It is a paradox of the Tauranga Community and a reflection on the forthcoming elections that we are a City of 15,000 small businesses so we need to elect Councillors with successful experience of operating in large and dynamic organisations.
Tauranga City Council is a hugely complex organisation with assets valued at several billion and a revenue stream nearing 150 million per annum. Those operating in larger commercial businesses have salaries in excess of what the Council offers and are unlikely to offer themselves as candidates.
Looking at the background of some of the current Councillors gives a clue as to why the collective performance of the Council has not been strong. Too many of them concentrate inappropriately on minor detail as they do not have the experience for the strategic planning and financial control that the governance of the City Council demands.
We as voters need to examine those who are standing to ascertain their fitness for office.
Incidentally, to those knockers who denigrate the Council financial control, the international Standard and Poor's rating of 'A” category means our City has better financial stability than many other countries, and many other cities in New Zealand.
Andrew Gormlie, Mt Maunganui.