News from
Residents’Association of
rahb@houtbay.org.za www.houtbay.org.za
July 2007
THE RATES ISSUE
Council
offers relief to low-income residential ratepayers
The City of
To qualify for the additional
indigent support:
* the total
household income of applicants should not be more than R1740 (double the
National state pension) per month.
* it must be a residential property
* the applicant
must be the registered owner of the property
* may not own more than one property
* must be a full-time occupant of the
property
* must enter into an arrangement to pay
their monthly accounts and an affordable additional amount towards their
arrears
“No restrictions/disconnections
and/or legal steps will be taken against any debtor who has registered as
indigent and who sticks to the arrangements,’’ says Trevor Blake, the City’s
Manager: Debt Management.
Those
whose income is between R1741 and R5 000 or less a month, can apply for a rates
rebate on a sliding scale, depending on their monthly household income,” says
Blake.
According to Blake, the City
Council has increased its help to low income households by providing
bigger rates rebates in addition to free allocated basic services.
As from 1 July, those who have
qualified for additional indigent support will not pay any rates on their
property irrespective of the municipal valuation. In addition, all properties
with a municipal valuation of R88 000 or less will also not pay rates.
All improved residential properties
valued at R199 000 or less automatically qualify for a R30 indigent grant
towards their rates and services account.
All households receive the first 6
000 litres of water free each month. To help families save water costs, the
City can decide to install a water flow management system.
Residents charged at the electricity
domestic 2 tariff and purchasing less than 400kWh of electricity per month on
average over the 12 months, up to May/June, will receive 50kWh of electricity
free per month.
Properties with a municipal
valuation of R100 000 or less will receive free refuse removal, between R100
001 and R150 000 will receive a 75% rebate, between R150 001 and R250 000 will
receive a 50% rebate and between R250 001 and R300 000 will receive a 25%
rebate.
To apply for additional indigent
support, please call in at your nearest Customer Care Contact Centre or Housing
Office or phone 086-010-3089.
Imizamo Yethu - Development
We have received a copy of the preliminary
geotechnical report on Imizamo Yethu,
commissioned by the City Council in 2003. Thanks to Mayor Helen Zille and her officials for getting it to us. The
salient points are that higher than average building costs are likely to be
incurred in a limited number of areas and for a limited number of
reasons. These are:-
- Moderately difficult excavation in
the bouldery terrain at the top of the site.
- Extra terracing for roads and building platforms in the steeper areas at
the top of the site.
- Marginally thicker road formation layers to cater for the clayey nature
of the subgrade.
- Reinforced foundations to guard against possible excessive settlement and
heave in localized areas.
These factors are however, not expected to increase
the development cost of the whole site by a significant amount.
The report advises against developing the
steep uppermost southeast corner of IY.
Most of the site slopes at between 6 and 12° with steeper areas of 12 to
18° at the top of the site in the north east, as well as some very small areas
steeper than 18°.
A proper slope analysis will need to be
done, as any development can be markedly affected by the steepness of the
ground. These topographical factors can have significant cost implications, and
a prudent regard for the spending of public money will have to be taken when
developing the design of the layout.
Bear in mind that this analysis does not
even consider the areas being squatted on above the formal boundaries of IY
where the terrain is not only much steeper and thus presumable considerably
more expensive to develop, but also is reserved for
environmental
conservation.
PLANNING APPLICATIONS
- Erf 4505,
- Erf 4819,
Erf 2230 – 39 Victoria Ave (was Rattle office, currently hardware store): Application to (1) rezone from Single Residential to Commercial use zone, which is in line with the Victoria Ave Management Plan (VAMP), with departures (2) for offices on ground floor (this normally would be retail) and (3) for a reduction of the street building line (8 m to 5 m) also in line with VAMP, and (4) for parking. It appears that the intention is to develop this erf together with the adjacent plot (erf 4819 – see above) as a two-storey building with a basement within the 8 m height restriction. The detailed application document needs to be carefully studied particularly with respect to compliance with the Zoning Scheme, VAMP and the parking requirement. Deadline - Mon 23 July 07
- Erf 4459 – Main Road (opposite Oakhurst in valley river corridor) Application for subdivision (into two portions of 7100 and 1050 sq.m) and departure from minimum erf size of 8000 sq.m as designated in Zoning Scheme for Agricultural erven in this area. It is one of a number of similarly sized 2-acre erven in the Valley area; subdivision would set an unfortunate precedent. Over the years the Valley has been guarded against subdivision below the minimum erf size as capitulation in this respect would set a precedent which would inevitably destroy the ‘sense of place’ and the valued rural ambiance of this area.
Deadline - Thurs 26 July 07
Erf
Deadline - Fri 27 July 07.
Comments and objections may be sent to: The Municipal Manager, Strategy & Planning –Directorate: Town Planning, South Peninsula Region, City of Cape Town, Private Bag X5, Plumstead 7801 or faxed to 021 710-8283 (tel.-8202); attention Mrs D. Samaai. The general telephone number for the SPA is 710-8000.
Report back on previous applications
We were granted an interview at the Planning
& General Appeals Committee (PAGAC) on Friday 15 June 2007, to present the
case regarding the proposed subdivision and departures for Erf
1827,
EIA Proposal
Erf
A housing development with 22
single residential erven, 2 private roads and a
private open space are proposed for this old vineyard. Some details are presented in the Background
Information Document housed in the Library and available from the consultant, Mr.
Fabio Venturi of Sillito
Environmental Consultants, PO Box 30134 Tokai 7966. His contact details are email: fabio@environmentalconsultants.co.za,
Tel: 021-712-5060, Fax: 712-5061, Cell: 082-575-3800. To register as an Interested or Affected
Party (IAP), provide Mr Venturi with your contact
details in writing and quote the Hout Bay erf number
(8343) and the DEADP reference number (E12/2/3/1
– A5/235-0188/07) in your correspondence.
Deadline for comment – Sun 5 August 07.
Len Swimmer
Chairperson, Residents’ Assoc of
Tel: 790-0268, Email: lens@telkomsa.net
Would you like warning of any of the following possibilities?
- Your neighbour is about to sell their house to a developer who will be bulldozing it and others in your street to construct a block of flats
- The beach is covered in raw sewerage following another failure by the pump station
- Your neighbour is going to subdivide their property and build four more houses
- Imizamo Yethu is going to expand or shrink
- A new hotel is to be constructed right on the beachfront
- Safety & Security
issues which affect house values and desirability of living in
(R50 per couple, R30 per individual)
Forms from Chairperson or Library. Please Note: As from 1st March all
Membership fees for the year 2007 were due and payable. No accounts will be
sent out.
Association
Banking Details: First National Bank,
Hout Bay Branch (branch code 204 009), Account name - Residents Association of
Hout Bay, Account Number – 5345 1027 173.
Subscriptions
may be paid electronically (use your full name as a reference on the payment –
to ensure that we correctly credit your membership as this information appears
on our Bank Statement
If you prefer, payment can also be dropped into our
wooden box at the Library (next to the Hall doors) or posted to our Post Office
Box: 27031