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For people wanting to voice their opinions regarding the future of Newcastle, the time has officially come for you to have your say.
Following the Newcastle Municipality giving notice, Chapter 4 of the Municipal Systems Act (Act No. 32 of 2000) states that the Newcastle Local Municipality Integrated Development Plan (IDP) Draft Review for 2021/2022 is now available for public comment.
When looking at the purpose of the Integrated Development Plan (IDP), the Executive Summary explains the IDP is assembled in an integrated approach that involves various stakeholders to ensure the implementation of proposals and strategies.
Moreover, the IDP is to be used as a tool towards the municipality’s 2035 vision. Seeing Newcastle being a resilient and economically vibrant city while promoting service excellence to its citizens. It is also meant to work as a foundation for the city’s incremental development and all areas falling within its jurisdiction.
Looking at the IDP’s objectives, the Newcastle Municipality’s Integrated Development Plan adopts a long-term planning horizon and also presents a short-to-medium term strategic agenda. This, coupled with a detailed five-year programme spanning from the 2016/2017 financial year, ending in the 2021/2022 financial year. This period coincides with the term of office of the incumbent Council and aligns with the budget cycle.
The IDP is prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Municipal Systems Act, 2000 (Act No. 32 of 2000) and the associated regulations. In addition, the IDP is intended to serve as a strategic guide for public sector investment and development. It is based on the issues articulated by all stakeholders and is informed by the national and provincial development imperatives.
The objectives of Newcastle Municipality’s IDP are:
- To guide decision making in respect of service delivery and public sector investment.
- To inform budgets and service delivery programs of various government departments and service agencies.
- To coordinate the activities of various service delivery agencies within Newcastle Municipality’s area of jurisdiction.
- To engage communities and other key interested and affected parties in municipal affairs, particularly the continuous integrated development planning process.
- To position the municipality to make a meaningful contribution towards meeting the district and provincial development targets and priorities.
When looking at the framework of the IDP, it must be highlighted that Newcastle Local Municipality’s IDP is presented in four main sections, which are in line with Section 26 of the Municipal Systems Act, 2000 (Act No. 32 of 2000), which prescribes the key components of an IDP, and an emphasis on development outcomes.
With this in mind, the objectives of the IDP are:
- To outline the key development needs and trends based on an analysis of the current level of development (Situational Analysis).
- A strategic framework that outlines Council’s long-term vision with specific emphasis on the municipality’s most critical strategic objectives, strategies and actions plans (Development Strategies).
- A capital program that entails a one-year program, a three-year program aligned to the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and the Five-Year Plan (Capital Investment Projects).
- An implementation framework including sector plans, more specifically the financial plan, the spatial development framework, the organisational performance management system, and an organisational transformation and institutional development plan (Integration).
With the IDP Draft Review now open for public comment, be sure to do your part as a community, learning what the IDP Draft Review has planned and have your say. The Newcastle Municipality’s IDP Draft Review is available on the municipal website on the following link: https://newcastle.gov.za/?wpdmact=process…
Comments may be submitted to the IDP unit at the Newcastle Municipality, Civic Centre Building on 37 Murchison Street.
The closing date for submissions is 27 April 2021.
For enquiries, you can contact Velile Ngcobo or the IDP unit on 034 328 7600.
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One Response
I’m Sibonile Mbambo from from Madadeni section 2,it’s been 2 months now trying to get I.D smart card for me and my son Department of Home Affairs always system Shut down why is true? Actually I m worried about my son he is doing Matric this year but no I.D because of the system Shut down every day even today I m in Home Affairs no system , please 🙏 can I arrange another way a specially scholars to get fast I.D is to much money to go there every day at the end of the nothing accept shutdown system please!!!!!