Locals are encouraged to comment on the revised Subcouncil By-law that proposes to disband 21 metropolitan subcouncils to establish 20 metropolitan subcouncils in the area of jurisdiction of the City of Cape Town; and to cluster wards for each subcouncil area.
Council has considered the above mentioned subcouncil boundaries with the view to:
- Create greater synergy in service delivery by aligning subcouncil boundaries with line departments’ service delivery areas as far as possible;
- Streamline subcouncil boundaries by reducing the number of subcouncils from 21 to 20 subcouncils; and
- Effecting fiscal prudence and contributing to budget austerity measures by reducing the number of subcouncils.
“With the ongoing budget cuts from National Government it was decided that the boundaries of the subcouncils be reviewed,” said Speaker Alderman Felicity Purchase, “and Alderman Matthew Kempthorne be appointed by the Executive Mayor to reconvene and lead a Multi-Party Committee to relook the boundaries of the subcouncils.”
The Multi-Party Committee comprising all the parties in Council met to provide input and proposals on the new boundaries for subcouncils. It concluded its deliberations and decided to submit a proposal for the new subcouncil boundaries.
“At the Council meeting held on 12 June the proposal was approved as submitted by the Multi-Party Committee, for advertising afterwards to the broader community of Cape Town for comment. Once we have received public input we will then submit these comments to the Multi-Party Committee for consideration. The committee will then make a final recommendation to Council.
The Public Comment period will close on Tuesday 30 July. Council will then make a decision on the proposed new boundaries of these Subcouncils at the Council meeting scheduled for Thursday 22 August.
Additional information, including the draft by-law and the map depicting the new proposed subcouncil boundaries, is available at www.capetown.gov.za/collaborate.
