Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning
With reference to the City of Cape Town’s ward allocation funding:
(1) (a) How many wards received capital expenditure and operational expenditure funding in (i) 2011, (ii) 2012, (iii) 2013, (iv) 2014, (v) 2015 and (vi) 2016, (b) what are the expenditure details in each case, (c) what are the reasons for any nonexpenditure and (d) what is the current allocation per ward and subcouncil;
(2) whether the various communities were consulted; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
[1][a] For the 2011/12 to 2015/16 financial years, all 111 Wards received capital expenditure and operational funding annually.
[b] The capital and operating expenditure for the 2011/12 to 2015/16 financial years is attached as Annexure A.
[c] The reasons for non-expenditure/under-expenditure on ward allocation projects cover the full spectrum of factors influencing project implementation generally. Factors impacting on ward allocation projects’ implementation success generally include aspects such as:
- Project delayed due to tender appeals;
- Project delayed due to contractor/vendor underperformance / supply constraints;
- Project delayed due to labour problems;
- Project delayed due to unsettled community involvement;
- Project delayed due to re-advertising of tenders as a result of non-compliant tenderers;
- Savings on completed projects; and
- Grants-in-Aid-funded projects are sometimes underspent due to applicants not complying with requirements stipulated in the Grants-in-Aid policy e.g. tax certificate.
It should be noted that significant progress has over recent years been made on the following aspects:
- pre-implementation stage planning i.e. project identification, zonings, approvals, design, costing, supply chain management, etc
- project management and implementation i.e. tender approval, commissioning, variation management, progress monitoring and reporting, etc.
[d] Currently, each ward receives an amount of R700 000 per financial year. Each Sub-Council, comprising a number of wards, decides on the allocation for operating and capital projects respectively.
[2] Ward Committees are established in each ward and provide the mechanism for Ward Councillors to engage with the community on appropriate projects. The Ward Councillors as the elected representatives of the communities submit suggested ward allocation projects.
