Concerns have been raised over the apparent increase in the use of confidential privilege by Shellharbour and Kiama councils to keep discussions behind closed doors.
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Under the Local Government Act, councils can justify making items confidential for a number of reasons, but councils have been accused of "twisting" the wording of the act.
On Tuesday night Shellharbour City Council voted 5-2 to exclude the public from discussion on appointing two independent scientific advisors to the Lake Illawarra Estuary Management Committee citing Section 10A (2)(a) of the Act "personnel matters concerning particular individuals".
Councillor Peter Moran spoke against making the item confidential pointing out "the people we are discussing are not council personnel, would not be employed by council, have no connection with the council and have been asked to be considered for appointment to an external board".
"It is a dangerous reading of the Act ... we have recently seen a number of disappointing incidents where we have made a blanket determination to keep items away from the public for no particular reason," Cr Moran said.
"[Section] 10A(2) is there to ensure as much of the business of the council is conducted in open session."
Councillor John Murray said if he wanted to apply to join an organisation he wouldn't want the discussion about him to be in the public arena.
Last Tuesday Kiama councillors voted 6-2 to take an item on the sponsorship of the Australian Aerial Patrol behind closed doors citing Section 10A (2)(d) (i) that the report involved "information that if disclosed would prejudice the commercial position of the person who supplied it".
Councillor Dennis Seage said "we are in confidential far too much". "I understand why some items are confidential, but at the end of the day it is ratepayers' money and people have a right to know," he said.
Cr Seage said the Aerial Patrol was a public not for profit organisation and didn't think the item should be confidential.
Greens councillor Kathy Rice said a letter from the Aerial Patrol's Harry Mitchell had requested the documents remain confidential. Fellow Kiama Greens councillor Andrew Sloan said he believed the information was "personal and sensitive" and should remain confidential.
Earlier this month Wollongong councillors shut out the public from part of their meeting for the fifth time since they were elected in 2011, to debate the sale of land.
However, Kiama Council has already dealt with 17 confidential items since the start of 2015 alone.
Cr Seage successfully moved a motion that Kiama Council review what goes into confidential committee.
