House development, bulk infrastructure, water and electricity supply are what Buffalo City Metro residents can expect to have prioritised during the 2016-17 financial year with a budget of R7.4-billion.
This was revealed by mayor Alfred Mtsi following the metro’s council open day yesterday, where scores of residents from various organisations and areas, officials and councillors were invited to the colourful event aimed at concluding the four-week-long Integrated Development Plan (IDP) roadshows which finished on Monday.
Mtsi said although all communities had been given an opportunity to raise their concerns during the roadshows, not every item would be attended to yet by the metro, as implementation depended on the budget allocation.
“The fact is that budget is inelastic, it is fixed. We have R7.4-billion for 2016-17 financial year and we may come with a number of expectations but will be determined by the availability of resources,” he said.
“We have set aside budget to focus on the issues of housing development. That is one of our priorities.
“Bulk infrastructure and the issues of water, electricity are key issues that we have prioritised in the budget going forward. The roads infrastructure forms part of those issues,” Mtsi said, adding that the metro’s priorities affected everyone.
He said residents’ major concerns about the dirtiness of the city would be addressed on a “broader stage” with the metro set to launch an integrated waste management plan.
To respond to complaints about potholes affecting road users BCM has appointed 10 volunteers in each ward to “fix and patch” potholes.
This initiative, driven by the infrastructure and engineering department, is set to bring relief to drivers as well as the metro which has had to pay out to drivers whose vehicles are damaged as a result of the potholes.
“They have already appointed 500 volunteers for the whole city. They are doing the fixing and patching of potholes.
“At some stage you will find that the issue of potholes is beyond the expectation. It is something that is unfortunately more linked to weather conditions and it sometimes goes beyond their capacity,” Mtsi added.
The IDP and budget plan will be taken before council later this month for final adoption.
Mayor Mtsi outlines metro budget priorities
This was revealed by mayor Alfred Mtsi following the metro’s council open day yesterday, where scores of residents from various organisations and areas, officials and councillors were invited to the colourful event aimed at concluding the four-week-long Integrated Development Plan (IDP) roadshows which finished on Monday.
Mtsi said although all communities had been given an opportunity to raise their concerns during the roadshows, not every item would be attended to yet by the metro, as implementation depended on the budget allocation.
“The fact is that budget is inelastic, it is fixed. We have R7.4-billion for 2016-17 financial year and we may come with a number of expectations but will be determined by the availability of resources,” he said.
“We have set aside budget to focus on the issues of housing development. That is one of our priorities.
“Bulk infrastructure and the issues of water, electricity are key issues that we have prioritised in the budget going forward. The roads infrastructure forms part of those issues,” Mtsi said, adding that the metro’s priorities affected everyone.
He said residents’ major concerns about the dirtiness of the city would be addressed on a “broader stage” with the metro set to launch an integrated waste management plan.
To respond to complaints about potholes affecting road users BCM has appointed 10 volunteers in each ward to “fix and patch” potholes.
This initiative, driven by the infrastructure and engineering department, is set to bring relief to drivers as well as the metro which has had to pay out to drivers whose vehicles are damaged as a result of the potholes.
“They have already appointed 500 volunteers for the whole city. They are doing the fixing and patching of potholes.
“At some stage you will find that the issue of potholes is beyond the expectation. It is something that is unfortunately more linked to weather conditions and it sometimes goes beyond their capacity,” Mtsi added.
The IDP and budget plan will be taken before council later this month for final adoption.
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