What is a subcouncil?

A subcouncil is a geographically defined area within the city which is made up of between four and seven neighbouring wards. Subcouncils exist to make sure that the issues affecting your neighbourhood are heard and dealt with.There are a total of 20 subcouncils which make up the City of Cape Town’s municipal structure.

The subcouncils serve the residents by engaging with them on municipal issues. Subcouncils have been given the power to act on behalf of Council via the System of Delegations and they have the authority to make decisions on a range of municipal matters.

These may include service delivery requests, building and planning applications, fault reporting and other matters, including:

• Receiving and responding to residents’ complaints and enquiries
• Making recommendations to Council on matters affecting their area
• Commenting on liquor licence applications
• Monitoring the City’s service delivery effort
• Supervising the expenditure of ward allocation budgets (funds that the City allocates to wards in every subcouncil for local municipal projects)
• Ensuring that by-laws and policy matters are referred to the community for comment
• Maintaining an up-to-date database of community organisations in the area.

Subcouncil meetings take place once a month, or whenever an urgent issue arises and needs immediate attention. Decisions are made through a majority vote by the subcouncil committee.

Who are members of the subcouncil?

The membership of each subcouncil consists of the following representatives:

• Ward councillors
• PR councillors
• The subcouncil chairperson
• The subcouncil manager

The chairperson and councillors are the subcouncil’s political representatives. Ward councillors and PR councillors are not elected by their subcouncil. Ward councillors are elected by the constituents in their wards, and PR councillors are appointed by their political party. The subcouncil chairperson is elected by the members of the subcouncil and the subcouncil manager is appointed by the city manager to run the administrative affairs of the subcouncil.

Subcouncil chairperson

The subcouncil chairperson is the political leader of the subcouncil. The chairperson decides when and where the subcouncil meets, and manages the meetings by following the Rules of Order (English | Afrikaans | isiXhosa). The subcouncil chairperson is supported by the subcouncil manager in carrying out their duties.

Subcouncil manager

Each subcouncil is managed by a City-appointed subcouncil manager. The subcouncil manager’s job is to organise subcouncil meetings, coordinate the subcouncil's operations, and make sure that projects are completed within budget and on schedule. The subcouncil manager also administers the annual ward allocation budget by working closely with ward councillors and the subcouncil chairperson. As a member of the community, you may contact the subcouncil manager regarding any municipal service issue that you might have.

Attend a Subcouncil meeting

The City values your input on issues affecting your community. One way to make sure that we hear your voice is by attending subcouncil meetings.

View the Council Calendar for subcouncil meeting details and click on the link below to find out how to attend.

Ward allocation projects

Each financial year, every subcouncil is allocated a budget per ward for ward allocation projects. After canvassing the community for their input, the ward committees submit project plans to the subcouncil for approval. The subcouncil in turn reviews the plans and submits them to Council for final approval.

Council’s decisions are based on where the greatest needs are, or where projects will have the greatest impact. If individual ward budgets are not enough to cover project costs, wards may opt for multi-ward projects where needs cut across wards or they can apply for MURP funding (the Mayor’s special fund for ward projects).

Subcouncil funding

Organisations can access funding via ward allocations from their local subcouncil, provided they meet certain qualifying criteria and there is funding available.

Funding is made available via the Grants-in-Aid funding application process, advertised once a year. Each application process will have specific funding focus areas, submission requirements and a closing date.

If your organisation would like to apply, you can visit your local subcouncil office for the appropriate forms and information on the submission process. Alternatively, download and complete the PDF versions below:

• Subcouncil Funding: Annexure A1 Application Form
• Subcouncil Funding: Annexure A2 Application Form (Business Plan)

Please return the completed application forms to your local subcouncil office.

Prospective applicants should check that they meet the qualifying criteria and provide all required documentation when making application:

All organisations and applications should take note of the Grants-in-Aid Policy.

If your application is successful, expenditure on the approved project will start within two months after the Grants-in-Aid funds are deposited into your organisation’s bank account, as provided for in clause 8.8 of the MOA.

The Grant-in-Aid Annexure A3 Application Form (Expenditure Report) must be completed monthly and submitted to the subcouncil.

Meetings, agendas and minutes

The latest minutes of subcouncil meetings displayed on the calendar are subject to confirmation at the next subcouncil meeting. Should a matter directly affect you, please contact the subcouncil for a copy of the extract, which will state that it is a draft minute.

Subcouncil meetings are open to the public and are held at least once a month except during recess, which is usually in the school holidays. Anyone can apply to the subcouncil manager for an opportunity to address a subcouncil meeting on any issue.

Decisions about issues are taken by a majority vote. Use the calendar to find out when your subcouncil's next meeting will be held and to access agendas and minutes. Other area-related events are also shown here as and when they occur.