Virtual meetings for planning matters
02 June 2020
The City of Cape Town’s Municipal Planning Tribunal is hosting its second virtual meeting today, 2 June 2020, to deal with planning matters in the midst of the lockdown period. This follows on from the first and successful virtual meeting that was hosted last week.
The City’s Development Management Department has always been at the forefront of finding innovative solutions when dealing with planning matters.
The e-services portal has enabled industry and residents to submit their building plan applications, and land use and development applications electronically. Thus, while the national lockdown has brought the economy to a standstill for over five weeks, the department has been receiving and assessing applications and continues to do so.
‘COVID-19 is challenging us like never before, but the City’s resilience is demonstrated through our ability to adapt and to embrace change. We must and are evolving our way of doing business. One of the big milestones during this time is the Municipal Planning Tribunal’s virtual meeting that took place last week Friday, and the second that is taking place today. Thanks to the technology, and the dedication of those who serve on the MPT and our officials, we are able to continue with planning matters despite the limitations that the lockdown is placing on normal business activities,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Marian Nieuwoudt.
The MPT deals with complex planning and development applications. It is the City’s decision making body for land use applications and plays a critical role in ensuring that the construction and development industry can continue now that we are on Level 3 of the lockdown.
‘The construction industry employs hundreds of thousands of workers. This industry is vital in kick-starting our local economy, and ensuring that residents can put food on the table,’ said Alderman Nieuwoudt.
The MPT’s meetings can now also take place via the virtual platform, Skype for Business, as and when required. On Friday the MPT dealt with administrative penalties, and today 81 reports related to administrative penalties will serve before the panel.
‘It is true that this method is not always ideal, in particular when the MPT has a long agenda of items and the download capabilities for huge documents are fickle. Also, complex contested items with oral submissions may pose challenges. But we have a progressive approach and we will find solutions to these as we go along. I encourage residents and interested parties to go online, and to book their seats for these meetings,’ said Alderman Nieuwoudt.
Residents and interested and affected parties can search for and access reports that will be considered at a virtual meeting by using the following link: https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/Meet-the-City/city-council/meeting-calendar
Those interested to attend the virtual meetings can do so by visiting the City’s website. The information about the virtual meetings and the steps on how to join the Skype meeting are set out in the meeting notice.
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
