State government coffers paid out more than $1.9 million over 2013 and 2014 to investigate 618 complaints and of that number, Greater Taree City Council lays claim to one complaint at a cost of $600, according to the office of Minister for Local Government.

Greater Taree City Council's senior leader governance Jane Ree confirms one code of conduct complaint and advises council will not reveal the name of the councillor who is the subject of the complaint, saying "only the councillor is aware, not other councillors."

Further north, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council had one code of conduct complaint at a cost of $2354 and Kempsey Shire Council, one complaint at a cost of $1500. No code of conduct complaints were lodged in relation to Great Lakes Council.

Last week Mr Toole cast a political spotlight on councillor misconduct, stating there were 322 complaints made in 2014 compared to 296 in 2013 and that the cost of dealing with complaints rose from $745,988 in 2013 to $1,177,702 in 2014.

The top five NSW council's with code of conduct complaints against its councillors and the associated costs of dealing with the complaint are:

o Wingecarribee Shire Council: 21 complaints ($173,000)

o North Sydney Council: 20 complaints ($38,498)

o Tweed Shire Council: 18 complaints ($50,000)

o Eurobodalla Shire Council: 13 complaints ($11,389)

o Wollondilly Shire Council: 13 complaints ($31,356)

The minister's decision to announce the councillor misconduct statistics forms part of the government's planned changes to the NSW Local Government Act; the goal is to "strengthen and improve the way councillor misconduct is handled."

The changes, to be introduced to NSW Parliament later this month, will more effectively deal with councillor misconduct, poor performance and council maladministration, according to Mr Toole.

"While most councillors serve their communities with integrity, communities need to know we can act swiftly to deal with misbehaving officials," Mr Toole said.

The key changes will mean:

o A councillor will be disqualified from holding civic office for a period of five years where they have been suspended for misconduct three times.

o Expanding the definition of 'misconduct' to include conduct that is intended to prevent the proper or effective functioning of a council.

o Streamline the process for dealing with councillor misconduct to ensure faster but fair outcomes.

o Require a councillor to comply with any Performance Improvement Order issued to their council or face suspension.

"The NSW community deserve their councillors to conduct themselves appropriately in the interests of residents at all times. This is why the NSW Government seeks to impose strong deterrents to councillor misconduct, including powers of suspension," Mr Toole added.

ainslee.dennis@fairfaxmedia.com.au