GRAAFF-REINET NEWS — The Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality’s five-year IDP will be implemented from July 1.
[An Integrated Development Plan (IDP) is a super plan for an area that gives an overall framework for development. It aims to co-ordinate the work of local and other spheres of government in a coherent plan to improve the quality of life for all the people living in an area.]
The IDP and Budget for 2017/18 was adopted by the municipal council at a special meeting held in May.
Prior to the aforementioned meeting, the documents were discussed with the community during the Mayoral Outreach which transpired in April.
The majority of meetings were very well attended, in some instances the venues reached full capacity. The mayor personally attended all meetings and introduced the Ward councillors and officials who were there to present the Draft IDP and Budget, and also those who were to assist with responding to questions from the floor.
Many issues were raised and responded to, and a number of matters were explained in great detail, for a clearer understanding.
The presentations by IDP manager Leonie Fouché and her colleague Anja Theunissen included a brief explanation about the IDP, its purpose and legislative framework, the various components and the section containing Key Performance Indicators and Targets, which is linked to the annual budget and could be tracked and monitored in terms of implementation and performance.
Acting CFO, Bushi Mbotya, gave a concise overview of the 2017/18 Budget, the various considerations and assumptions taken into account during its compilation, and to what extent the current local financial and global economic situation influenced it. A breakdown of rates and service charge increases was also provided.
Members of the public were encouraged to peruse the Draft IDP and Budget that lay for inspection until May 2 at a number of points, as well as on the municipal websites.
The mayor gave comprehensive report backs about his Outreach programme at the IDP Steering Committee and Representative Forum meetings, stating that it had been a very insightful and enriching experience.
An Action Plan has been compiled by the Municipality to address the various matters raised at the meeting, not all of which fall within the scope of Municipal Service Delivery, but these will be referred to the relevant Sector Departments for the necessary attention.
The 2017 - 2022 IDP will be reviewed on an annual basis, and this will include public participation sessions where communities can interact with their Ward councillors and other municipal roleplayers about their Ward Development Priorities and to what extent these are being addressed.
The first review of the new 5-year IDP is due to commence in August 2017 and the public will be duly informed about the Ward-based Planning programmes and other activities.
'We bring you the latest Graaff-Reinet, Karoo news'
