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Lengthy meetings are probably not on many people's must-do lists, but community involvement should be. The City invites residents to be a part of 2009's first council meeting. Show up, show interest and get involved.
Executive Mayor Amos Masondo
JOBURGERS are invited to attend the first meeting of the City council which is set to take place on Thursday, 29 January.
"For those who can attend the meeting it's important for them to come and have a chance to see their councillors representing their interests," says City spokesperson, Virgil James.
"Even though they won't participate in the meeting, at least they can hear their issues being discussed."
Issues on the agenda include business of the City, finance, and development.
James says it's important for the public to know about the plans and programmes of the City.
"The mayoral committee and all the 217 councillors from the seven regions will be present during the meeting," he says.
The mayoral committee – made up of the executive mayor and heads of the various portfolios – functions like a local cabinet, where individual members are each tasked with different aspects of municipal government.
The council, on the other hand, focuses on legislative, oversight and participatory roles, delegating its executive function to the executive mayor and the mayoral committee. The council approves by-laws, City policies, the Integrated Development Plan, tariffs for rates and service charges, and the City's budget.
Three major meetings are planned for the next few months, The State of the City address on 26 February and the Budget Speech on 20 May followed by the Budget debate on 21 May.
The State of the City address sets targets for what should be achieved in the current calendar year.
"The budget is important for every community member in Joburg, as it allows the City to evaluate the performance of the administration and service delivery," explains James.
James sats that the first meeting of the budget confirms the priorities and where the emphasis should be and the second gives the final indicatives.
All these meetings are held from 2pm at the Council Chambers, Ground Floor, Council Chamber Wing, Metro Civic Centre, 158 Loveday Street Braamfontein.
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