Committee Minutes and Committee Reports on Arcacia Park and Plettenberg Bay Visit

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Meeting report

PUBLIC WORKS PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE

PUBLIC WORKS PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE
11 October 2006
COMMITTEE REPORTS ON ARCACIA PARK AND PLETTENBERG BAY VISIT

Chairperson:
Mr F Bhengu (ANC)

Documents handed out:
None

SUMMARY
The Chair provided feedback on his attempts to engage with the head of the committee section and the House Chairperson regarding the inadequate support that the committee was experiencing, and the depleted budget of the committee. He reported that briefings by the Independent Development Trust, the Construction Industry Development Board and the Council for the Built Environment would be rescheduled to the week starting Monday 16 October 2006. The Committee considered the minutes of meetings from March 2006 to September 2006. It was noted that the issue of Acacia Park remained unresolved, and information had been sought from the Department. Alternative development of Fernwood or other military bases was discussed and the Department of Defence would be asked for feedback. It was agreed that the secretariat of the Property Charter would be asked to brief all portfolio Committees, and that a separate briefing be arranged by secretariat of the Property Charter, together with the Construction Industry Development Board. 

The Committee considered its report on the visit to Acacia Park, and noted that progress seemed to be slow. It was agreed that the Chairperson would engage with the Department. The Committee also considered its report on the visit to Plettenberg Bay. Four important issues were identified which had caused particular concern to the Committee, and there was a sense that local government was not being proactive enough. It was suggested that a further visit was necessary.

MINUTES
Rescheduling of briefings
The Chair reported that the Department of Public Works had requested that the briefing by the Independent Development Trust, the Construction Industry Development Board and the Council for the Built Environment be rescheduled due to the fact that the entities were unprepared. It was agreed that the briefings would be rescheduled to the week starting Monday 16 October 2006. The Chairperson had in the meantime requested that the Department furnish the committee with a report on each of the three entities by the end of the week.

The Chair emphasised that he was trying his utmost to set up meetings with the head of the Committee Section and the House Chairperson, in order to discuss complaints by Members that inadequate support was being given to the committee. The Chair noted that the Committee Section needed to do an introspective evaluation of itself insofar as its capacity was concerned. He furthermore identified the budget of the committee as an issue that needed to be raised with the House Chairperson, especially since the committee was planning trips to Canada and Chicago.

Consideration of Minutes March 2006-September 2006, and matters arising: Acacia Park and Property Charter
The Minutes of meetings from March 2006 to September 2006 were tabled. The Chairperson made a point of highlighting the resolutions taken by the committee for each meeting. He asked that the resolutions of each minute be highlighted in the next amended draft of the minutes. This would allow members to identify which issues needed to be addressed.

Some issues emanating from the minutes that remained unresolved, and were considered important by the committee, were discussed.

The Chairperson noted that the issue of Acacia Park remained unresolved. He noted that even though the park was used as a residence for parliamentarians it had not until recently been totally acquired by Government. Part ownership of it had vested with the Graaf Trust and Government had bought the trust’s share for R110million. The Department had been requested to furnish the committee with a register of occupants of Acacia Park and a breakdown of the park’s maintenance budget. This information was yet to be furnished to the committee.

Mr J Blanche (DA) suggested that Fernwood be developed into a residence for members of parliament. He believed that old military bases like Fernwood would be ideal for development into residences.

The Chairperson agreed and noted that the process on deciding on what to do with old military bases was ongoing.

Ms Ines Stephanie, the committee researcher, gave the committee a brief background on the current situation regarding redundant military bases.

The Chairperson suggested that a letter be addressed to the Department of Defence in order to obtain feedback on the current status of the process.

The Chairperson raised concerns over the issue of the Property Charter and noted that Members were unhappy with the Department’s report on it. It was agreed that the Department would be requested to ask the secretariat of the Property Charter to brief all portfolio committees since property was relevant to all of them. It was also agreed that on a separate occasion the secretariat of the Property Charter, together with the Construction Industry Development Board, be asked to address the committee in a combined briefing.

Consideration of Committee Report on visit to Acacia Park
The committee proceeded to discuss the report on its visit to Acacia Park. The Chair noted that no proper arrangements had been made for the refurbishment of the park. He stated that many members were unaware of what was happening and communication was seemingly poor.

Ms C Ramotsamai (ANC) noted that the refurbishments should ideally have taken place during the parliamentary recess period from December 2006 to 12 January 2007. Coincidentally this was also the period when building contractors were on leave.

The Chairperson conceded that it was indeed a challenge for the builders to complete the refurbishments by March 2007, given that they would be off work in December and January.

Mr Blanche suggested that the committee be given a progress report on the refurbishing process.

Mr C Wang (ANC) recommended that the builders should be requested to furnish time frames on their progress.

Ms Ramotsamai noted that Acacia Park did have a board and a committee to oversee the refurbishment process.

The Chairperson pointed out that the builders were inevitably contractually bound to deliver. The point was made that parliamentary members should embrace the refurbishing and that they should be forthcoming with their co-operation.

Mr Blanche reiterated his comments on the possible use of Fernwood as a parliamentary residence. He suggested that Acacia Park be sold off and that parliamentary residences be built closer to parliament.

The Chairperson agreed to engage the department on the issue in order to come up with the best alternatives.

Consideration of Committee Report on visit to Plettenberg Bay
The Report on the Committee visit to Plettenberg Bay was tabled.

The Chairperson stated that it was unacceptable that Plettenberg Bay did not have its own public hospital. He felt it preposterous for persons to have to travel to Knysna to receive medical assistance. Most patients often did not have their own transport and huge travel delays often led to disastrous consequences.

Ms Ramotsamai commented that the report was fairly simple and she suggested that additional issues be included in it. Firstly, the fact that private public partnerships relating to BEE did not exist in Plettenberg Bay should be mentioned. Secondly, there must be reference to the fact that electricity was lacking in the townships and that efforts should be made to correct it. Thirdly, the land in Plettenberg Bay was predominantly privately owned and therefore land for public housing was scarce. It was felt that national government should offer available pieces of government owned land to the municipality for the purposes of building public housing.

Mr L Maduma (ANC) said that the cost of buying up private land was huge, and complicated the matter. He noted that the Deputy Minister had alluded to the concept of “integrated communities”. He said that municipalities had requested national government to transfer government owned land to them. The problem was that there were huge delays in the process.

The Chairperson commented that discussions on the transference of land from national to local government were ongoing.

Mr Maduma said that pressure needed to be applied on local government to take action.

Ms Ramotsamai and Mr Blanche both felt that local government officials were not doing their jobs in Plettenberg Bay.

Mr Opperman suggested that maybe the problem was one of a lack of funding.

The Chairperson answered that funding was never mentioned as an issue. The major complaint by local government in Plettenberg Bay was the shortage of land. He felt that there was no sense of urgency by officials, who were comfortable in their jobs. The result was that the status quo remained.

Mr Maduma believed that another visit was needed to check on the progress being made.

The meeting was adjourned.

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