Proposed new tariffs, the new valuation roll, credit control and indigent benefits, as well as budget proposals related to capital projects across Ekurhuleni, are expected to dominate discussions at the draft Integrated Development and Planning (IDP) and Budget public consultative meetings to be held over the next two weeks.
Residents of Ekurhuleni and various other stakeholders will have an opportunity to comment on the developmental programme of the metro as contained in the IDP and the budget for the next three years.
Integrated development planning is a process through which municipalities prepare a strategic development plan which extends over a five-year period.
This then guides and informs all planning, budgeting, management and decision-making processes in the municipality.
The municipality undertook a consultative process on the review of its Integrated Development Plan with ward councillors and committee members in September, last year.
The inputs received through the consultative process formed the basis of the draft IDP and draft multi-year budget for 2015/16 and 2017/18 that were tabled at the council meeting of January for the purpose of consultation with stakeholders.
Before the draft IDP and draft budget are approved by council in May, the acceptability of the proposals must be tested with communities.
From April 14 to 22, Ekurhuleni will hold IDP and Budget meetings in all its 20 Customer Care Areas at 6pm, to discuss the draft documents with communities.
Council will brief stakeholders on the proposed developmental programme and allow communities to comment on the proposals.
This year, these IDP and Budget meetings will also be combined with the Mayoral Izimbizo to give progress reports on service delivery issues.
Over and above these meetings, stakeholders can, from now until April 30, access the draft IDP and draft budget documents which are open for comment.
These can be viewed electronically at any time on www.ekurhuleni.gov.za or at public libraries, pay points and Customer Care Centres during office hours.
Comments can be filled in and dropped into “Budget Tips” boxes at the mentioned offices or emailed to budgettips@ekurhuleni.gov.za .
Public inquiries can also be made by contacting the Metro’s Strategy Planning and Support office on 011 999 6760/1/2/3.
