The change, put forward by Cr Sam Gaylard, means developers can no longer present their projects to councillors at fortnightly meetings, which are closed to the media and the public and where agenda items are suppressed.

"We don't need to have developers there at councillor briefings in effect spruiking their wares," Cr Gaylard said.

"I'm not uncomfortable that councillors are swayed, but I am uncomfortable with the perception in our community about the process."

Council officers will now brief councillors on all project details.

Cr Steve Jolly, who has boycotted the briefings since 2005, said the meetings were undemocratic. "It's so wrong that we get ear-bashed by very slick operators about these developments but we're only hearing one side of the story," Cr Jolly said.

"Public transport advocates or objectors don't even know these meetings are on, let alone get an invitation."

Melbourne University planning expert Alan March applauded the council's attempt to increase transparency so residents could have more confidence in planning decisions, but doubted whether it would actually result in fairer outcomes.

"By removing the meeting from a formal process you risk ending up with more back-door meetings as everyone continues lobbying away like crazy behind the scenes," Dr March said.

Cr Josh Funder agreed, calling the ban a "recipe for inefficiency", as separate meetings now had to be organised.

He also questioned how well the implications of the change had been considered, with public housing and community garden planners also caught in the ban.