Andrew von Dadelszen Regional Watchdog

This is my first editorial since mid-2013, and I feel compelled to resume writing because our local government representatives just aren't listening to the ratepayer that pay their fees and salaries.

About 18 months ago voters threw out most of the sitting Tauranga City councillors, and we had such high hopes for a more functional council.

But it just hasn't happened. TCC councillors might be more functional, but they have no vision. They are driven only by the level of debt, and neglecting to effectively control council costs.

The way to afford the debt is easy – get effectiveness and efficiency in the council's bureaucracy. But no – staff numbers at TCC continue to rise, and they hide a lot of this by separating off a lot of their operations into Council Controlled Organisations, like Bay Venues. Don't be fooled – ratepayers are still paying the wages, which continue to balloon out of control.

Our regional council is much the same. Bay of Plenty Regional Council hide under the radar, allowing their Port shareholding to finance more and more of their operations.

There is no doubt that, with a 54.14 per cent ownership – through its fully own council owned Quayside Holdings Limited – the Port shareholding continues to make life very easy for the regional council.

Last week the Port declared its half yearly (normalised) profit of $38.5 million, and increased the dividend 4.8 per cent to 22 cents per share.

In 2014 they paid a total dividend of 50c per share, which yielded BOPRC – by owning 73,687,536 shares – a cool $36.8m. And this is projected to increase to $40.6m in the current financial year.

BOPRC councillors and staff think they are doing really well, but unfortunately receiving $36m to $40m a year from Port dividends just hides a lot of inefficiencies.

I will drill down into staff numbers in a future publication; but for now ask our regional and city councillors: 'What is it that you are doing to make a difference?”

Not a lot…regional council staff numbers have increased 13 per cent in the last two years, and yet they can't show any added value for ratepayers. They are ineffective, and need to be made accountable to their ratepayers.

If you have a view on these or any other local government issues, I invite you to email me at andrew@vond.co.nz