OPPOSITION parties found themselves gridlocked at a meeting of the Executive Council Committee on Tuesday over the city’s plans to deal with bad buildings in the inner city.
In a report tabled at the meeting, the city resolved to allow advertising signs to be placed on the identified bad buildings.
“Allowing for third party advertising wraps on declared bad buildings will generate income that will assist in payment towards municipal services, critical structural improvements, minor remedial works and the general upkeep of the building,” read the report.
Exco also resolved to recommend a 50 per cent reduction tariff for the building wraps.
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The DA’s Nicole Graham commented that when the idea was initially presented to councillors it suggested that profits landlords made from any advertising would go towards the rehabilitation of the bad buildings and paying off their municipal debt. She said the recommendation put before Exco did not stipulate how landlords would use the revenue generated from advertising.
“These are building owners who have shown that they are not necessarily playing by the rules,”said Graham. “We like the idea … it could go some way in making some income back for the city, however, if that’s the idea why is it not expressly worded as such? The intention and the recommendation are not speaking to each other,” she said.
In response Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda said the recommendation in the report could not cover all aspects.
“When we sign implement policies or any agenda with any of the parties, we will have to specify that,”he said.
The recommendation was ultimately adopted by Exco with the DA abstaining.
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