At Tuesday's council meeting councillors voted to endorse a staff report outlining the beautification of McNamara Street and the relocation of the Lords Place taxi rank to Summer Street.

"We were informed at the meeting that the taxi co-op were happy about the removal of the cab rank, and that is not the case," said Cr Taylor.

"I said at the meeting on Tuesday there will be people who agree with Future City plans for McNamara Street and Lords Place, and those who won't, and we need to get on with it."

However following calls from locals on Wednesday complaining about how the changes would negatively impact their businesses, the trio lodged the rescission motion on Thursday.

"I was under the impression there had been a meeting with the taxi co-op and there was consensus among the vast majority of cab drivers, but that's not the feedback I'm getting."

The motion would have put the project on hold until council staff undertook further consultation.

On Friday Mr Waddell wrote to councillors to say the rescission motion was invalid as it was lodged too late.

According to council's Code of Meeting Practice: "A Notice of Motion to alter or rescind a resolution must be submitted to the General Manager no later than 12pm on the proceeding day after the meeting at which the resolution was adopted."

Cr Taylor said there were significant safety concerns about having taxi drivers and potentially inebriated passengers waiting on Summer Street: "They could end up through a shop window or out on Summer Street."

He said "we're not going to give up on this one", despite the lodgement of the motion being rejected.

Cr Whitton said during Tuesday's meeting councillors "asked a bunch of questions about the stakeholders [being] on board".

"[Staff] tell us about the discussions and hurdles and [said] by and large everybody is on board.

"We rely on what they tell us and we take it at face value, but the next day I'm getting calls."

The owner of casual office space The Hive, Prue Swain, expressed her concerns to Mr Whitton on Wednesday. The business will be one of those most impacted by the changes to McNamara Street, which include fewer parking spaces.

Mrs Swain said she had raised parking and lighting with council last year and last week.

"There was a lot of talk, and then they've just slapped us in the face by saying, 'Well you know what, thanks for your advice but we'll go with the original plans'."

Cr Whitton said he "wouldn't be deterred" and would continue to fight on behalf of businesses.

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