This week’s question is:
When should we give our ward councillors input for the IDP? Are there any specific limits to what we could ask for?
Ward 117 councillor Tim Truluck answered:
The Integrated Development Plan, or IDP, is a wish list for capital expenditure projects in a ward. Capital expenditure, or Capex, typically refers to big new or replacement projects, often over several years, that are needed in the city.
Examples in Ward 117 would be the refurbishment of the Parkhurst substation, new parks, and clinic in Rosebank, widening of Jan Smuts Avenue and riverbank stabilisation on the Braamfontein Spruit. It doesn’t refer to repairs and maintenance issues.
The ward councillor usually submits a list to the Speakers’ office around September or October which is then programmed into the planning for the following financial year that starts a new funding cycle on 1 July every year.
Only a few items make it onto the list – so councillors eagerly pore over the draft budget document that is usually issued for public comment in March every year. Ward-based projects are listed under the various entities line items.
Your councillor should be regularly attending the meetings of all the residents’ associations, community groups, user groups, regional City of Johannesburg meetings, information sessions, council meetings, caucus meetings, security or Community Policing Forum (CPF) meetings, whip group meetings, etc.
Furthermore, residents should be contacting the councillor at information tables, public meetings, via WhatsApp groups, emails, Facebook, Twitter, etc. All these information streams give the councillor a deep knowledge of the ward and enable him or her to compile a list of projects that need Capex expenditure.
For residents who do not know their councillors’ contact details, are not on any community-based organisations or groups, who do not use social media and do not attend any public meetings, they can still have input into the IDP at the annual IDP feedback meeting held in their region around April or May.
They can fill out a form and hand it in at that meeting.
Do you have a question for a ward councillor?
As a local newspaper, the Northcliff Melville Times provides a platform for residents to learn about, understand and follow local government. As an extension of that, there is a weekly column called Councillor’s Corner which is a platform for you, our readers, to voice your concerns or questions for ward councillors to respond to.
Different, willing, ward councillors will respond to a question each week.
Email your burning question to: aimeed@caxton.co.za and let’s get the ball rolling.
