 |
 |
|
|
ANNUAL REPORT
2007/2008 More of that
shortly, but first let me introduce our guests. We are indeed fortunate to have Clem
Sunter address us this evening. Clem, a scenario planner of international repute, will
talk about the world and As a voluntary
organisation, community support is our life blood and our thanks to residents who, for
example, pay the (modest!) annual subscription fee. Even more thanks must go to those who
help by being, for instance, street reps or with other activities: here we recognise the
contribution of Bill and Fran Haslam who ensure that the debit orders for the Community
Security Scheme are run every month, and Kerryn Lawson and Lourens Malan for resurrecting
the immensely successful Domestic Watch Programme. The biggest thanks, however, needs to
go to your committee and I’m sure you’ll join me in recognising the contribution
they make. Exec members have come and gone this year and we thank Russ Smith, Heidi
Kerwin, Towards the end of
this meeting, we will be electing a new executive and I very much hope that there are
residents here this evening who feel that the time is right to play a greater part in
civic affairs and help deal with the issues that, if left unattended, will be to our
mutual detriment. Major project Never has your
support been more important as the CRA embarks on a major project, that of forming a City Improvement District (CID). A steering
committee has been formed to guide the process. We believe that in terms of today’s
local government structures, this is the best way to go to safeguard and effectively
manage our area. Unless we do it ourselves, it’s just not going to happen any time
soon. I have it on good authority that the City Council’s draft budget for the
forthcoming year does not include ONE capital project in any DA-held Ward. A CID works through
raising a monthly amount from all property owners which may be spent only in the CID area
and allows us to deal with major issues such as crime and grime on an integrated basis.
Yes, we pay our rates but we have very little say how that money is spent. In the same
way, we pay our taxes but many of us choose to use private medical facilities and our own
security companies rather than rely only on state hospitals or the police. We see a CID as
a form of ‘privatising’ our suburbs and, at this stage, the only viable way of
protecting ourselves and our property values. As was said in the
information sheet we hand-delivered, this model of urban management has been successfully
used in the UK and USA for more than 20 years – and Clem has indicated that he will
share with us his experience with the cities of Perth and Brisbane; so no need to pack for
Perth, we’re determined to get our area shipshape! I don’t want
to dwell on this for too long as we have arranged a meeting next week (15 May at 18:00,
here at the School), to explain the concept, the processes and discuss what residents
want. What YOU want forms the basis of a business plan, essentially a list of approved
projects that determines the monthly contribution. Note also that a CID only happens if
more than 50% of property owners approve, and (as with the Precinct Plan) public
participation is an integral part of the process. I’m pleased to say that thus far,
all respondents to the survey, bar 4, have indicated that they in principle are in favour
of forming a CID. If you haven’t yet completed the survey form, please don’t
delay! There will also be time for questions before the meeting closes. Security report
back Richard King and
his team – Eric Glover, Phillip Bond (assisted by Vanessa) and, until recently, Mike
Wilmot – are to be commended for the time and effort they have put in to this
portfolio. They meet regularly with SAPS Parkview and ADT. They have organised a number of
“your safety” meetings and assisted with the implementation of Domestic Watch
and the “my house, my street, my suburb” plan, all activities vital to enhanced
community security. Thanks to those residents who have helped support the SAPS with street
patrols. However, the most
important security activity remains the Community
Security Scheme. Implemented just over a year ago at the request of the community, it
was believed that its reasonable cost (R40pm for sectional title owners, and a maximum of
R182pm for home owners) would lead to suburb-wide support. This hasn’t happened. The
result is that we aren’t even covering the costs of the 2 patrol vehicles which are
subsidised by ADT. On the other hand, a group of residents has
recently started canvassing support for the services of the perceived more ‘pro-active’
CSS Tactical to be implemented in our suburbs. The CRA has neither supported nor endorsed
this service, preferring to adopt a ‘wait and see’ approach until such time
there is clear evidence that such a service is the preferred option of a significant
portion of the community. The cost is between
R520-R920pm. The irony is that
for considerably less than this - but with greater community support for the existing
Scheme - we would have had many more patrol vehicles 24/7, providing the personal and
street-wide security that the Scheme was intended for. Nonetheless, it’s clear that
whatever scheme is in place, residents want it to be more proactive and we have taken up
this issue with ADT. They have agreed that in addition to the existing patrol vehicles and
their meet and greet service for subscribers, they will deploy, at their expense, a large imposing Pro-Active unit to patrol At this stage the CRA remains committed to the
partnership with ADT and actively encourages residents to join this Scheme. It’s
important to note that the formation of a City Improvement District would ensure a 100%
participation and provide the wherewithal to implement many additional security measures
such as bicycle and foot patrols and/or surveillance cameras. The CID Steering Committee
has already obtained estimates from three security companies and there is every indication
that considerably more pro-active security measures could be implemented at possibly less
than R300 per household per month – but more of that at next week’s CID meeting. To conclude, although there were many
incidents through the year, there is strong indication that crime is not up materially in
the suburbs. Whether there would have been more incidents if the above measures had not
been implemented is almost impossible to know. What we do know is that each little bit
helps and, moreover, it is up to each one of us to take responsibility for our own
personal safety and security. (A more detailed report is on the CRA website.) Town Planning There is no doubt
that with the Precinct plan approved and in place, there are fewer applications for higher
density developments, other than those permitted along areas such as adjacent to Jan Smuts
Avenue. Thanks to the Town Planning team – Lee Whitfield, Roly Meyer and Bianca de
Roland-Phillips – for their extensive contribution, from monitoring the Government
Gazette, to braving the elements at site meetings where objections have been raised to a
proposed development. There is still a
great deal of building activity in the area and many of us are tired of rubble and
building materials deposited on pavements. There is also concern that builders often use
illegal immigrants, some of whom may also be criminals. Don’t forget – you have
the right to ask for workers’ ID documents – or contact Parkview SAPS to ask
them to check. You can also contact the building inspector for our area (Mark Tobin –
011 881 6320/6169). Environment This portfolio is
under-manned since Paulette Malcolm is now spear-heading the CID project. Chris Taylor has
worked hard to involve City Parks with the better upkeep of the river area and is making
good progress. Chris recently organised a successful river clean-up with some 200 bags of
rubbish collected – including a pile of credit cards and a number plate…
Discussions are underway with City Parks to erect a litter trap on the Jan Smuts bridge
and some local companies are being approached with a view to sponsoring some or all of the
cost. We would certainly
appreciate more volunteers for this portfolio to help with, for example, the Membership We thought that
combing the portfolios of Membership and Community Affairs would be workable but this hasn’t
proved to be the case, although there are many overlapping activities. Since Information from
the Deeds Office indicates that including sectional title property owners, we have over
1500 households in our area. With less than 20% of residents being paid-up members this is
cause for concern and we urge you to become a member – today! Equally important
is having up-to-date contact information, particularly email addresses. Communications I can’t really
thank myself but I do work hard at trying to keep the community informed! The CRA website
is the information hub and I hope that when you make use of it, it provides you with
helpful information. Our web stats show that there were 3127 ‘hits’ in the first
four months of 2008 – even one from the Ukraine – someone thinking of coming to
live here? Might be a whole lot better than the The Crier is still going more than thirty years later
– we keep doing it as we lack email addresses for many residents (the latest count is
some 700 households). While we do have some residents who don’t have access to email
facilities, from a cost and immediacy view, email communication is effective and a regular
newsletter is despatched. It would be really advantageous to have more email addresses and
this is an urgent request to send us your email address if we don’t have it, or to
inform us of any change of email address. Also, if you do sell your home, this is an
appeal to the residents concerned and the estate agent involved – please let us know
and provide contact details. Community Affairs Regrettably this
portfolio is virtually moribund as we have had no-one coming forward to manage it. There
is so much that could be done such as an annual “Community Day” (done by suburbs
such as Sunninghill): we have so much here, the river environment, open spaces, wonderful
hidden areas – it would be gratifying to have someone with imagination and flair
– and a bit of time – to plan such get-togethers and to welcome residents who
have just moved into our suburbs… This portfolio also organises the street reps who
leg it around the suburb bringing the Crier and
other notices to your letterbox. Traffic Peter Heritage has
spent much time cultivating just who to contact in the Johannesburg Roads Agency and Jhb
Metro Police morass. It isn’t an easy portfolio as one is very much in the hands of
the City Council. There seems to be little inclination by the authorities to solve
problems such as taxis rat-running at speed through our suburbs. Now it has been decreed
that any requests for speed humps and other road safety measures must be routed through
the Ward Councillor – as if he hasn’t enough to do, representing a very large
Ward! We persist, however, and a comprehensive list of requested traffic calming measures
has been submitted to Ian Ollis. Peter is also handling matters such as missing manhole
covers and street lights out of order: we ask that you first report the problem and get a
reference number. If nothing happens after a week or so, contact Peter. The financial
report will be given shortly by our Treasurer, Kendall Rattey. who has done a great job. And now let’s
see what the future holds – over to Clem Sunter.
May 2008
|
|