Why would you need a political 'pre-meeting' before a planning committee session?

The EDP today reported that South Norfolk councillors had voted unanimously to maintain their political 'pre-meetings' prior to planning committee sessions in spite of their monitoring officer, Tim Mobbs recommending that they should be banned "in order to remove a potential obstacle in public confidence in the planning system". Quite right Mr Mobbs! But his advice has been ignored.

Apparently these 'pre'meetings' are for an 'exchange of information' but why the need for secrecy? Don't we live in a democracy? Even the Local Government Association suggests that their use might be regarded as maladministration. Apparently no other district council in Norfolk holds them.