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Mr Smith, who represents Wollondilly (which includes part of the Wingecarribee Shire), said he had little confidence that the Perfomance Improvement Order had the desired effects and was disappointed in the councillors' behaviour.

His comments were made in parliament in the private member's statements on November 19.

"The member for Goulburn (Wendy Tuckerman) and I shared the view that the council leadership was dysfunctional and that ratepayers deserved better," Mr Smith said in parliament.

"At the time we hoped that the PIO would drive better working relationships, decision making and outcomes for the Wingecarribee community in the Southern Highlands.

"I know that members on the other side frankly, the conduct that I witnessed last week of some councillors has left me with little confidence that the PIO has had the desired effect."

Mr Smith said in the lead up to his private member's statement, he had received numerous phone calls over council.

"I think zoom has been an issue and meeting will get better once they get back into the chamber," he said.

"They do some good things in some areas and some not so good things in other areas.

"I think there has been some dysfunction between the relationships in council. Councillors get elected to fight for the community, they are elected by the community and they should be putting the community before themselves.

"So that's my message to council, they should think of the community and think of the future of this community. We've got roads that need to be fixed, that should be the focus of council not bickering."

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Mayor Duncan Gair said the councillors had changed their behaviour 'to a degree'.

"There are times when, I believe, we are beginning to revert to the old pattern," he said.

"I think councillors are aware of that and to a degree, I am pleased with their change of meeting behaviour."

Cr Gair also said he had a received a letter from the Minister of Local Government [the honourable Shelley Hancock] about the PIO.

"[The letter] indicated that the reports from the two advisors would be sent to the Office of Local Government's office after the final meeting of council is complete and then recommendations would be made," he said.

"There were two sessions with councillors and meeting procedures and also to help me deal with disruptive behaviour, which I believe has been of benefit for all concerned.

"Councillors also had individual sessions with one of the advisors on a confidential basis. Those meetings between the advisor and councillors are confidential and I am unaware of what has been said by which councillors on what topics.

"I think it has to be pointed out that COVID put council into uncharted waters and it became more reliant on councillors to follow council procedure to make council meetings orderly and productive.

"In our case in some instances, that did not happen."

Cr Gair said the main reason he had approached the minister concerned bullying and harassment of council staff and fellow councillors.

"We can't lose sight of that," he said.

"I just hope councillors will continue a civil behaviour until the end of this term."

Acting general manager Barry Paull was contacted for comment.

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