100-day action plan for Bitou

New Bitou Mayor Claude Terblanche is to unveil a 100-day action plan for the municipality by the end of the week. In a meeting with the Plettenberg Bay Ratepayers Association he asked the organisation for input on the plan, which concentrates on service delivery across all wards in Bitou.

Discussion of the plan began with all municipal staff on Wednesday to convey the importance of professionalism, concentrating on service delivery.

Terblanche said as executive mayor he was physically responsible and will exercise discipline at the cost base.

“My focus should be on revenue discipline and cost efficiencies,” he said.

Together with the directors in the municipality, the aim is to be “agents of change and start directing strategic forums to discuss population growth and how we will support infrastructure and new developments”.

“It is important to deliver on robust strategies and on long-term service delivery. Aspects which will be targeted include street lighting, potholes and clearing of storm water infrastructure."

Specific attention will be placed on illegal dumping and a water safety plan.

The open areas will where illegal dumping takes place are slated to be occupied by community gardens, playparks and sports fields, mainly in the areas of Kranshoek, New Horizons, Kurland and Kwanokuthula.

However, Terblanche stressed, the plan will not exclude other wards.

All wards in the Bitou municipal area will receive attention. “We need to do something today that the future will thanks us for,” he said.

He aims to have Bitou maintain a good track record for projects, to render support to municipal management “and help them increase their capability on project management”. Plettenberg Ratepayers Association met with Terblanche on 14 February and chairperson Steve Pattinson said there were a number of positives.

Terblanche recognises the needs of all wards and communities. He welcomes frequent interactions with the RPA and wants more constructive engagement across the administration.

The following issues were raised:

Building up the skills and experience across the administration

Improving overall performance and consequence management

He wants to ensure that Bitou does not suffer another round of above-inflation tariff increases by focusing on current areas of wastage and inefficiency

Supply chain management and tender awards are a long way from being value-formoney-oriented

Most importantly, critical investment in infrastructure is taking too long to implement. Municipal infrastructure grants are at risk of being cut back due to slow investment to cope with the rapid growth of population and housing developments.

“All in all a good first meeting," said Pattinson. "But we need to be ‘open eyed’ about risks and must judge progress of actions not words.”

“My focus should be on revenue discipline and cost efficiencies,” he said.