I see that the editor placed a note at the bottom of my letter on 24/12/2010 from Council.
The content of the note makes it clear that there is a huge gap between proper democratic process (openness, transparency and accountability) to the ratepayers of Tauranga City by it's administrators. Should Tauranga City have been completely open, transparent, accountable and honest with the public then it is without a doubt that the level of Official Information requests would be less.
The concept is simple: the more that is withheld from view from competent and independent individual members of the public the more requests will be made officially for information, it would seem simpler to just make all information available in the first place!
The benefit of an open, transparent, accountable and honest Tauranga City Council is that any and all decisions made will be the best decisions that can be made because to do otherwise will mean that everyone will be able to see and judge on a well informed basis.
A good example is the purchase of Baypark in 2007, it seems many of the informed and insightful people (few as it seems in hindsight) knew that it was a disastrous decision for Council to make economically and financially, yet this was rushed through before the 2007 election. Ratepayers have paid dearly since and will continue to do so for many years to come.
A Barnes, Tauranga.