MOSSEL BAY NEWS - At the most recent monthly meeting of the Mossel Bay Municipal Council, the following noteworthy resolutions were reached:
Establishment of a Mossel Bay Food Bank
The Covid-19 pandemic has left many people in Mossel Bay unemployed, which increased food insecurity in the area.
The Mossel Bay Council has confirmed its support for the Garden Route Food Bank in recent months and will be contributing towards the Garden Route Food Bank.
Nevertheless, the council has confirmed its support for a food bank on a local level that runs parallel with the district food bank. The council approved a recommendation for their support of an application by the Southern Cape Community Food Bank and will make available the kitchen facilities of the Barcelona Indoor Centre for three years as it is deemed in the public's interest to address the plight of the poor.
The required public participation process will be followed, after which the item will be referred back to the council for consideration.
Policy for extensions of the validity period of approved building plans
The council approved a recommendation to adopt the policy for the extension of the validity period of approved building plans for implementation.
The Building Control Section receives numerous requests to extend the validity period of approved building plans.
In terms of legislation, the municipality may extend the plan approval period at the request in writing of the applicant concerned.
The council, therefore, adopted policy guidelines that set criteria for the building control officer to consider the extension period of building plans and stipulate the applicable extension period. It also details the documents required and the application and approval processes.
The policy aims to provide an efficient and effective framework to evaluate applications received and to extend the validity period of approved building plans. It sets out the roles and responsibilities and describes a process for submissions of applications for time extensions.
Mossel Bay economic recovery plan
The council took note of the Mossel Bay Economic Recovery Plan and Broad Action Programme and accepted the recommendations that the proposed actions be captured and implemented through the operational plans of the various municipal departments.
While Mossel Bay Municipality is responsible for creating an economic environment conducive to economic development, the municipality cannot ever be the sole driver of economic development.
The private sector and public entities operating from Mossel Bay contribute significantly to the local economic development.
The municipality has been active and will continue to be active within the economy of the town and region through being an employer of note, providing high quality services, and maintaining such, and facilitating economic opportunities.
The economic recovery plan reflects practical and implementable initiatives that are obtainable within the available resources and functions of the municipality.
Human settlements pipeline for Mossel Bay Municipality
The council noted the shift in the government's Housing Delivery Model, based on the premise of providing fewer top structures (dwellings) and more serviced sites.
The new paradigm in government's Housing Delivery Model was implemented as of 1 April 2021.
Council, therefore, adopted the revised Human Settlements Pipeline that was presented at the Housing Summit on 2 March 2021 and will include the same in the IDP.
The revised Human Settlement Pipeline will be submitted to the Western Cape Provincial Department of Human Settlements.
The new pipeline implies that more serviced sites and alternative housing provisions (such as FLISP) and fewer top structures will be provided. With the new delivery model, the top structures will only be provided for the elderly, the disabled, and the military veterans.
Approval of the 2021/22 final review of the fourth generation Integrated Development Plan (IDP)
The council approved the 2021/20 Final Review of the Fourth Generation IDP as a principal strategic planning instrument which will continue to guide and inform all planning and development, and all decisions regarding planning, management, and development in the Mossel Bay Municipality.
Copies of or extractions of the plan are available at municipal offices and libraries for public scrutiny.
Free treated sludge for agricultural use
The council approved the recommendation to make available treated sludge free of charge for agricultural use to farmers who are willing to collect it from the Hartenbos Wastewater Treatment Works.
The sludge produced by the Hartenbos Wastewater Treatment Works has been classified as B1a, which means it can be used, among others, for agriculture, with certain restrictions.
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