A notice attached to the agenda indicated the meeting is "likely to go into public exclusion subject to councillor agreement".
The section in the agenda dealing with the exclusion of the public said the reason for going into committee was "to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through the protection of members and employees from improper pressure of harassment" under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987.
It comes after a full council meeting earlier this month where Crs Gerry Eckhoff and Bryan Scott raised concerns about whether chairman Stephen Cairns was "compromised" because of his role as a real estate valuer.
The move was described by other councillors as an "ambush" or "kangaroo court".
Mr Cairns could not be contacted yesterday and deputy chairman Stephen Woodhead declined to comment.
