City Review: News Extracts from the City of Cape Town Council Meeting of 31 March 2006

• New Portfolio Committees for City
• Draft IDP approved for comment and discussion
• City draft budget approved
• City Health gets R11,4 million to fight TB and HIV/AIDS
• New technology to fight fires
• R31 million for Fire and Rescue Services
• New trucks for Solid Waste
• R15 million for City's vehicle fleet
• New CID for Woodstock
• Durbanville CID dissolved
• Bellville filling station rejected
• Consol Glass gets light to buy Council property

The new Council's Portfolio Committees are as follows:

• Corporate Services and Human Resources
• Economic and Social Development and Tourism
• Finance
• Health
• Amenities and Sport
• Housing
• Trading Services and Infrastructure
• Planning and Environment
• Safety and Security Services
• Transport, Roads and Stormwater
• Rules Committee

Media enquiries: Robert Mcdonald
Tel: 021 400 1300
Cell: 072 638 7710

Council has noted the draft Integrated Development Plan (IDP) compiled by the previous City government. The draft will now be placed in libraries and on the City's Website for public participation. The amended IDP (incorporating comments and the public participation process) will be approved by the end of May.

Media enquiries: Dr Martin van der Merwe Tel: (021) 400-4481 or Cell: 084-900 9972

The City's draft budget has been noted for discussion and public participation. Council approved the establishment of a multi-party Rates and Tariffs Working Group to discuss the budget and issues of concern. The budget will be submitted in May to Council for final approval. According to the draft the capital budget for 2006/07 will amount to R2,7bn. The operating budget will total some R14,2bn. The proposed total average tariff increase is below the inflation rate of 5,2%. The various tariff increases will be available at City libraries and municipal offices for comment.

Media enquiries: Mike Richardson
Tel: 021 400 3265
Cell: 083 629 12 36

Council has approved an additional R11,4 million to the City Health Department's operational budget. The funds have been allocated by the provincial government and will be used in the City's fight against tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS.

Media enquiries: Dr Ivan Toms
Tel: 021 400 2100
Cell: 084-220 0143

Council has increased the operating budget for Fire and Rescue Services by R300 000 to pay for a pilot project using fire detection cameras and aerial firefighting resources for informal settlement fires. The provincial government provided the money and the project is being administered by the Working for Fire Project.

Media enquiries: Robert Mcdonald
Tel: 021400 1300
Cell: 072 638 7710

Council has approved a R31 million adjustment to the Fire and Rescue Services capital budget to replace vehicles and equipment in the current financial year. An evaluation report tabled at Council indicated that the City has a shortfall of 683 staff and 54 vehicles to meet the legal operational requirements. The funds are to be transferred from three projects, which are unable to spend the money before end June.

Media enquiries: Robert Mcdonald
Tel: 021 400 1300
Cell: 072 638 7710

The average age of the City's vehicle fleet is 15 years old. The recommended age of replacing vehicles is five to seven years. Council has approved the transfer of R15 million from the N2 Gateway project to replace certain critical vehicles which are considered uneconomical to repair.

Media enquiries: Conrad van Heerden Tel: 021 400 3225
Cell: 083 627 2426

Solid waste has received the green light to use money saved on projects to buy two flat-bed and two tipper trucks to the amount of R861 000. The average age of the solid waste fleet is now over eight years and urgently need to be upgraded to maintain high levels of service.

Media enquiries: Rustem Keraan Tel: 021 400 5922
Cell: 082 731 1507

Woodstock may soon get a City Improvement District (CID) after Council gave the green light for the process to proceed. Once the Articles of Association of the Woodstock Industrial City Improvement District Management Committee has been accepted, the proposed area will be bounded by Eastern Boulevard, Roodebloem, Victoria, Albert, Russell, Searle, Lower Church, Beach and Albert Roads as far as Railway Street, Victoria Road as from a block past Russell Street to Roodebloem Road and all the roads running off Victoria and Albert Roads as far as Dublin Street. The CID levy will be raised once written proof is provided that more than 50% of the property owners approve the Business Plan.

Media enquiries: Zolile Siswana
Tel: 021 483 9011
Cell: 084 900 0151

The Durbanville CID ceased operations at the end of August 2004. This Section 21 company has finally been wrapped up and Council has approved the dissolution of the Company. The balance of the retention funds held as a provision for bad debt will be utilised in the Durbanville CID area in a manner to be decided by the Koeberg Sub-Council.

Media enquiries: Zolile Siswana Tel: 021 483 9011
Cell: 084-900 0151

Council has upheld the rejections against a proposed filling station on the corner of Jip de Jager and Riebeeckhof Drives in Bellville.

Media enquiries: Cheryl Walters
Tel: 021 400 2420
Cell: 084 2221260

The Consol glass factory in Bellville has received the green light to buy the land adjacent to its factory for warehousing and the parking of vehicles at a cost of R5,5 million. The sale is subject to various conditions, but will enable the company to expand its production capacity and create 20 additional job opportunities.