Finance
With reference to the Overberg District Municipality’s allocation from the Western Cape Financial Management Capability Grant for the 2025/26 financial year:
(1)(a) What are the specific objectives of each of the following funded projects, (i) Revenue Enhancement and Optimisation of Municipal Health Services, (ii) MHS Revenue, Compliance and Tourism Enhancements, (iii) Uilenkraalsmond Holiday Resort ownership restructuring feasibility study and business plan and (iv) feasibility study for the establishment of a crematorium, (b)(i) what is the current implementation status of each project, and (ii) what milestones or deliverables been completed, (c) what measurable or early benefits have been observed from these projects in terms of (i) revenue growth, (ii) cost recovery or (iii) financial governance improvements;
(2)whether her Department has conducted any monitoring or support visits to Overberg in relation to these projects; if so, what preliminary conclusions have been drawn about the success of the funded interventions?
(1)Sub-questions (a) to (c) are responded to below with respect to each of the listed projects:
Project 1: Revenue Enhancement and Optimization: Municipal Health Services
Implementation status and expected completion: Will be implemented in the 2025/26 municipal financial year (1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026).
Expected benefit: The main aim of the project will be to enable the municipality to develop a database system of premises, which require annual renewal of licences/certificates. The database will be utilised for inspection planning and billing purposes under the Municipal Health & Air Quality Services, Department. Currently the municipality is without a credible, updated premises database to effectively formulate policies, review Tariffs Structures, for revenue projection and review of the MHS By-Law.
Project 2: Municipal Health Services Revenue, Compliance & Tourism Enhancement Project
Implementation status and expected completion: Will be implemented in the 2025/26 municipal financial year (1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026).
Expected benefit: To address the backlog on inspections which are done to certify premises, the proposed star rating project will be implemented as a food safety rating scheme which will be used to enhance and encourage food premises owners to apply for certification. The star rating project will also inform members of the public regarding Food Safety & Hygiene Standards of food premises operating in the Overberg District. The scheme has been developed by the Overberg District Municipality: Municipal Health Services Department, to provide consumers with information pertaining to the Food & Hygiene Safety, to help them make informed decisions on where to eat. The Star Rating Level can be used by premises owners as a marketing tool.
Project 3: Feasibility Study & Business Plan for the transfer of ownership at the Uilenkraalsmond holiday resort
Implementation status and expected completion: Will be implemented in the 2025/26 municipal financial year (1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026).
Expected benefit: Appointment of a specialist service provider to assist the Overberg District Municipality in the development of a feasibility study and business plan, to guide and facilitate resort restructuring and ownership transfer of existing lease agreements. The proposal ultimately seeks a long-term sustainable solution that will enhance revenue for the ODM, guide ownership restructuring and provide a just transition of ownership for the existing semi-permanent lease holders. The project will be instrumental in driving the successful transfer of ownership and sustainable operation of the holiday resort while accommodating the current lease holder by proposing alternative management solutions.
Project 4: Revenue Enhancement: Feasibility study for the establishment of a crematorium
Implementation status and expected completion: Will be implemented in the 2025/26 municipal financial year (1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026).
Expected benefit: The purpose of the project is to determine the functions of the crematorium, the actual need, the cost, and the feasibility thereof. The initial site assessment will be followed by a technical assessment phase to create a complete feasibility study that will form the basis from which the municipality can make an informed decision going forward.
(d) Municipalities report on spending of the funds and implementation of the projects monthly and quarterly. The Provincial Treasury closely monitors these reports to ensure projects are implemented and the funds are spent in line with the approved business plan of the municipality. At the end of the project, a close-out report is submitted to the Provincial Treasury which details the outcomes of the project.
(2) As the funds are only planned to be transferred and spent in the 2025/26 municipal financial year which begins 1 July 2025, it is too early to identify such indicators of progress.
