MAJOR RESOLUTIONS FROM EXCO: 22 July 2003

A report of the sustainable development and city enterprises committeewas considered.
This report deals with the rural development framework plan. The committee recommends, in terms of the rural development programme, that the agriculture implements loan scheme policy beapproved by Exco, and that it should be managed by the department of parks, culture and recreation. The committee recommends that co-operatives in terms of the area based management programme be assisted by the Heads: Business Support and Markets with respect to their training needs. A database of co-operatives be establishedand managed by the Urban Strategy Department in conjunction with the Rural ABM project.

The committee has decided that the regional management of the Parks department together with the provincial department of agriculture and other relevant organisations, as approved by the ABM sub-committee, arrange agricultural support services and assistco-operatives with training, ploughing, fertilising, fencing and irrigation works, within the constraints of the availability of sufficient funds and staff.

Financial provision for the Chesterville incremental phase 2 housing project:
Exco approved the recommendation that additional funding of R588 900 for this projectbe provided to fund the higher levels of services already constructed,to enable the project to be completed. This amount be used to bridge finance expenditure subject to funds being provided in the coming financial year's capital budget to reimburse the housing development account from which the funds would be drawn.

Printing facilities (Unicity wide):
The staff of the former North and South Operational Entities will be incorporated into the centralised printing services based at the City Hall. The printing services at Pinetown will be retained on a small scale with the remaining staff reportingdirectly to the manager of the centralised facility. All unicity wideprinting and high volume photocopying will be undertaken at the centralised printing services. Exco approved recommendation.

Private usage of council vehicles:
Exco decided that proper authority would have to be given before council vehicles are usedprivately.

Rationalisation of tariffs throughout the municipality:
The implementation of the standardisation of tariffs for cemeteries and crematoria will be delayed and reversedto the old tariff structure that was in place prior to July 1, 2003. City manager recommended that the rationalisation plan be reviewed during the next three months.

Transfer of department of water affairs staff:
Wastewater Treatment Works and the 19 employees there, who currently fall under the department of water affairs, should be transferred to the city by September 1 - at the latest - with their conditions of service becoming no less favourable than they currently are.

Computerised project and maintenance management and administration system for architectural department (Phase 1):
The proposal of Datamatrix be accepted for this purpose at a total development cost of R1,8 million subject to compliance with the city's proposed enterprise architecture technology framework, funds amounting to R2,9 million being allocated from the 2003/4 capital budget (plant and equipment).

Memorandum of Understanding between the city and the National Ports Authority of SA:
The memo was noted by Exco, in terms of which a PORT-CITY FORUM is to be established involving the two parties. The forum would be a platform for the development of a sustainable and pro-active planning and co-operative framework between the two.

Extension of Interim Contract: Durban Transport Exco agreed to extend interim contract to two months at an additional cost to council of between R5 million and R7,8 million.