make decisions on behalf of the ratepayers with “state intervention limited to extreme circumstances”.

Related: Draft local government act aims to make councilllors more accountable

Those decisions include; being able to set their own chief executive officer remuneration levels; having to option to have, or not have, a deputy mayor and having the ability to determine the length of a mayoral term.

Another council gripe with the bill in its current form was the mandating of a workforce plan, of which a structure would broadly apply to all 79 municipalities across the state. 

“To impose such a plan may impact on the ability of a council to make service decisions that impact on staff, such as exiting from council services,” the council's submission reads. 

Mayor Margaret O’Rourke said: “We appreciate what the state government is trying to achieve but we also want to avoid unnecessary regulation.”

Related: Two Bendigo councillors call for fairer pay amid growing workloads

“If regulation is too prescriptive, it will limit council’s ability to be responsive to community needs.

“We believe councils should be responsible for setting a clear vision, working within fair and practical legislation to provide for their communities and able to be flexible enough to respond to changing circumstances.”

The council, through its submission, urged the state government to commission an independent review of councillor allowances, arguing the current ‘wage’ was an impediment to certain people.

The mayor and another councillor in February called for better pay after the local government minister in December approved a two per cent increase to allowances across Victoria, meaning Bendigo councillors could earn up to $30,223 in 2017-18.

Councillors will consider the submission at the March 21 council meeting.