Eleven months of progress has brought Invercargill City Council back from the brink of failure.

But councillors proved today they are still struggling to turn the conversation away from their long-serving mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt.

The full council met by zoom this afternoon to discuss a progress report by Richard Thomson. He was appointed last year to help the council address major flaws in how it was operating.

Thomson was full of praise for how elected members and staff had responded to his "very strong criticism".

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That includes senior councillors stepping up to work cooperatively, along with deputy mayor Nobby Clark changing his ways of operating and helping to fill the "leadership vacuum". A new senior management structure was providing better information to councillors, and the council had successfully produced a Long Term Plan. 

Thomson said it was "inevitable but unfair" that much of the media focus goes on the mayor, when there had been "very real change" at the council.

However, once Councillor Ian Pottinger opened up the debate to councillors, the discussion was dragged once again, against its will, to the nature of the council and councillors' relationship with Sir Tim.

First councillor Rebecca Amundsen acknowledged the progress and the efforts the 'councillors' had made to "be part of that journey and to work towards the greater good".

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"I'd also note that I am purposefully saying 'councillors' in that comment," Amundsen said.

In the eight years she's been on council there had been "little to no accountability for people's bad behaviour towards each other", but said she was now looking forward to the next six months of progress.

Next, Cr Darren Ludlow highlighted the development of councillors' ability to disagree with each other in a healthy way.

But then, Sir Tim raised objections to the report, written largely about the first six-months of progress following the recommendations, saying it contains "allegations that are presented as fact".

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"For the record . . . the report mentions a mayoral sideshow driven by the mayor," Sir Tim said.

"If Mr Thompson had undertaken more research of media articles, he would notice I'm constantly in a position of having to defend myself from attacks by the deputies. They are not instigated, always, by me.

"The report makes no mention of my lack of support or anything the council has done specifically to address this issue.

"The report touches lightly on the serious allegations of bullying and downplays the serious issue of email interception."

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Cr Lesley Soper spoke on the report, saying councillors had looked at behaviours, acted as adults, acknowledged some things that could be improved and ways they could work better together and with staff.

"I think there have been great strides made . . . we can honestly say to the community this council has got to the point where you can have full confidence that we will go on to be a good council."

But she added: "I'm sorry if the mayor is still not prepared to join in that very adult approach but I believe we are a council that can continue to be proud of the way we are moving forward."

And Cr Lindsay Abbot focused most of his comments on the mayor, saying he was "sorrowful" to see it play out in the press, when the right action would have been an informal meeting between elected members to air their views and find solutions.

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"To see a friend, colleague and often an adversary in past decades scrutinized in the paper, criticised and the subject of media trial, not all from the other side but his part as well, was a game plan I would never take part in, and I don't believe is a game plan that is appropriate to true Southlanders."

He believed the council was moving forward and said Sir Tim was but one vote of 13, but he also believed there had been "unconscious bullying" of Sir Tim, even from himself.

Cr Abbot highlighted the rumour of a vote of no confidence, which he believed affected Sir Tim's performance in chairing a meeting, and the fact his driving licence suspension had been raised in the media, which he believed was orchestrated by the chairs' committee.

Cr Peter Kett said seeing Sir Tim "isolated" amid rumour of a vote of no confidence was one of his "saddest days on council". He believes the mayor deserves more support from his councillors.

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Then Cr Graham Lewis spoke up, saying he was "a bit put out" that this personal conversation was being had while there was a motion on the table, but he took exception to the allegations on bullying.

He said he'd spent two hours in Gore, following a meeting, having a coffee with the mayor as he waited for a bus.

"I think we have tried to guide Sir Tim. We've had a lot of respect for his worship over the years, and it is a sad situation to see perhaps his memory maybe going a little bit. I make no comment about that, I'm not a doctor, but he hasn't been bullied consistently in my mind. I respect his worship very much."

Finally, Cr Pottinger said he felt compelled to comment, as he couldn't leave the allegations of bullying unchallenged.

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"That's a very strong allegation, and generally when you make allegations like that, you would provide evidence, and we haven't seen evidence," Pottinger said.

"If there's a bit of mudslinging going on, no problem, I'll just wear that and move on. But when people start grabbing the word 'bullying' and using it and twisting it, then I take exception to that because in my view that has never occurred."

The first mention of a vote of no confidence he'd heard was from a reporter, who approached him in the council chamber, he said.

Thomson made 13 recommendations going forward, including a watered-down media protocol, which allows councillors to talk to reporters but, effectively, encourages them to play the ball, not the man.

The motion to accept the recommendations was approved by all around the virtual council table, except Sir Tim, who voted against it.