Question

Are pre meets acceptable to agree on which way to vote?

Answer 1

You should not be agreeing which way to vote but you could have a pre meet to discuss detail but it should still advertised and be open for the public to attend unless it is a confidential item

Meeting should be facts only not opinions

Answer 2

NO! Depends of course what you mean by pre meets. Pre what? the council meeting at which an agenda item is to be voted on? There is a fine line between gathering support and seeking commitment before a vote. Councillors must make decisions on resolutions based on information supplied and discussions and debate carried out at the meeting. You can never stop councillors entering a meeting with pre-conceived perceptions which is why discussion, including proposals of amending motions must take place at the meeting, it is called democracy.

Answer 3

Casual conversations between Cllr’s is one thing - perfectly natural. Arranging a meeting is fundamentally different and problematic for a number of reasons.
So, as the question is presented, no, not acceptable.