AN advisory committee has been elected ahead of the official start of the Manor Gardens Urban Improvement Precinct (MGUIP) in September, with the first payment of the special rating area (SRA) set to reflect on utility bills in July.

The committee was elected at the special general meeting (SGM) of MGUIP on June 18. On the agenda for the meeting was the election of the advisory committee and the signing up of members for the non-profit company (NPC) that will be linked to the running of the civic organisation. Under the eThekwini Municipality Rates Policy, which provides for the implementation of SRA/ UIP, an NPC has to be set up with a board of non-remunerated directors. The board approves the annual business plan and budget for the service requirements of the defined UIP area.

Steve Jones, one of the members elected onto the committee, said that residents and businesses that attended the meeting were informed that to be eligible to vote for the incoming leadership of the NPC and civic organisation they will have to be members. He said, “On the agenda of the meeting was the discussion of how the NCP and MGUIP will work. Members of the community were advised that they are not automatically taken as members into the non-profit company and that to be eligible to vote at the AGM, they will need to register as members.”

Also Read: Slow service delivery irks Manor Gardens UIP

Membership was taken on the day but for those who were unable to attend the meeting, MGUIP has made the registration form available on their website. “Once registered, as a business or individual, you will be eligible to vote at the AGM and effect the change that you wish to see in your community,” said Jones.

The meeting served as a precursor for the civic organisation’s AGM which will be held soon. “The SRA rate will be deducted in July and August, the UIP will be operational from September,” said Jones. “From July, we will be going out with our calls and terms of reference for suppliers, as well as applications for the leadership positions. We will also be looking for staff and offices for the UIP.”

He encouraged members of the community to sign up to their website where there will be regular updates on the work of the UIP. “Community members can join the Manor Gardens WhatsApp group which will allow for quick updates,” added Jones.  Members of the advisory committee who were voted in are Adolphe Musem, Carol Lottering, Crillon Naidoo, Deidre Taylor, Deline Wallace, Frank Bryan Ashe, Lephoi Maduna, Nomusa Xaba, Shaun Kruger, Steve Jones, Sue Barratt, Thulisa Ndlela and Wonder-Boy Msizi Shange.

For more information on MGUIP, visit their website www.mguip.co.za or email: info@mguip.co.za.

Click to subscribe to our newsletter – here