Brian Anderson The Western Front www.sunlive.co.nz

Last week I made an appeal to the councils to come out from behind the shelter sheds and start talking about their plans for amalgamation. To my surprise, they did just that the next day.

It is good to see the subject raised but there is very little evidence in the release to indicate anything worthwhile from the last three years of negotiation.

Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby's priority is reported to be his desire to see the Port money staying with Tauranga. He believes the release of this money from the Bay of Plenty Regional Council's grasp would solve all of our problems – and with just a few minor job changes, including much more expensive higher quality staff, nothing else would need to change.

He is reported as saying our targeted rates would continue for a time but high rates and council debt were minor issues when considering this bigger picture. If he'd said this six weeks ago he'd be looking for a new job today.

By contrast, Mayor Ross Paterson claims he is looking at an even bigger picture for Bay-wide development and not just focusing on Tauranga's problems. This is natural – as the minor member he'd naturally fear a Tauranga-centre grab for power over a much larger unitary authority, which could leave the Western Bay interests sinking further into the shadows. It is amazing these gentlemen bothered to front up, because they offer very little evidence of having done any homework before opening their mouths.

Mr Paterson last week told his councillors it is too early to start talking about amalgamation, but must have changed his mind. But he did mention that working with the people would be important. From the report it would seem the Mayors are looking in opposite directions and have admitted they'll be meeting on December 20 to brief their councillors on the facts. The regional council declined to comment until they've discussed the issue. It appears they've been thinking and have been wise enough to keep quiet.

Of course, this press release could be a case of strong business-like organisations lifting the curtain slowly on major change. But they might have been better to have kept quiet and waited to talk with the public when they had something to say. With Western Bay's poor record on public consultation and Tauranga's recent clamping down on public input in their meetings, most readers will see the press release as a continuation of the current ‘closed shop', ‘business as usual' philosophy of local body management. What else should we have expected from them at this time?

If there is to be any change in the Bay it is now the time for every councillor to stand up and be counted, to start conversations on new directions for the region with individuals and groups – to stir the pot and show some leadership. The time is gone when councillors should accept the instructions they're there to just represent their council's views. They're elected to represent their constituents and provide leadership in the community. Naturally, different councillors will have different ideas because each community will have different needs and different goals. But, until councillors do their job, councils are doomed to be seen as secret societies emerging only to demand cash to finance council dreaming. The spectre of rising council debt and higher rates are the predominant images people see of council. This recent press release confirms these images and threatens worse to come. We're going to need better from our leaders than this. They're back in the shelter shed again – with more closed meetings and briefings for councillors.

Of course, if the meetings brief the councillors to how go out to the people and do their job as leaders, the New Year might become the start of a completely new philosophy for local government in the Bay. Our shared dreams will become achievable and the expensive virtual reality shows we are fed in current council planning will consigned to history.