Simon Bridges National Party MP simonbridges.co.nz

I disagree with Tauranga having Commissioners run our Council. I don't believe it was principled or necessary and it basically means we've the Labour Party from Wellington in charge, given they're who appoints the Commissioners.

That said, I recently met with Hon. Anne Tolley and her fellow Commissioners, and as I remarked to them, they're good people – the government is lucky to have them on board. In my opinion their jobs come down to two things: rates and results.

Regarding rates, personally I'm not opposed to increases if they do one big thing: deliver results. But we need to be careful. Many in Tauranga in rateable properties are on fixed incomes and either can't afford the increases or must get something tangible from them.

Tangible results don't mean more staff on higher pay shuffling more papers and attending more meetings while making things harder and worse. As I've said here before, we need outcomes in only three or four areas in our city from Labour (and their unelected Council) – housing, transport, the CBD, and anti-social/criminal behaviour.

On housing and transport, frankly, I'm cynical about whether Council can do much. Tauranga's problems by my back of the envelope calculation require several billion dollars. Even if rates were put up 100s of per cent, Council can never get near this. Lots of pain for zero gain. Only the Beehive has the ability to move on, say, Tauranga Northern Link, Hewlett's Road or more social housing. And while I'm on a roll, let's remember that in four years all Labour has done in this area is provide a measly $50m for Cameron Road; so-called planner improvements that'll make things harder and worse.

When it comes to the CBD and anti-social behaviour, the Commissioners could lead and good measures won't cost the earth. More on this next column.