Cr van de Ven turned his back on the councillors who supported him to become mayor for the final term of council by back-flipping on the merit of the poll going ahead.

The rescission motion proposed by Alice Glachan and seconded by Cr Graham Docksey was supported 5-3 with the mayor's vote.

Cr van de Ven said he began having reservations about using his casting vote for the pool poll to proceed in the hours after last week's meeting.

The public gallery was filled with aquatics users including members of the Fish out of Water group lobbying for a 50-metre indoor facility.

"So many factors are hidden in the question as framed," he said.

"We've already spent a considerable amount of money to get to this stage and I don't have a problem spending another $26,000 on a poll, but not if the wording of the poll is designed to stop any further advancement of the aquatics strategy."

The question, which was to be held at the council elections, asked if voters were in favour of $50 million being spent on an indoor pool at Lauren Jackson Sports Centre and shutting Lavington Swim Centre.

Cr van de Ven's mayoral predecessor Cr Kevin Mack proposed the pool poll and was angry no councillor had attempted to amend the question a week earlier before instigating a rescission motion.

"I am not against this facility, but what I am for, as I raised during the art gallery debate, is listening to the people and understanding what they want," he said.

"The thing I do know as a councillor and as a ratepayer is that I am a shareholder in this council.

"Every one of those shareholders is not in this room tonight."

Cr Graham Docksey and Cr Daryl Betteridge described the question as being too narrow, inflammatory and ill-conceived.

Cr Darren Cameron wanted to know why Cr van de Ven back-flipped.

"Any councillor who is going to vote differently tonight to how they voted last week better be able to explain to the people of Albury why they have changed their mind," he said.

"Who has pressured them, who has convinced them?"

Cr Cameron also asked if council had received any offers of philanthropic support from Fish out of Water and other aquatics groups?

Acting general manager Tracey Squire said no.

Cr Cameron said the council elections had suddenly become a referendum on pools.

"This matter will be settled at the ballot box," he said.

"What we've seen here tonight is vested interests coming out in the open now.

"It will be settled by the ratepayers on election day."

Fish out of Water spokesman Stuart Baker said: "I was pleased the mayor had considered the whole thing and the question properly.

"No one said the aquatic facility would go ahead, but the process deserves to run its course.

"The question was dodgy, loaded and unfair.

"Commonsense has prevailed."

The matter had to be settled on Monday night to meet deadlines from the NSW Electoral Commission which will manage the September 10 elections.