Sideline heckling marking the beginning of the second consultation round over the civic heart project is being firmly put down by city councillors.

The Civic Amenities group is questioning the competence and ability of city councillors to lead the council offices replacement process.

Councillors are seeking public advice on the civic heart consultation this week.

A statement purporting to be from Graeme Horsley, John Gordon and Paul Adams, says the decision making should be taken away from the councillors elected by the ratepayers, and instead be put in the hands of people like them.

'We question the competence of councillors to be making such decisions that should be the domain of suitably qualified people,” states a press release from the trio.

'One of the problems with the Council process is a lack of expertise and little knowledge of cost engineering and value management.”

Mayoral candidate Max Mason also released a statement on Tuesday claiming the council is in a 'muddle” and that elected councillors shouldn't get involved. He proposes an Urban Development Agency run by a board of directors.

Councillor Steve Morris disagrees.

'They don't understand that under the Local Government Act we are a democratic organisation accountable to ratepayers for the use of their money.

'There are no deals behind closed doors; we are obliged to consult with our community on significant decisions.

'They claim TCC is misleading ratepayers, I disagree. Business always wants a say in politics. It happened last election too,” says Steve.

'What I find concerning is when developers who have a financial interest in the business of council seek to get candidates by way of endorsement onto council. For their own good reputation and that of the city they should declare a conflict of interest and steer well clear.”

CAG members Graeme Horsley, John Gordon and Paul Adams want a rates-funded spend up on a rugby stadium, museum, library and council building, says Steve.

The Civic Amenities Group wants to build a new Civic Centre on a direct cost basis, funded by a Community Bond, allowing Ratepayers, Community Trusts, and individuals to invest in the ownership, claiming this will avoid saddling ratepayers with more debt.

'It's their right to call for spending other people's money in the city centre, but they forget that whether a council building is owned by ratepayers or leased from the civic amenities group at a higher cost the bill-payer is the same, the ratepayer,” says Steve.

Council interest rates are significantly lower than commercial borrowing rates, says Steve. Another advantage of council owning its own building is the pressure it puts on the city's debt limit. It forces council to focus on core infrastructure such as the Waiari water treatment plant so the city doesn't run out of water pressure in 2020.

'This puts into perspective calls for a $25m rugby stadium for one extra game a year,” says Steve.

'CAG never formally made a proposal to council despite claims to the contrary. Last year they gave a brief PowerPoint presentation to a group of councillors. They wouldn't leave a copy of the presentation, shied away from questions and haven't come back with a formal proposal to a public meeting despite being asked to do so. '

The CAG says after agreeing on the need for a new civic heart, the council should turn over implementation and planning to a Council Controlled Organisation.

Steering Group Committee chair councilor Gail McIntosh says the council is bound by central government rules.

'Treasury says this is how we have to do it,” says Gail. 'We can't just call a tender and pick a team to go and do it. Everything has got to be transparent. We have got to consult.

'The Audit Office has been over our figures, the whole set up, every step of the way, saying; ‘Are the documents true to what we intend to do? Have we given enough information to the public?' and not just figures, information. We've got to do it in manageable bites,” says Gail.

'Some people aren't interested because they say ‘We put you there to govern'. But we still have to consult on the big stuff.”