MOSSEL BAY NEWS - At the meeting of the Mossel Bay Municipal Council on 27 August, the following decisions were tabled.
Leeway for library users
The validity date of library books and items that were due between 18 March and 13 July 2020 at the various Mossel Bay libraries was extended with three months.
The due date for all these books and items is 13 October 2020.
No fines will be issued for books and items that were due during the Covid-19 lockdown period.
Council agreed that should the libraries have to close again due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the due date be adjusted accordingly to give all library members three months to return their books and items without incurring fines during the relevant lockdown period.
However, books and items that were borrowed from the libraries since their re-opening on 13 July 2020 will not be exempt from fines.
Closure of Glentana refuse collection/drop-off site
The Council noted that, although it had served its purpose, the Glentana refuse collection/drop-off site has developed into an eyesore for residents and has become problematic in many ways. Council, therefore, agreed to the recommendation that the site should be closed and that the material be used elsewhere.
The drop-off was erected approximately 15 years ago to provide holidaymakers a convenient facility to dispose of refuse when departing after their holidays and to prevent refuse bags from being left on the pavements until the next collection day.
Since then, a drop-off point was erected at the De Dekke Spar, and the three-bag refuse collection system was introduced to cater for recyclable and garden refuse. The road surface to the Great Brak River refuse site was tarred.
The Glentana Ratepayers' Association motivated the closure of the drop-off site, stating among others that garden refuse is dumped in large quantities, that vagrants gather in the vicinity, that the site attracts criminal elements, and that the area has developed into an eyesore for the residents.
At the request of the ratepayers association, the municipality will investigate options to beautify and upgrade the lookout area.
Proposed new filming by-law
The Council approved a recommendation for a proposed new filming by-law that will undergo a process of public participation. Thereafter, the Council will consider the proposal for acceptance.
Mossel Bay is developing into a popular destination for filming. The need for the facilitation and regulation of the filming industry in the area was identified.
The proposed by-law will provide for the necessary and required permits and for filming in environmentally sensitive areas, and for the use of municipal facilities and services during filming.
The by-law will apply to all filming within the municipal jurisdiction. The by-law defines filming as relating to all recording of images, moving or still, whether on film or videotape, electronically or by any other means. However, it excludes the video recording of wedding ceremonies or other private celebrations or events for purposes of making a video record thereof for the participants, still photography, or the recording of current affairs or news for immediate release.
One-way traffic flow on Stellenbosch Avenue, Hartenbos
To prevent any safety risks for pedestrians and scholars, the Council approved a recommendation for Stellenbosch Avenue in Hartenbos to be changed into a one-way road on weekdays between 07:00 and 07:30. This will accommodate the high traffic volumes of morning traffic near the Hartenbos Primary School.
The proposal will be open for public input and, after the completion of the public participation process, revert to the Municipal Manager, Adv Thys Giliomee, for consideration.
Two pedestrian crossings in Stellenbosch Avenue, near the school, is in the process of being implemented.
The proposal is for Stellenbosch Avenue to be converted into a north-bound one-way one-lane road from Bulhoek Avenue to Kaap De Goede Hoop Avenue on week days between 07:00 - 07:30. The Roads, Transport and Stormwater Department support the above proposal as the one-way traffic flows during this half-hour period will not adversely affect journey times. Pedestrians and scholar safety would be better controlled during the peak periods. Bloedrivier Street, however, will remain a two-way street.
Wayleave Policy approved
The Council approved the Wayleave Policy that will be implemented with immediate effect. The wayleave application process will be managed by the Roads, Transport, and Stormwater Department.
The Policy provides a framework and guideline for the Wayleave process and defines the responsible Department that coordinates and manages all work applications carried out in the public road reserve (PRR) in the jurisdiction of the Mossel Bay Municipality. This Policy applies to all entities that carry out work in the PRR, such as internal municipal departments, external service providers, service departments, and associated contractors. It does not apply to work on state land, private developments, national or provincial road reserves.
Plans for Great Brak River holiday resort
The Council approved a recommendation for the alienation of Erf 5094 (±323m²) and a portion of Erf 5009 (±4 677m²), situated at Charles Street, Great Brak River, through the tender process in terms of the Supply Chain Management Regulations and Policy. The property is not needed for basic municipal purposes.
However, the property is deemed to be of high economic and aesthetic value and is situated ideally for a holiday resort. The Council unanimously agreed that it would be in the public interest and to the benefit of local economic development to alienate Erf 5094 and a portion of the Erf 5009, Great Brak River through the tender process. The tender process will ensure that the alienation is fair, equitable, transparent, and competitive.
A reversion condition will be included in the deed of sale and the title deed that Erf 5094 and a portion of Erf 5009 be utilised as a holiday resort only and, should the successful bidder fail to erect such buildings and obtain an occupancy certificate for the specified purpose within 36 months from date of signing of the deed of sale or not use the property as specified, the property will revert to the municipality for the same amount as the original purchase price.
Furthermore, the successful Bidder will be responsible to build a slipway for boats and water sport in consultation with and to the satisfaction of the director: infrastructure services. The successful bidder will also, on his/her costs, erect a fence with a sliding gate, streetlights, and an ablution block with toilets and laundry facilities.
The proposed development will be subject to a public participation process, where after the matter will be referred to council for further consideration.
Call for proposals for De Bakke premises
The Council unanimously approved a recommendation that invites business proposals for a portion of the property at De Bakke where a restaurant was destroyed by fire in 2019.
The portion of Erf 3787, De Bakke Beach, must be used for commercial land uses related to the tourism, recreation and/or the leisure sectors.
The proposal must be based on a thirty (30) year lease agreement with the Municipality.
The purpose of the invitation is to gather ideas for the future use of a portion of the property. Therefore a combination of proposals and/or ideas may be considered by the Council. The preferred proposals or ideas or combinations thereof may be used to formulate the specifications for a tender to the public subject to conditions and criteria.
Intensified focus on community safety
The Council approved a recommendation for a revision of the Organisational Macrostructure to give effect to an intensified focus on community safety. The departments of Fire, Rescue and Disaster Management Services, Traffic and Law Enforcement, the senior environmental officer, and Security Services will henceforth resort under the newly-created Protection Services, headed by an executive manager. The proposed joint Disaster Management Centre (JOC) will form an integral part of this focus.
The directorate Corporate Services will be responsible for the Integrated Development Plan and public participation, while the Legal and Compliance unit will report directly to the municipal manager.
Microstructure changes, mostly pertaining to the finance directorate, were also approved to improve effective service delivery.
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