Anti-policy campaigners the Exclusive Brethren have said they are happy to tell council what they are doing, but the policy goes too far and allows just one complaint to halt any activity.

The policy was sent back to Wagga City Council staff this week after members of the environment and community standing committee deemed it "bureaucracy gone mad" which needed to be changed.

That didn't stop NSW Council of Civil Liberties secretary Stephen Blanks launching a scathing attack on the proposed policy.

"It is not for a council to say only certain activities can be done with our approval," he said. "The policy is especially inappropriate when there is no evidence of any problem with footpath activities such as street preaching or busking.

"Restrictions on street preaching contravene freedom of religion and that is something council should not be involving themselves in."

Council general manager Phil Pinyon was not available yesterday to explain why the policy had gone unchanged despite various complaints from the community and concerns from councillors.

Exclusive Brethren member Andrew Doven said council was stepping outside its jurisdiction.

"As Councillor Rod Kendall pointed out, the wording of the policy is very poor and leaves to much to the discretion of a council officer," he said.

"Councillors are regarded as lawmakers in the city but they can't even tell staff what they'd like changed about this policy."