TRIF Minutes 23 March, 2010

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=30 BGCOLOR="#0066CC" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" width="100%" style=" border-left: 1px solid #3366CC;" BGCOLOR="#000066" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <B>Tulbagh Info Information</B></div> <div> TRIF Minutes 23 March, 2010</div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="120" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER BGCOLOR=#0099CC HEIGHT= 15 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="local_news.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tulbagh News Page 2"><U>Back to Local News</U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Century Gothic" ><B><U>MINUTES OF TRIF  COMMITTEE  MEETING OF </U></B></FONT><B><U>23</U></B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Century Gothic" ><B><U>rd</U></B></FONT><B><U> MARCH  2010 AT  19H00 HELD AT 5 MARK  STREET,  TULBAGH </U></B></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>PRESENT</U></B>:  John Veschini, Ann Myburgh, Dieter Haumann, Chris Myburgh, Gaynor Saayman; Norman Collins, Patricia Noko, Patrick Manual, Theo  Lombard, Wendy Upcott, Billy du Toit </div> <div> <B><U>APOLOGIES</U></B><B>:</B>     Neil de Jager  </div> <bR> <div> <B><U>WELCOME  </U></B><B>: </B>The chairman, John Veschini, extended a warm welcome to all committee members present and a special welcome to 3 new members, namely Patricia Noko, Pat Manuel and Billy du Toit, who were co-opted and accepted as committee members.  Billy du Toit will mainly give feedback on water matters and work together with Dieter Haumann at CMA (Catchment Management Agency).  Chair also proposed that Tiaan Fredericks who represents the police forum also be co-opted.  The extended representation will enhance involvement in the community.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>OPENING</U></B><B>:  </B>Pat Manuel opened the meeting with an inspiring prayer. </div> <bR> <div> <B><U>MEMBERSHIP FEES</U></B><B>:    </B>Now R50,00 per household per year and once off for the membership of R100 to the National Ratepayers Association.  A notice will be prepared for distribution. Forms for membership application will be available at the office of Rocky Valley, Spar and the Magistrate's Office (Ann Myburgh). The treasurer is Dieter Haumann.</div> <div> ETLAC (Electricity Transmission Line Action Committee):  TRIF affiliation ratified with John Veschini as the Chair/Convenor.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>THE WAY FORWARD AS MANDATED</U></B><U>:</U>  Chairman reiterated that his measurement of progress made by the Municipality in delivering services to Tulbagh differs from the previous Chair.  He confirmed for the record that the AGM gave the committee a clear mandate to get the control of Tulbagh back in the hands of the people of Tulbagh and out of the amalgamated Witzenberg Municipality if it is all possible, due to dissatisfaction with the performance of the municipality and the lack of adequate service delivery.  He reminded the committee that we are technically still in dispute with the Municipality.</div> <bR> <div> He gave an overview of the position of the town at present and explained how he saw the route forward to be taken and where it will take us.  The issues that we are faced with, which will form the motivation to the powers that be, were briefly identified (<I><B>listed as an addendum to these minutes</B></I>).  He asked members to reflect upon them and add/subtract in order to get to a full list of our grievances to be tabled with Council.  The final list is to be adopted and/or ratified at the next meeting. Thereafter, a decision must be made as to exactly what procedure we will follow to move forward with an application to Provincial and National Government to de-amalgamate Tulbagh from the Witzenberg Municipality.</div> <bR> <div> <B>WAY FORWARD:  </B>Chairman suggested the following: </div> <div> Preferred alternative - a plenary-type local council and own staff with support from Province as need be. Council members not remunerated, only reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses.</div> <div> Uniform structured approach - to be debated; expectations must be part of report ; no political manoeuvring </div> <div> Letter to Minister</div> <div> Press release </div> <bR> <div> <B><U>GENERAL - IMPUT AND VIEWS OF  COMMITTEE MEMBERS</U></B>: </div> <bR> <div> <B>Theo Lombard:</B>   Problems to be prioritised, short, medium and long term.     Major problems to be attended to first. Cynical about delivery capacity of municipality.</div> <div> <B>Billy du Toit</B>:   Inflow to drinkwater dam must receive urgent attention.</div> <div> <B>Wendy Upcott:</B>   Focus on the positive rather than the negative - consultation rather than confrontation.  She felt the municipality should be commended for the things that are going right - specifically the electrical department, reaction by emergency services to pipe breakages etc. and also the beautification of the pavements and gardens on Van der Stel and Church Streets.  </div> <div> Two concerns raised:</div> <div> Issues with Del Monte - smells & intrusive siren - members gave mandate to approach that company.     </div> <div> Air strip - too close to town. </div> <div> <B>Pat Manuel</B>:   Water permit to be obtained. </div> <div> <B>Norman Collins</B>:  Approach to be apolitical. </div> <div> <B>Gaynor Saayman</B>:  Business as usual in day to day issues - for major issues to be raised with higher powers and in the press, should follow correct procedure and be transparent.  Forward strategy must be well planned and thought through.</div> <div> <B>Chris Myburgh</B> :  Lack of management on day to day maintenance in town should be addressed.  </div> <div> <B>Chairman</B> made an appeal that all day to day problems be addressed to Maina Joubert in writing at the Rocky Valley office - as a Councillor she will see that problems are attended to and communicate same to the municipality.</div> <bR> <div> Meeting adjourned - Date of next meeting to be communicated to members.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> ......................................................................          ....................................................</div> <div> <B>SIGNED  CHAIRMAN (JOHN VESCHINI)           DATE</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>TULBAGH'S ISSUES WITH WITZENBERG MUNICIPALITY </U></B></div> <div> <B><U>TABLED BY CHAIR AT TRIF MEETING 23/03/2010</U></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>INFRASTRUCTURE</B></div> <div> <B>WATER</B> : </div> <div> <B>Reticulation system</B> old & continuous breakages experienced, resulting in whole sections of the town frequently being without water.  Roads being rehabilitated without doing a simultaneous upgrade of the water system.</div> <div> <B>Sewerage system</B> - continuous blockages/breakages; cannot cope with increasing load resulting in heavy pollution of rivers and streams in the town.  </div> <div> <B>Water catchment </B>neither cleaned nor maintained; inadequate and ailing infrastructure to harness water.</div> <div> <B>Storm water system</B> in Van der Stel Street - size reduced by Telkom and others plus litter aggravating the problem.  Some properties were flooded last winter and the same will occur this winter. The potential for irreparable damage to mud brick National Monuments in Van der Stel Street as well as in the lower Church street exists. </div> <div> <B>ROADS</B> :  </div> <div> <B>Road surfaces</B> breaking up resulting in potholes, insufficient maintenance, inadequate drainage and storm water disposal, little or no road markings, traffic signs not visible and incomplete demarcation of parking areas. </div> <div> <B>Pavements </B>are<B> </B>not being maintained and are steadily breaking up.   Some sections have been allowed to erode to a point whereby pedestrians prefer to walk in the road at a danger to themselves and to the public. </div> <div> <B>HOUSING</B>: </div> <div> <B>Uncontrolled influx</B> of homeless people - the number of shack dwellers both in 'informal ' settlements and back yards has grown to about 1500 families in the last ten years, causing huge socio-economic problems.  In 10 years the municipality has only built 72 houses.  </div> <div> <B>Housing waiting list : </B>There appears to be manipulation and irregular allocations of housing taking place. </div> <div> <B>Hygiene and basic sanitation</B> in the informal settlements - estimated approximately 60 people have to share one toilet and an ongoing cleaning programme is deficient.  A recent proposal by the municipality to provide another 10 toilets will not alter the ratio much. Most people use either the river or the fields in order to relieve themselves, resulting in severe pollution and the potential for the spread of diseases such as cholera.  </div> <div> Informal housing structures have recently been erected over <B>graveyards </B>showing disrespect for the dead.</div> <div> <B>TOWN PLANNING</B> </div> <div> <B>Undercapacity </B>- officials are competent but seemingly cannot cope with the workload.  Long outstanding issues, such as Van der Stel Street traffic calming, are affecting the lives of the community.</div> <div> <B>Haphazard planning and building control -</B> buildings being built over boundaries, illegal structures all over the town, residential property used for business, zonings not in keeping with actual use, etc.</div> <div> <B>Enforcement lacking</B> - tardy dealing with infringements of by-laws affecting non-payment for rates or services, Illegal trading, liquor license infringements, Illegal occupation of municipal land, erection of illegal structures etc.  </div> <div> <B>Protection of our heritage</B> - Municipality failed to act against an individual who illegally demolished a monument in the town a year ago.</div> <div> <B>Kliprivier Park</B>: Due to lack of adequate management and maintenance this facility is running at a loss.  It is felt it should be sold and the money received ploughed back into Tulbagh.</div> <div> <B>Property valuations</B> - valuation of farming businesses appear to be unfair and excessive.<B> </B></div> <div> <B>ELECTRICITY</B> :  </div> <div> <B>Electricity losses</B> - concern about the high percentage mainly in the informal housing areas.</div> <div> <B>Threat of power lines</B> affecting potential development - two corridors are now proposed.  Municipality not seen to be supportive nor consultative enough - perhaps unaware of problems facing the community if these power lines are allowed to traverse the valley.</div> <div> TRIF Chair's request for an <B>electricity Pay Point</B> in the lower part of town to make it easier for people to purchase electricity when the municipal offices are closed not actioned.  The local Spar made a similar request and even offered to pay for the installation, which was refused.</div> <div> <B>Street lighting</B> - street lights are not working.</div> <bR> <div> <B>MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION</B> :  </div> <div> <B>Transparency </B>- Expenditure and income cannot be determined from the budget per town/entity; therefore there is no way of measuring if we are getting what we pay taxes for nor ascertain what proportion of the budget is in respect of Tulbagh and how money is spent or allocated in proportion.</div> <div> <B>Credit control</B> - Inequitable tariffs and inadequate credit control management processes plus slow prosecution process by the Municipality (allowing excessive debt to be incurred by a consumer/tenant and then recouping from the owner of the property instead of enforcing strict credit control on the consumer).</div> <div> <B>Salaries</B> of Mayoral Executive Councillors and the Mayoral PA considered  excessive.  Concern about appointments of top ranking officials, rates of pay and substantial settlement packages when they leave. </div> <div> <B>Mayoral Executive Council </B>(Mayco)'s role questioned - it is felt municipal officers should be doing these jobs with a plenary-type Council to decide on their recommendations. </div> <div> <B>Lack of knowledge & skills</B> is evident in respect of some Councillors and officials; some appear not to consider that they are in fact public servants and/or representatives. </div> <div> <B>Ward delineation</B> - Decisions affecting Tulbagh are made in Ceres by mainly Ceres-based councillors not necessarily considering the best interests of Tulbagh.</div> <div> <B>Communication </B>with Ward Committees deficient - letters go unanswered. </div> <div> <B>Twinning with the Essen Municipality</B> - benefits doubtful and process potentially wasteful.  Projects (eg. Youth Centre) seem to be rushed though without adequate community consultation. </div> <div> <B>     </B></div> <div> <B>GENERAL : </B></div> <div> <B>Fire fighting service</B> - Fire tenders have to be dispatched from Ceres and as far away as Worcester. Inadequate provision of fire hydrants in critical areas.</div> <div> <B>Litter </B>-<B> </B>inadequate number of waste bins; insufficient cleaning of the streets and storm water drains; no education programme to keep the town clean.</div> <div> <B>Traffic law enforcement</B>:   No traffic presence in Tulbagh nor any apparent control of traffic violations - eg. deliveries to retail outlets not controlled. </div> <div> <B>Traffic department</B> - people have to travel to Ceres for learners and drivers licenses - no transport service & frustrations with staff.</div> <div> <B>Lack of public information locally </B>- residents and ratepayers have to direct all their enquiries to Ceres; no staff available locally to address enquiries or complaints. </div> <div> <B>Maintenance of Council property</B> - buildings showing signs of disrepair; also known occurrences of theft from and off Council property due to inadequate security.</div> <div> <B>Garden refuse system</B> - No control over garden refuse site resulting in risks of fire and to health.<B> </B></div> <div> <B>Greening of the town</B> - Trees are being allowed to be removed on Council property (road reserves) and some have died due to neglect.</div> <div> <B>Small Business opportunities</B> - A proposal submitted by the community in 2004 has not been considered while the unemployment levels remain high. </div> <div> <B>Illegal sales of liquor and drugs</B> - Owners of properties operating shebeens et al should be prosecuted and the police thus enabled to stop illegal trading.</div> <div> <B>Crime increase</B> - safe houses needed for youth and abused women. </div> <div> <B>Lifesavers at public pools</B> - children's lives are in danger.</div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" width=28 style=" border-top: 1px solid #0066CC; border-left: 1px solid #0066CC;border-right: 1px solid #0066CC; border-bottom: 1px solid #0066CC;" BGCOLOR="#0066CC" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>