But not everyone is happy with the new structure with councillors Philippa Baker-Hogan, Ray Stevens, Sue Westwood, Charlie Anderson, Jack Bullock and Rob Vinsen voting against it.
Mayor Annette Main used her casting vote to support Helen Craig, Jenny Duncan, Martin Visser, Hamish McDouall, Jason Granville and Rangi Wills and get the recommendation passed.
Ms Main said if any issue needed significant briefing by council staff or consultants, it would be handled at a workshop which would be open to the public. Recommendations from a workshop would be included in reports going to the council meeting.
If a councillor wanted an item put to council meeting, they would first raise it with the portfolio holder, the mayor or chief executive.
There will be a separate audit and risk committee that will meet quarterly and be chaired by Mrs Westwood. Rex McKinnon, chair of Business Wanganui, will be invited to sit on that committee as an independent member.
Salaries for councillors would be adjusted to recognise the increased responsibilities of the councillors with portfolios but will need approval from the Remuneration Authority.
Some councillors argued the new system would be too ad hoc and they had not had enough time to discuss it but Ms Main said the change was about empowering councillors to take more responsibility and share the workload.
Mrs Westwood had concerns about workshops which had no standing "and can turn into talk-fests". She said the new system implied no confidence in the existing committee process.
Ms Main said councillors wanted the review and this proposal was the result.
"It may be light on detail but we should decide on the way ahead and then get the detail sorted out," she said.
Chief executive officer Kevin Ross said the new structure would allow staff to concentrate on issues.
"We're often revisiting the same issues three or four times. This really is about the most effective use of staff time," he said.
Mr Vinsen called the plan misguided and did not regard the current committee structure as having weaknesses.
Ms Duncan supported the change because the current workshop system was "poorly run".
The new process is to be reviewed in July next year.