A motion of no confidence in Cr Bourke failed on Thursday afternoon following a six-three vote.

Cr Bourke had the support of mayor Ian North and councillors Warren Aubin, Alex Christian, Graeme Hanger and Monica Morse, with councillors Jess Jennings, John Fry and Jacqui Rudge unable to convince them that the former mayor should resign.

READ MORE: 'This does not pass the pub test': Rudge calls on Bourke to resign

Any decision to resign would have to have been voluntary as a council has no power under the Local Government Act to force a councillor to quit, even with a successful motion of no confidence.

Councillors Jennings, Rudge and Fry said Cr Bourke had brought Bathurst Regional Council into disrepute following the bombshell report on ABC's 7.30 program, which alleged that he was involved in a blackmail attempt against Cr Rudge.

Cr Bourke has denied the allegations of bullying and did so again on Thursday, resolute that he should and would remain on council.

"I am extremely disappointed with two of the councillors who signed this motion for me to resign," he said, referring to councillors Jennings and Rudge.

"... I stand before you stating I did not write this letter and neither do I believe any other councillor did.

"I will not support the notice of motion for me to resign, and I plan to continue to represent the Bathurst community as I've done for many years, and intend to seek re-election in September."

He labelled the situation as a "personal attack" and said it was "hurtful to myself and achieves nothing".

Although he signed the notice of motion, Cr Fry was not singled out by Cr Bourke.

Cr Fry acknowledged the former mayor's 17 years of service to council, but said he was concerned about the damage the scandal was causing to Bathurst's "brand".

"There's no personal attack here. This is a series of events that needs more explanation and the person in the street would like possibly some closure, and I guess one method of closure here is what this resolution [of no confidence] is asking for," he said.

"... We keep talking about brand damage and brand damage to Bathurst is my main concern, because we all feel passionately about Bathurst, that's why we're sitting here. We want to see Bathurst grow and be a safe, and fair, and reasonable place to live in. We don't want this type of thing going on any further then past the election, hopefully.

"This is about Bathurst. It's not about individuals, it's about our reputation and it's about getting along with building Bathurst and trying to minimise the brand damage people in this room have caused."

In her final statement, Cr Rudge continued to push for Cr Bourke's resignation and said councillors had to "lift our game".

"We can't get respect from the people of Bathurst if we don't earn it and tonight's the night to do that, councillors. We need to be beyond reproach and we need to stand up here and say this is wrong and we need to do it now," she said.

The allegations against Cr Bourke are under police investigation.

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