Former Mayor Margaret Evans says there needs to be more doing and less reviewing when it comes to the council making the city a better place to live.
Her comments come as Hamilton City Council releases its draft 2014/15 Annual Plan for public submission.
"There are too many people clipping the ticket, there are too many things that are based on far too formal a plan. Far too many reports get written and far too few get read," said Ms Evans.
She said it is interesting to compare where the city is now in relation to a strategic plan from her time as mayor.
"It is so simple. City keeping is about understanding that people can be very low-key in their enjoyment, just walking around somewhere beautiful.