The staff triumvirate of Grenfell, Johansson and Jones seems to put all the blame for the wrong decisions that have been made over the last couple of decades on the elected representatives of those times. Is that fair? The Bella Vista debacle alone suggests otherwise.

Council staff, developers, Tauranga Chamber of Commerce and other business-orientated groups are having their say about what should be the way forward and all of them are expecting residential ratepayers to foot the huge bill - not the commercial ratepayers, despite the fact that Tauranga's commercial rates are the lowest by far of all the major centres. Little interest is being shown in finding out what residents want.

When the council's representation review is held in June, it must consider if Community Boards should be established in Tauranga. Currently there are 110 boards in NZ, but Tauranga councils have so far avoided having them established here.

Board members must be elected by the community they serve, and their job is to listen to residents' views. They are protected by law and have the authority to advocate for residents before the council. Grab this opportunity; when the review proposal comes out, call for a board in your community.

Barry Scott, Papamoa Beach.