ZBRRA

 

Date & Time: Thursday 6th March, 2008 at 17H50

 

Venue: Darnall Country Club – Kingfisher Room

 

Neil Wallace, Rob Hofmeyr, Ian Masson, Craig Dubernard, James Gilleran, Richard Armstrong,

Margo Thiel, , Vic Louis, Gladys Bowton, Dymock Brett, Wendy Balcomb

Nic Ellender, Vic Oellermann, Klaus Achtzehn

Sufficient members present for a quorum. Minutes of the previous meeting (10th January08) were to be referred to during the meeting.

 

 

Portfolio 1 Core Administration Report by Rob Hofmeyr

 

Wendy’s job description still evolving. Her public position to be more strongly supported by the committee executive than in 2007. Duties in addition to the associations administration were to include the Newsletter ,a comprehensive mailing list and management of our Website. Noted. Wendy to communicate with Theresa Jackson who was responsible for the Darnall Club’s site with regard to establishment of website and its maintenance agreed.

ZBRRA notice board. Agreed the responsibility of Margo Thiel to maintain and keep attractive. Committee portfolios and their contact details to be displayed. Permission to set up a second board had been requested by Margo from KDM but had not yet been approved. If this is approved it will display public notices and adverts and would be constructed by Vic Louis and maintained by Gladys Bowton for public notices. Both boards to be completed by the Easter holidays.

Noted that thought to be given to a new eye -catching logo since the one we have at present although believed to be a Fish Eagle is in fact an American Bald Eagle.

Rob has communicated with Cnl Pakkies and Madame Speaker Luthuli. Noted Clr Pakkies has been invited to the social function following our next meeting on 15th May. Noted that Birthday cake to be provided by Wendy for her birthday that day.

Noted that Rob and Ian Masson had had discussions with Darren van Rensberg of the legal department of KDM. He was alarmed that the Ward reps had placed restrictions on ZBRRA and led us to believe that our dealings with KDM should be directed through them only and not to the executive. He assured us that we were entitled to interact directly with the KDM executive. A perception was growing that ZBRRA comprised a group of people had no vested interest in the village – only a wish to maintain a high standard of service. Ian stressed that our purpose was not to fight a political battle but to deal directly with the municipal executive to get jobs done.

 

Portfolio 2 Treasury – Ian Masson

Noted that Formal advice from Simon Pratt had not been obtained yet but after informal consultation with him and a number of other parties it had been decided not to convert to a section 21 company since there was no benefit in doing so. Other ratepayer associations were found to not be section 21 companies either. Our end of year audit should be done by an independent person who is not a member of association. Wendy to investigate who audited the Ski Boat Club books. This was proposed by Ian and seconded by Dymock Brett. Vic Louis asked if our membership fee should be so high. Neil Wallace responded by saying that this could be reviewed and if the Security Fund was fully independent our membership could be reduced by the 25% contribution we make to Security. This could be made directly by members to Security instead of it being a part of our membership fee. RAZ membership fee is R300 per annum but up to 6 members allowable on one property. This could amount to R1800-00 per household if there were 6 members living on any one property.

It was agreed that the 3 members of the executive could authorise spending, within budget, up to R5,000 per item. Items in excess of R5,000 would have to be referred to the rest of the committee for approval.

I was agreed to pay Neighbourhood Watch 25% of the Membership Fees received to date, minus any funds already paid to them.

 

 

Craig du Bernard reported that he had seen Darren van Rensberg and heard that the Mini Mall tenders would be reviewed next month for the lease of the building but suggested that the ZBRRA purchase the building. James said that Blythedale was investigating doing the same with their old Health com. premises for community use. Agreed that Craig was requested to prepare a written proposal on this a.s.a.p. to be sent to the Executive who would review and circulate to the committee for comment.

 

 

Protfolio 3 Municipal Perfornance. – Richard Armstrong

Water Neil Wallace stated that we had been a catalyst for Umgeni, Ilembe and the ward to interact and to get valuable information on water. The water shortage and poor state of reticulation had cost Ilembe R600000-00 over December alone. Meters were being installed on the reservoirs to calculate the inflow and outflow of water. Some households have not been metered for years and Kevin Meier was seeking to remedy this. 50% of water leaving the reservoir was not accounted for. Agreed that the next challenge was to ensure that meter reading was correctly carried out.

 

Wish list was compiled by Craig DuBernard and Vic Oellerman of needs for the restoration of the main car park. Wendy to send this to Bing Comrie and Carlos Mendes of the official Beach Restoration Project as requested. Wendy to suggest to CM and B C that Ski Boat Club, Raz and Ward send independent wish lists to them and thereafter a public meeting be held by C.M to discuss with the community the proposals. WB offered to arrange for this at Darnall Club. Vic Louis suggested that some discount to enter the beach parking area be given to residents. Wendy explained that the Ski Boat Club have authority over the parking and maintain it at their own cost. They purchase a book of vouchers from KDM for Black Rock Park and main beach parking and the funds pay for the maintenance. Alternately residence can purchase an annual entry disc for R100-00

 

 

Protfolio 4 Security report by James Gilleran

Alpha Security had been responsible for decrease of crime in village. Alpha cost R25 thousand rand per month. Fund raising was essential and an appeal had been circulated. It was hoped that more activity would result in more direct clients for Alpha and better funding. The Ridge was being encouraged to join Alpha to make it more profitable. James is to canvass the body corp. offering a reduced fee. He explained the difference between the reactionary units such as Warrior and the policing and the service provided by Alpha – Alpha carrying out the proactive role of the SAPS as it was in the past. James stated that he was in touch with members of the CPU but at this stage did not think it was to Zinkwazi’s benefit to play an active role in the association as we had too many of our own issues to deal with. Neil stressed that we were fully behind the Neighbourhood Watch and would support them financially as in the past with the 25% contribution. Agreed that more funds could only be made available to the fund once they had become a fully independent body with own constitution. 

 

Portfolio 5 The Built Environment. In Klaus Achtezh’s absence Craig DuBernard and Neil Wallace reported. 

Noted that Craig’s decision to remove the wall from the verge of the road reserve which he had applied to purchase was applauded. Agreed that ZBRRA to complete the ‘Request for Access to Record of Public Body’ to ascertain how Fish Eagle uses special residential land for commercial purposes. This was found necessary after numerous questions from community

 

Portfolio 6. The Natural Environment. Neil reported. 

Agreed the meeting set for 26th March would be postponed to April 10th as too many people would be away over the Easter holidays. The area adjacent to the Hotel had been earmarked as a suitable pilot project to illustrate what can be done to improve the environment by the removal of alien vegetation. It is hoped that interested residents would form a forum to generate interest and encourage good practices. 

Estuarine management. James reported that several gill nets had been confiscated by KZN Wildlife from fishermen in the river

Recycling of waste: Noted that Margo and Wendy had met with a representative of Premier Waste of Isithebe. Cardboard, paper, plastic and tins could be disposed of in large polyprop bags which would be provided by Premier and installed in a neat frame. A container for the disposal of glass may be forthcoming from Mondi. A suitable place for the frame had been suggested to the KDM as the corner of the soccer field. Regular collection would be the responsibility of Premier. Dymock suggested any funds generated could be donated to Prospect School. 

 

 

Closure – 20H30

Next meeting 15th May at time to be arranged.

 

Signed ……………………………Chairman N. Wallace

 

 

 

 

……………………………Admin manager. W Balcomb