The Newcastle Municipality has committed to providing efficient services to the community after conducting a two-day draft integrated development plan (IDP)/Budget/PMS Formulation Workshop.
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The workshop, which was held at the Newcastle Council Chambers, aimed to review the municipal vision, mission, and objectives, as well as identify hindrances in service delivery and develop strategies to overcome them.
The municipality’s Communications Unit explained that the IDP is the principal strategic planning instrument that provides an overall framework for development within the local authority area.
Newcastle Mayor Cllr Xolani Dube emphasized the importance of all stakeholders working together to participate in a long-term development process to secure the future of the municipality. “As the municipality, we have to come up with an integrated development plan that spells out a people-driven development agenda, which should be reviewed after a specified period of time,” he said.
“I have no doubt that the successful development of the IDP will promote sustainable social and economic development in all parts of Newcastle.”
The workshop sought to guide the council on the direction of allocating resources, set priorities, strengthen operations, and ensure that employees and other stakeholders are working towards common goals and objectives. The Communications Unit stated that the effectiveness of this activity will articulate not only where the municipality is headed but also how it will know if its strategic plan is successful.
Although Mayor Dube did not delve into the matter, the Communications Unit added that he gave a report on the municipality’s state of finances and advised technocrats and political heads to break the failed culture, policies, and vision of the past. The aim of the current administration is to turn the state of the municipality around.
The strategic planning ended on a hopeful and high note, with the meeting resolving to implement the resolutions taken during this seating to progressively work towards the betterment of Newcastle. The Newcastle Municipality is now poised to secure the future of the government entity and provide efficient services to the community.
