For the past month the City’s legislature, in collaboration with Group Strategy, Policy Coordination and Relations (GSPCR), has been hosting Community-Based Planning (CBP) sessions throughout the City’s 135 wards to give residents a platform to raise the needs of their communities.
The purpose of CBP processions is to create an enabling environment for the residents to engage directly with the City. This round of the CBP process was aligned to the end of the 5-year political term therefore, the focus was on reflecting on the priorities that communities have raised throughout the term, giving feedback and refining ward priorities as a precursor for the City’s draft Integrated Development Plan (IDP). To date, more than 30 sessions have taken place.
Thobile Dlamini, Deputy Director responsible for Community-Based Planning within GSPCR, says CBP is a process that empowers communities and encourages them to be involved in matters affecting their neighbourhoods. The CBP process is not only a legal requirement for local government but also a cornerstone and a planning tool for the city and importantly, a platform for residents to participate in meaningful engagements with the City.
Dlamini says CBPs serve as the first building block in the City’s strategic planning roadmap. “CBP is crucial because it creates an opportunity for community voices to be threaded into the City’s planning and budgeting process and an opportunity for communities to have their say in how the City prioritises and allocates resources.”
Dlamini urges residents to participate in the upcoming sessions. “The whole point of CBP is to move conversations from street corners to the council chamber. If residents don’t attend CBP sessions, they take away from themselves the opportunity of their voices being echoed in the council chamber. I urge communities to not rob themselves of this opportunity.”
Key themes emerged from sessions, including maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure for communities speaking to issues around upscaling road resurfacing, stormwater upgrading, increasing the capacity of water towers and power substations and the dire need for primary health care facilities, rehabilitation centres and improvement of urban safety throughout the City.
The City has demonstrated a genuine commitment to building a more inclusive and transparent planning process, and CBP sessions are a strong reflection of that effort.
Remaining sessions:
Saturday, 22 November: 10:00 – 14:00
Region C: Ward 44 and 49, Braamfischer
RegionD2: Ward 39, 40 and 41, Phefeni Recreational Centre
Region E: Ward 75, 76, 81 (A), Eastbank Hall
Region G: Ward 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 131 in three venues, Poortjie, Ext 1 Hall and Ext 2 Hall
Written by Brümilda Swartbooi