Govt approves Swakopmund’s budget

THE Ministry of Regional and Local Government and Housing has approved the 2004-2005 budget of the Swakopmund Council on condition that overtime is reduced by 40 per cent.

Another condition is that Council should increase its water tariffs in line with the NamWater increase. The total amount budgeted for overtime by Council is N$1,2 million.The Council agenda states that the department where huge amounts were requested for overtime were those responsible for rendering services to the community and needed monitoring on a 24-hour basis.In addition, it states that the maintenance of street lights could only be done after hours, while the tourism section required staff members to work at the weekend and on public holidays.”Swakopmund has always been known as a very clean and beautiful town, a tradition that Council would like to maintain.Unfortunately it requires additional efforts which includes cleaning up in town over weekends, especially during peak season times.”A further point raised in Council’s motivation for overtime is traffic control, which it said was important to protect both residents and visitors.This required some staff members to be on duty for 19 hours a day, as well as those who needed to attend to emergency calls.”From the motivations received from the relevant Heads of Departments it is clear that it would be impossible for Council to maintain the high standard of service to the community if overtime must be decreased by 40 per cent.”Council resolved to explain to the Ministry that it would be impossible to decrease overtime to N$750 000, but Heads of Department would endeavour to decrease overtime where possible.ALAN congress set for coast THE Swakopmund Council will host the 54th congress of the Association of Local Authorities in Namibia (ALAN) from September 16 to… Council accepted the invitation to bid for the congress and has agreed to pay for the Mayoral dinner estimated to cost N$55 000.The event will take place at the Swakopmund Hotel and Entertainment Centre.The total cost of the congress is estimated to be almost N$127 000.The total amount budgeted for overtime by Council is N$1,2 million.The Council agenda states that the department where huge amounts were requested for overtime were those responsible for rendering services to the community and needed monitoring on a 24-hour basis.In addition, it states that the maintenance of street lights could only be done after hours, while the tourism section required staff members to work at the weekend and on public holidays.”Swakopmund has always been known as a very clean and beautiful town, a tradition that Council would like to maintain.Unfortunately it requires additional efforts which includes cleaning up in town over weekends, especially during peak season times.”A further point raised in Council’s motivation for overtime is traffic control, which it said was important to protect both residents and visitors.This required some staff members to be on duty for 19 hours a day, as well as those who needed to attend to emergency calls.”From the motivations received from the relevant Heads of Departments it is clear that it would be impossible for Council to maintain the high standard of service to the community if overtime must be decreased by 40 per cent.”Council resolved to explain to the Ministry that it would be impossible to decrease overtime to N$750 000, but Heads of Department would endeavour to decrease overtime where possible. ALAN congress set for coast THE Swakopmund Council will host the 54th congress of the Association of Local Authorities in Namibia (ALAN) from September 16 to… Council accepted the invitation to bid for the congress and has agreed to pay for the Mayoral dinner estimated to cost N$55 000.The event will take place at the Swakopmund Hotel and Entertainment Centre.The total cost of the congress is estimated to be almost N$127 000.