The Proposed Tauranga City Council Long Term Plan 2015-2025 shows no vision. City Councillors are obsessed with the level of Council debt, but fail to realise that if they control their cost structure then the debt will manage itself. A quick look at the burgeoning staff numbers will show that this Council is overloaded with bureaucratic planners, and not enough action orientated frontline staff. I am sure that Council could perform effectively with a reduction of approximately 40% from the current staff levels.
TCC appears in total disarray. Their property division continues to give mixed messages, and no one seems to know what they are doing. The proposed selloff of the greenspace alongside Takitimu Drive Expressway (the main entrance to the city) is a classic example. The Council property team notified Fourth Avenue residents in December 2014 that they were considering selling two Fourth Avenue properties (adjourning the Expressway) that are currently considered greenspace. They continue to give residents mixed messages, and often don’t even bother to respond to queries. The proposed properties for sale are listed incorrectly on the Council database. Now the CEO, Garry Poole tells me that Council is considering all the property adjourning the Expressway, from Fourth to Eighth Avenue. Included in the list are:
120,121 & 127 Fourth Avenue
98 Fifth Avenue
97 & 99 Sixth Avenue
105 Eighth Avenue
It truly is a shambles. There is no transparency - something the new (2013) Councillors promised us. Reading today about the 86 “secret meetings” (that’s one every week) is not good governance – something that they pride themselves in. The previous Council (2010 to 2013) might have been dysfunctional, but at least there was a semblance of transparency. This current crowd are showing a total disrespect for the democratic process; no vision; and combine all this with poor governance. I am sorry but we have to look at their leadership – the CEO and Mayor steer this ship, and it is a huge disappointment. Mayor Crosby has been on Council for 30 years, and his ship is sinking.
This is a great city, but its heart is stagnating. Residents and Ratepayers can’t afford to be apathetic. We need strong leadership. The clock is ticking….
If you have a view on these or any other local government issues, I invite you to email me at andrew@vond.co.nz