Low revenues crippling functions
MANDEVILLE, Manchester: WITH A percentage of the revenue of the councils being lost to criminals, particularly from the markets, Minister of Local Government Desmond McKenzie is adamant that it has to stop.
“The time has come when we have to shake this monster and get rid of this level of criminality ... . We are going to be training and improving on the municipal police officers ... ,” said McKenzie.
He said that with the requisite funding needed to keep the councils operational, the officers must take full responsibility in areas of compliance and law enforcement.
“We are using in excess annually of close to $1 billion in revenue because of weaknesses in the system ... . What we should be earning from trade licences, we are not earning because the compliance rate is very low.”
He added: “What we need to do is step up our enforcement, (and) to take the necessary steps
What we need to do is step up our enforcement ... . – McKenzie
which are at the disposal of the local authority to get these people accountable ... . ”
McKenzie, who was present at the Manchester Municipal Corporation’s monthly meeting last Thursday, pointed out that much more work needs to be done.
“We have not done enough to get the compliance ... . We have done well over the last year and a half because we have seen significant improvement in revenue streams ... , but that increase is still not adequate to cover the workings of the local authority.”