The DA said that target-setting in the metro becomes meaningless when the reports monitoring such targets are delivered late.
The DA’s Chris Swanepoel, who sits on council’s corporate and shared services committee, is demanding that the ANC-led metro takes action and manages every department’s targets in order to improve service delivery.
The municipal public accounts committee (MPAC) recently issued a report putting the spotlight on delayed reports.
He said it was impossible for committees to provide proper oversight over departments when reports are late.
“Departmental targets become irrelevant if oversight committees cannot provide ongoing monitoring,” Swanepoel added.
“Interim targets can only be set, monitored and achieved if proper management takes place.
“It is also imperative that target reports are more detailed, so that when it is reported that 10 targets were set and 10 targets were achieved, it is clear to council that the two are one and the same.
“Underachieving departments hamper proper financial control and have a direct impact on service delivery.”
The DA welcomes MPAC’s recommendation that oversight committees must monitor every department’s quarterly targets and performance.
“We feel the MPAC should have added the recommendation that departments may not roll over or defer targets to the following year,” he added.
“When a department does not adhere to its business plan and its targets are not constantly monitored come the fourth quarter, money is dumped through indiscriminate spending, with the purpose just being to reach budget targets.”
