GRDM council need to tighten their belts

GARDEN ROUTE DISTRICT NEWS - Social events, team-building exercises, year-end functions, sporting events and budget vote dinners may not be financed from the municipal budget or by any supplier or sponsor.

This is what the new Garden Route District Municipality's policy on cost containment prohibits, following the publication of new regulations on the Municipal Finance Management Act in the Government Gazette this year.

Councillors approved the new policy at a special council meeting on Tuesday. They were informed by Speaker Barnie Groenewald that when a council meeting does not exceed five hours, no lunch will be served. Groenewald had a small consolation for the councillors. He brought along 50 packs of biscuits from Mossel Bay to serve with their tea. However, it is apparent that everyone will have to tighten their belts, since the new regulations in the policy are not open to adjustment or deviation. The purpose of the policy is to regulate spending and implement cost containment measures at the municipality.

Ways to work around, but in line with these regulations, will be explored at future workshops and meetings. One option raised for councillors' lunch dilemma is to deduct an amount from their salaries to cover the cost.

* CFO Jan-Willem de Jager said a portion of the capital budget for resorts was held back. Since the municipality is still waiting for the land-claim outcome of a Calitzdorp family for one of its resorts, the possibility to lease the property to investors is now on hold. He said it makes no sense to spend money on the property under the circumstances. This comment was made during a brief discussion of the quarterly report on the implementation and financial affairs of the municipality for the year to date and the period ending 30 June 2019.

* Speaker Barnie Groenewald said a new curator has been appointed to look after the national pension fund for councillors. "The latest news is that a R120-million that has been paid for property - that has not been transferred - has been recovered. The fund is in good stead with more or less R4-billion in the kitty," said Groenewald.

Sharing a light moment. From left are ANC Councillors Piet van der Hoven, Doris Xego, Ivan Mangaliso and Claudia Litchaba.