The council’s general manager, Steve McDonald, said the minister had set the limit for rate increases at 3.5 per cent, so the council had sought a special rating variation.

Mr McDonald said the council would find out in late June or early July whether their application had been successful.

At this week’s Muswellbrook Shire Council meeting, councillors voted to adopt the new fees and charges for the 2009-2010 financial year for council services, including the pound and waste management facilities.

While most of the new fees were adopted, councillors voted to defer adoption of the proposed swimming pool fees for Denman and Muswellbrook pools.

Councillor Jeff Drayton objected to a steep rise in charges for families.

Cr Drayton said while most pool fees had increased by five to 10 per cent, the cost of the yearly family pass had risen by about 25 per cent, which amounted to around $200.

The council’s manager of community infrastructure, Neil Pope, said the increase was because the current price of the family pass was cheap.

He also said they weren’t very popular.