The issue arose at Tuesday's council meeting where a new regime was adopted to help ensure all DAs meet statutory timeframes.

But it came after lengthy debate and a tense exchange between general manager Warwick Bennett and Deputy Mayor Peter Walker.

Mr Bennett said the discussion had involved "a fair bit of staff bashing" and reminded councillors that planning in NSW was more complicated than ever and every council was grappling with the complexity.

"The team is trying to get this process as easy to do business with as possible," he said.

"The majority of the time that I get involved is when state agencies are demanding additional information...I don't want the media going away and taking note that this is a complete and utter disaster....It's not. There's a hell of a lot happening."

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Cr Walker took exception and asked Mr Bennett to withdraw the comment.

"That is not correct. I think staff do an exceptional job," he said.

The GM withdrew his remark, despite resistance from Mayor Bob Kirk to allow the line of argument. However Mr Bennett stood by his comments that there was "a program of continuous improvement" in place.

Councils have 40 days to assess 'regular' DAs and 60 days for integrated development under the state's planning act. But while council planners met these in most cases, there were three on the books that had taken longer than six months, a report stated. They all involved additional requests for information.

Planning director Scott Martin said the need for voluntary planning agreements (for infrastructure) was a common theme with those DAs taking longer than six months. The state government is now asking all councils to negotiate the agreements upfront to avoid "unnecessary delays."

As of December 23 the council had 124 undetermined DAs, down from 172 in April, 2018, when there were 54 applications that had taken more than six months to assess. Planners wrote to applicants at that time and gave a deadline for additional information.

"...The number of long-term applications is extremely low and manageable," Mr Martin said.

But several councillors argued the process could be smoother for everyone.

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Cr Andrew Banfield said "90 per cent of the feedback" was from people saying they'd been asked for extra reports following pre-lodgment meetings. This 'back and forth process' delayed DAs, he argued.

"We, as a council need a shopping list (of what's required)," Cr Banfield said.

"We have to hold the hand of the average Joe and step them through the process. We're not easy to do business with....I think we need to do better."

Mr Martin replied that staff already tried to provide the most comprehensive list of requirements but it was not always possible, given additional issues arose, often in response to agency or public feedback.

"Every DA is different and each one throws up its challenges but we are trying to find a way forward that addresses things for everyone," he said.

Online templates were provided to guide people. The State has mandated that the council go fully online with its planning by early this year.

Mr Martin said monthly meetings were held with management to review how DAs were tracking. In addition, he encouraged staff "pick up the phone" rather than write letters to applicants to avoid delays. In March, planners will hold a forum with developers and builders to gain more feedback.

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Cr Alf Walker successfully argued for a 'matrix' of reasonable timeframes for people to supply additional information for the various types of DAs.

"The biggest frustration is this accusation of inconsistency. So how do we balance that?" he said.

"...(A matrix) will give the community some guide...I see it as an opportunity to be clear so everyone can understand expectations."

Cr Peter Walker maintained the community needed to be made more aware of the timeframes to which staff worked. The average person believed a DA would take 40 days to process.

"The difficulty is we have all these regulations to follow but we're trying to promote that we're easy to do business with," he said.

"We've tried to have developers' forums but what I've heard from them is 'what's the point because nothing changes.' Builders say it depends who you deal with...All staff need to be on the same page and if we have a tick-a-box earlier in the process it will make life easier."

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Councillors adopted six staff recommendations to better meet statutory assessment times. These included:

Cr Banfield said the changes acknowledged a way forward and conveyed to everyone that the council was striving for a better process.

"At some point it will all click and we will be the council everyone talks about as being easy to do business with," he said.

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