With Palerang currently operating under five existing, Council is required to complete a new LEP and had resolved to complete it in the life of the current Council ending in September 2008. The report said that this would no longer be possible.

With new planning laws concerning developer contributions coming into play in NSW, it was argued that perhaps it was fortunate that Council had not finished the plan. The Minister's requires Council to have the new LEP finalised by 31 March 2009.

Suspension of the project would constitute a breach of the Memorandum of Understanding which Council has entered into with the Department of Planning. Under the terms of the MOU such a breach could result in termination of the funding and a requirement to repay up to $170,000.

In 2005 the project was expected to have a total cost of $570,000 of which Council's contribution was to be $400,000 and the Department $170,000.

The current rate of expenditure, the point at which the project's $570,000 will be fully expended (including the Department's contribution of $170,000) is likely to be September 2008.

Cr Gardiner has been a vocal critic of Council's tardiness with the new LEP. "We're in the red and not nearly finished. We haven't even seen a draft." Advocating the use of consultants to finish the plan, Cr Gardiner said the "we could put the staff on the DA backlog."

Cr Harrex also argued that Council should "hire consultants and get it done."

The report said "the engagement of consultants reduces the amount of staff time in preparing amendments it does not eliminate the need for staff involvement in coordinating, briefing and supervising the consultant."

The General Manager said that if Consultants were hired these fees would be on top of the Staff salaries. He said that the time it was taking was not out of the ordinary.

Cr Raynolds was against hiring consultants saying it was an insult to the staff and that "in effect your sacking them."

Council resolved to investigate the possibility of using consultants to finalise the LEP during the life of the Council. Crs Raynolds and Horan voted against it.