Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman, who campaigned on a promise of making city hall more open and transparent, has pledged to amend a plan allowing council to meet behind closed doors, away from media and public scrutiny.

Council's executive policy committee voted unanimously Wednesday in favour of a bylaw that would allow council to hold what are known as in camera meetings, where nobody other than elected officials and senior public servants are allowed to attend.

Council is not permitted to vote in secret right now and this was not a power considered by Sam Katz, Glen Murray, Susan Thompson or any other recent Winnipeg mayor.

Bowman voted in favour of the idea, which he introduced as a means of improving openness and transparency at city hall.

"The ability for in camera meetings for a city council would not be unique for the City of Winnipeg," the mayor said following the EPC meeting. "All members of council have participated in in camera meetings at committee. This is an extension for council as a whole."

The change to allow closed-door meetings was embedded in a report recommending performance evaluations for four senior city officials, the chief administrative officer, chief financial officer, city clerk and city auditor.

The report called for a bylaw change that would allow council to meet in secret to discuss an evaluation, as well as for unspecified "other purposes."

A bylaw attached to the report does not specify when council can meet in secret. Chief administrative officer Doug McNeil said that could be at the discretion of council, surmising the change was made because some corporations don't like seeing their names in city reports.

"Usually land transactions are confidential, between the two parties," he said. "There might be other agreements that should remain with the parties involved."

Executive policy committee approved the move on Wednesday with no debate. After initially defending the plan, Bowman said upon further review it is far too broad.

"I feel the in camera authority recommended by the Public Service is too broad and went beyond the original intent of Executive Policy Committee and requires an amendment," the mayor said in a statement.

"After discussion with my executive policy committee colleagues, an amendment will be proposed to the bylaw recommended by the public service to require that council's authority to go in camera be restricted to matters relating to the performance review of the city auditor."

The plan comes before council on Dec. 14.