KEY POINTS:
Auckland City Mayor Dick Hubbard voted this morning to exclude the public from a meeting that will decide whether to proceed with a 9.1 per cent rise in water bills.
Mr Hubbard and six councillors voted down an amendment from Green Party councillor Neil Abel to hold the debate in public. He was supported by City Vision councillor Glenda Fryer.
Mr Abel said the issue should be debated publicly because it affected every ratepayer.
The council has always discussed pricing issues behind closed doors.
The Citizens and Ratepayers Now leader Scott Milne argued that councillors should be able to debate and grill staff and board members of Metrowater without "emotional input from the public".
The councillors are still to vote on an amendment from Glenda Fryer to halve the 9.1 per cent increase.
In the public forum at the Finance Committee meeting, Water Pressure group spokeswoman Penny Bright said the council was using Metrowater as a cash cow.
"Where do we the public ever get to have a say on this?"
