Ever since the current council was sworn in almost two years ago, there have been deeper divisions than we saw on the two previous councils.

The first signs of trouble came when Monica Morse was elevated to mayor shortly after the 2012 elections in a deal that was less about her colleagues’ belief she was the best person for the job than it was Ian North and Bobby Bourke finally flexing the power they had been denied on the previous council.

Then Cr Bourke’s decision last year to switch his support to Gary Rush over Cr Morse created a new split and particularly angered the outspoken Jess Jennings.

At one stage it appeared councillors Morse and North had been relegated to a minority of just two in council’s decision-making as Cr Rush – buoyed by strong support from (in particular) Warren Aubin, Michael Coote and Greg Westman – impressed everyone with his handling of the mayoralty.

On Wednesday, it was Cr Jennings’ notice of motion calling on councillors to declare Bathurst a “Coal Seam Gas free zone” that again raised some hackles.

It came just a month after he introduced a notice of motion calling on council to confirm its support of the Racial Discrimination Act and the introduction of state and federal politics in the local chamber did not sit well with all his colleagues.

Cr Coote told the chamber on Wednesday that he supported Cr Jennings’ notice of motion but accused Cr Jennings of grandstanding on issues that had no place in local politics.

It was an accusation other councillors have spoken about in private but Cr Coote seemingly had no qualms about making his suspicions very public.

And it all added a little spice to the night for the few residents sitting in the public gallery, which can never be a bad thing.