Two non-profit companies will now provide top-up municipal services in upper Kenilworth and Pinelands.
This comes after the mayoral committee, last month, approved several applications for special rating areas (SRAs). Also known as city improvement districts (CIDs), they collect fees from property owners through the City’s rates billing system to augment municipal services in defined neighbourhoods.
The Upper Kenilworth Improvement District (UKID) has been calling on the public to back the initiative since last August (“Upper Kenilworth CID calls for public support,” Southern Suburbs Tatler, August 25, 2022).
UKID chairman Chris Bertie said they were pleased that after a three-year planning and approval process the UKID would finally be able to start operating.
They will cover an area bounded by Harfield Road, Main Road, the railway line and Smithers/Indian roads. It also includes the block bounded by Aliwal Road, Tennant Road, Mains Avenue and Main Road.
The committee would appoint a manager helped by an admin assistant to oversee services that would include security, social intervention and cleansing, he said.
Three response vehicles and three security officers would patrol the area, which is covered by a CCTV camera network that is monitored 24/7, he said.
The Pinelands City Improvement District (PLCID) includes the Old Mutual head office precinct, a portion of Jan Smuts Drive until it intersects with the railway reserve, the Pinelands Business Park up to Avonduur Road along Sunrise Road, Walton Grove Road and properties on both sides of Ambleside.
Plans to establish the PLCID have been in the pipeline since 2018 (“Pinelands CID needs community buy-in,” Thursday October 6).
PLCID media officer Yazied Davids said public safety would be the priority and they had held discussions with the City’s policing services.
“We were also briefed on the City’s police plan proposal that will be published for public participation. Partnering with the Pinelands Community Police Forum and the stakeholders within this forum will be vital to addressing crime. Meetings have been scheduled to acquire the two Law Enforcement officers that will be assigned to Pinelands. Additional meetings are scheduled for the installation of CCTV cameras, a control room, and a safety app for all residents,” he said.
Mr Davids said they aimed to assign patrollers to hot spots and work with security companies, street committees and neighbourhood watches
They would also meet with community organisations to address illegal dumping, littering, damage to trees and park equipment, and heritage protection.
And a social-development team would work closely with the City’s Displaced Persons Unit and NGOs to tackle homelessness in the area.
“The support from community organisations and local businesses has been overwhelming, and we look forward to working with you. We are also grateful to the previous Pinelands CID steering committee members who initiated this process years ago,” he said.
Mayoral committee member for spatial planning and environment Eddie Andrews said CIDs were formed at the request of a community and not the City.
“This is a process that is carefully managed and includes an extensive public participation process and public meetings. First off, a steering committee consisting of property owners in the area need to compile a five-year business plan, which must be supported by the affected community.
“To submit an application for the establishment of an SRA in a residential area, more than 60% of property owners must give written support, and in a commercial area, it is 50% plus one. Only once this support is confirmed by the City, the application can be advertised to give affected property owners 30 days to submit comments and objections.”
