A question has hung over the end of the suspension now that four councillors have resigned and just seven remain.

Diane Gray was the first to step down, resigning at the beginning of June.

Then last week, following the announcement the CEO Susan Law would depart at the end of this month, three more councillors resigned.

Deputy mayor Libby Martin was the first councillor to resign last week, before mayor Simon Murray said he had also handed in his resignation.

The fourth councillor to go was Brad Widders.

That could leave the council with just seven councillors when the suspension ends and the administrator's duties come to a conclusion.

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As part of the postponement of the 2020 local government elections due to the pandemic, councils will not be required to hold by-elections to fill vacancies until September 2021, an Office of Local Government spokesman confirmed.

"It should be noted that the interim administrator performs the role of the mayor and councillors during the three-month suspension period," the spokesman said.

"The Minister suspended the council for three months and appointed an interim administrator to restore the proper and effective functioning of the council.

"The future of the council will be considered at the conclusion of the suspension period following consideration of any recommendations made by the interim administrator."

The remaining councillors; Debra O'Brien, Margaret O'Connor, Peter Bailey, Andrew Murat, Ian Tiley, Jon Galletly and Dorothy Robinson are not entitled to be paid remuneration while they are suspended.