PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - The Plettenberg Bay Ratepayers and Residents Association (PBRRA) has expressed concern about the quality of leadership and management capability in Bitou Municipality, in a review of the town’s draft 2024/25 budget.
In a letter to members, chairperson Steve Pattinson said despite ongoing employee cost increases, especially in senior management where they know experience and skills gaps exist, little is said about the hiring of “top talent”.
“Political interference in senior management hiring is often at the expense of competence. The increase in capital spend in 2024/25 to R183m will demand greater project management skills and financial management and controls,” said Pattinson.
While the budget “is comprehensive and well articulated”, he highlighted the leadership and management issues as one of three concerns the PBRA has.
The other concerns are:
* The sustainability of the rates and services paying base to continually absorb the inflation increases and to subsidise the exponential growth in indigents and non-payers. “Bitou had zero economic growth in 2023, and while indigent support and upliftment are important, they need to be balanced with economic drivers that provide a more enabling environment for growth and job creation,” Pattinson said.
* Cost increases are inevitable and while the association agrees with cost-reflective tariffs, the municipality must demonstrate greater fiscal discipline and eliminate the unnecessary expenditures. “This budget should outline these efforts more clearly, if we are to trust their claims of austerity measures and operational efficiencies,” said Pattinson.
Read the full story by Chris van Gass in this week’s Knysna-Plett Herald
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