The special council meeting held on Wednesday was somewhat unnecessary, according to some councillors who agreed that the matters contained in the agenda could have been included in the previous council meeting held on May 28.
However, Speaker of Council Cesar Nunes said that according to the Standing Rules and Orders of council, urgent matters, especially those pertaining to service delivery with financial implications, would be entertained.
On the agenda was a request to purchase portions of sites 1243 and 1244 in Wembezi. Council approved this.
The second matter was for council to rescind a previous decision.
This pertained to the funding for upgrading the Caravan Park.
During a previous meeting councillors agreed to transfer this funding to upgrade Drummond Park instead.
However, Director of Planning, Economics and Community Services (PECS) Elphas Dladla explained to councillors on Wednesday that the Environmental Services Department had advised that the transfer of funding was not allowed.
Councillors agreed to rescind their decision.
A request to prioritise sports facilities in each ward was tabled at the council meeting.
Mr Dladla explained that the construction of kick-abouts, which is an area for soccer teams to play and train, has been approved and a list with various areas was supplied.
One kick-about has been completed in Brewitt Park.
While some councillors were unhappy because there was no consultation process, they agreed to supply a list of areas where these facilities would be beneficial.
The final item on the agenda brought an onslaught of comments like ‘no planning’ and ‘poor supervision’.
Councillors were asked to approve the use of R2 million from the municipality’s funds to pay contractors working on the Wembezi taxi rank and multi-purpose centre.
Contractors have threatened to cease work if they are not paid and after discussions between the Municipal Manager Nonhlanhla Njoko, the Chief Financial Officer Mr Zulu and the contractor, it was found that the municipality was able to dip into their own coffers to pay the contractors.
National Treasury is expected to reimburse the municipality but no time frame could be given.
