EThekwini Municipality is calling on the public to comment on the draft Integrated Development Plan (IDP) for the 2015/16 financial year.
The IDP, a requirement of the Municipal Systems Act of 2000, is a crucial driver for development in all municipalities. It is the key strategic document which guides and informs all planning, budgeting, management and decision-making related to delivering services and development in the municipal area. The compilation process is overseen by the National and Provincial Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.
The strategic approach of the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) is underpinned by strategic international, national and provincial policies. As such the IDP is aligned with the development objectives identified in the Millennium Development Goals, National Development Plan, Medium Term Strategic Framework, Provincial Priorities and Provincial Growth and Development strategy amongst others.
The Municipality will be focus on six strategic focus areas, namely, A Safe City, An Accessible City, An Environmentally Sustainable City, A City creating Sustainable Livelihoods, A Socially Cohesive City, A Financially Sustainable City
The IDP consists of eight plans:
- Plan 1, Develop and Sustain our Spatial, Natural & Built Environment deals with issues related to spatial planning and development, coastal management, climate change and biodiversity protection.
- Plan 2, Developing a Prosperous, Diverse Economy & Employment Creation, deals with issues related to job creation, SMME Development, Tourism Growth, Informal Sector and Key Sector Development.
- Plan 3, Creating a Quality Living Environment, deals with issues related to housing delivery, provision of basic services such as water, electricity, roads, sanitation; infrastructure management, provision of community facilities and public transport.
- Plan 4, Fostering a Socially Equitable Environment, deals with issues related to crime prevention, disaster management, emergency services, promoting healthy lifestyles, HIV/AIDS & TB and maternal, women and child health.
- Plan 5, Creating a Platform for Growth, Empowerment & Skills Development, deals with issues related to learnerships/skills programmes, Adult Basic Education Training, Knowledge Management and Digital Connectivity.
- Plan 6, Embracing our Cultural Diversity, Arts & Heritage, deals with issues related to Heritage Assets, Developing Healthy Lifestyle and promoting Arts, Culture and Sport.
- Plan 7, Good Governance & Responsive Local Government, Focuses on improving customer service and community participation, creating a clean and accountable organisation and promoting Inter Governmental Relations
- Plan 8, Financially Accountable & Sustainable City, Focuses on sustainable budgeting, growing the municipal revenue base, ensuring value for money expenditure and sound financial management.
The formulation of the budget takes the above plans into account so as to ensure that the City’s strategic objectives are achieved.
A Service Delivery Budget Implementation Plan (SDBIP) is thereafter compiled to monitor the implementation of the various programmes and projects contained within each plan. The SDBIP provides both financial as well as non-financial performance indicators which are used to monitor and evaluate quarterly and yearly service delivery targets.
An Annual Report is compiled at the end of the financial year, which gives an assessment of the year’s activities as recorded by the Municipality’s assessment tools e.g. SDBIP, Budget and Scorecard.
The draft IDP is available on the Municipality’s website, http://www.durban.gov.za/Resource_Centre/IDP/Pages/default.aspx.
Comments may be sent to Puvendra Akkiah, Corporate Policy Unit, 41 Margaret Mncadi Avenue (Victoria Embankment), 2nd Floor, Rennies House, Durban, 4001. Phone: 031 311 4264
E-mail: Puvendra.Akkiah@durban.gov.za
The closing date for comment is on 1 May 2015.
