HERMANUS – The following items on the agenda of the Council Meeting on Tuesday 26 April 2022 are worth noting: <strong>Fifth Adjustments Budget approved</strong> An almost unprecedented 5<sup>th</sup> Adjustments Budget & Revised Service Delivery and Budget Implementation Plan (SDBIP) for 2021/2022 was approved by Council. Normally, a municipality will approve only two adjustments budgets – one in February and another closer to the end of its financial year, but with a new council taking over during the financial year, it is understandable that more where needed. The reason stated for this round was that National Treasury published a decision to reduce the 2021/2022 Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) with R2m in the Government Gazette (46095) of 25 March 2022. In terms of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA), the municipality must adjust its budget within 60 days after the National or Provincial government publishes revised grant allocations for that municipality. The opportunity was also used to do of Budget virement (transfer) of R450 000 between refuse and sewage services.<strong> </strong> <strong>Munisipale finansies lyk gesond</strong> Dit lyk nie meer of Overstrand op ‘n verlies vanjaar gaan eindig nie. Daar is aanvanklik vir ‘n verlies van R29,7 miljoen op die bedryfsinkomsterekening (met owerheidstoekennings) begroot, maar teen die einde van die derde kwartaal staan die munisipaliteit al klaar op ‘n surplus van R105,2 miljoen. Die jaar tot datum (JTD) werklike inkomste is 0.68% bo JTD begrotingsprojeksies en die huidige uitgawe is 2.08% laer as die JDT begrotingsprojeksies. Uitgawes op kapitaalprojekte staan tans op R94.8 miljoen (46.69%) van die begroting, maar as toegekende tenders van R62,6 miljoen in ag geneem word, is dit 65 persent. Kontant: die munisipaliteit se positiewe kontantbalans van R612.7 miljoen aan die begin van die finansiële jaar het tot R714.8 miljoen einde Maart toegeneem. Die debiteure-betalingskoers het einde Maart op 99,04 persent gestaan teenoor 96,95% in Junie 2020. <strong>Financial troubles for Baboon Management Programme</strong> A report on an investigation into irregular expenditure relating to non-compliance with supply chain management policy with regards to the Baboon Management Programme was referred back by Council for more information. Council was requested to write off irregular expenses during the months of July to October 2021 when six incidents occurred where emergency procedures had to be activated. Tacit approval for these procedures was given but the circumstances were not reported to the Accounting Officer within three days. On 29 March 2022 the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) consisting of Cllr C Tafu-Nwonkwo, Ald R de Coning, Cllrs S Williams and K Ngqandana considered a detailed report on the matter and came to the conclusion that the Municipality did not suffer any financial loss and was unanimous in its decision to recommend to Council that the irregular expenditure in the amount of R91 476.11 (Including VAT), be certified as irrecoverable and be written off. However, Council did not agree and want to know more. The incidents occurred on 17 July 2021 when a Juvenile baboon was attacked by dogs and veterinary costs for assessment and medication occurred, 21 July 2021 when veterinary services were requested for a sick baboon and humane euthanasia was recommended (old age /cancer), 23 August 2021 when an injured baboon was reported on the R43 (dead on arrival of HWS) and costs were charged for removal and autopsy, 17 and 18 September 2021 when more than R50 000 was charged for the capture, euthanasia, autopsy and cremation of Scarface, 29 September 2021 when a GPS signal became stagnant and a search was activated to find and collect a deceased baboon and on 19 October 2021 when a deceased baboon was found in Rooiels. Immediate removal was requested to avoid health risk and an autopsy had to be done to determine cause of death. <strong>Meerenvlei-app</strong><strong>èl van die hand gewys</strong> Die Raad het kennis geneem dat ‘n appèl van die Meerenvlei Lease Holders Association op Kleinmond (karavaanhuisies langs die dagkamp by die hoofstrand) deur die Artikel 62 Appèlkomitee van die hand gewys is teen ‘n besluit om die huurperiode van dié perseel met slegs vyf jaar te verleng en nie nege jaar en elf maande nie. Die Raad het aangevoer dat die grond nodig is vir toekomstige ontwikkeling en dat die nodige beplanning nie gedoen kan word as daar ‘n lang huurkontrak op die grond is nie. Die appelante se aansoekfooi het ook in die slag gebly.
