Question NW2718 to the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
05 January 2022 - NW2718
Hicklin, Ms MB to ask the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
Given that the Council for the Built Environment (CBE) is on the verge of collapse following a further exodus of councillors and that the meeting of 25 November 2021 had to be cancelled due to a lack of quorum, what steps are being taken by her department to (a) stabilise the complete implosion of the CBE and (b) stem the tide of the exodus of Built Environment Professions from the CBE?
Reply:
The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
(a) I am informed that the CBE Council meeting of 25 November 2021 was indeed postponed due to the lack of quorum. It was, however, successfully held on 3 December 2021 and all matters of Council and its Committees for Quarter 3 that were on the agenda were addressed.
The postponement of the meeting of 25 November 2021 was the first occurrence since the 5th term Council was appointed in 2018. Although the Council currently has 11 members, the CBE is neither on the verge of collapse nor cancelling any meetings regularly.
The Department has received nominations for the replacement of the Council members that have vacated their positions and very soon these appointments will be made, after the necessary due diligence has been conducted.
(b) I have been monitoring the situation of the Council members that have been resigning from the Council and have undertaken to conduct an assessment of the Council’s performance at an individual level. The result of this assessment will enable me to take the necessary steps to address the identified challenges. In my engagements with the entities, I have emphasised the necessity to focus on the Objectives of the Boards and Councils as per the Acts of Parliament that establish these bodies. The most recent of such engagements was the CIDB National Stakeholder Forum that took place on 07 December 2021. Non-executive directors of State-owned public entities have an obligation to execute their fiduciary duties. The stabilisation of the leadership of these bodies is a top priority. In due course I will be in a position to update the Portfolio Committee on the assessment to be undertaken at the CBE and the outcomes thereof.