At tonight's council meeting, Mayor Chris Patterson, Crs David Funnell, Lara Symkowiak, Greg Warren and Debby Dewbery voted for the 7.25 per cent - which is 5 per cent lower than council staff wanted.

Crs Fred Anderson and Cindy Cagney had voted in favour of the 12.25 per cent rate rise proposed by council staff but that motion was defeated.

They, along with Crs Eva Campbell and Mike Cottrell voted against the lower 7.25 per cent figure.

It is now up to Local Government Minister Barbara Perry to decide if rates will actually go up by 7.25 which is an extra $76 a year on the average residential rate in Camden.

She is due to make that decision in early July.

The debate became quite personal at tonight's meeting with accusations of political opportunism and secret meetings.

Cr Anderson said the majority of councillors had allowed debate on whether to hike rates by 12.25 per cent (instead of immediately moving the motion for 7.25 per cent) so they could publicly denounce himself and Cr Cagney for supporting the higher rate.

He also spoke of meetings between councillors that he had not been privy to.

"We all know as to where the lines are divided [on the council]," Cr Anderson said.

"We know that decisions take place and that there are arrangements made and tonight is no different."

Cr Patterson said Cr Anderson's comments were ludicrous and he had never made a secret of the fact he would not support a 12.25 per cent rate rise.

"Why do we make apologies about talking to our colleagues?" he said.

"This is not a DA [development application]. We are allowed to discuss, and would be remiss to not discuss, one of the most important issues that has come to this council in the nine years I have been on council.

"If somebody rings me, let's talk. That's my philosophy."

Cr Campbell called on councillors to be more "imaginative" when putting together its budget, such as employing a bushcare manager to help plant urban forests which could be used to make money through carbon offsets and by eventually selling the forest's harvest.

Cr Cagney said it would be irresponsible not to adopt a 12.25 per cent rate rise in light of the council's financial position.

Cr Cottrell did not participate in the debate.

Also tonight, councillors voted to freeze their council allowances at last year's level.