Len Brown is downplaying concerns about Auckland Council's advisory panels, following the departure of three members.

Ethnic Peoples Advisory Panel chairman Feroz Ali and member Kafeba Mundele have left, claiming the panel has become expensive and ineffective.

Disability Advisory Panel member Huahana Hickey has also left.

But the mayor doesn’t believe there's any problem with Auckland Council's advisory panels.

Len Brown denies the panels are being ignored and are costing too much money.

He says the council is improving the way it deals with panels.

The mayor says panel members often don't realise how their advice is used and this needs to change.

What the Ethnic Peoples Advisory Panel has been doing

The council has set up five demographic panels to provide advice during this electoral term.

However, the panels did not meet until a quarter-way through the term.

A council spokesperson says the panels were given two meetings to appoint an interim chair and agree on a work programme.

Most of these meetings were closed while the panels were finding their feet.

Documents obtained by Newstalk ZB show the ethnic panel has chosen to focus on giving opinions on the council budget, community grants, bylaws and research.