Subcouncil resolution details

Subcouncil 17

Agenda item no

17SUB 6/9/2019

Subject

ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT: JULY 2018 TO JUNE 2019, BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT BRANCH

Meeting date

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Resolution

Noted

Date closed

Thursday, October 03, 2019

Resolution detail

Ms Stacey Michaels of Biodiversity Management stationed at Edith Stevens Nature Park, gave a short presentation on their annual report 2018/19 and highlighted the following:

Cape Town received awards for the following:

Winners of the Most Observations and Most Species in the City Nature Challenge.
Green Coast Status – Blaauwberg Nature Reserve
Gold Award in Biodiversity Category for Biodiversity Management Eco-Logic Awards.

Job opportunities for 3318 EPWP workers. Of the 26 vacancies in the BMB – 19 were fill by the EPWP Skills Development candidates.
The City’s nature reserves received just over 378 000 visitors recorded mostly through its manned access points and events.

Cllr Kleinschmidt pointed out that ward 60 have the Kenwyn Nature Park and the Rondebosch East Common Nature Park.

He said that he would like Biodiversity officials to meet with him and the biodiversity residents of his ward to make these parks also educational for schools.

Cllr Y Adams wanted to know how safe and secure is the Edith Stevens Nature Park, given the spike in violence.

Ald March requested that they also involve the seniors in these nature activities as they are very active. He said that the SC will definitely come visit their facility.

Cllr A Adams wanted to know what the percentage was on getting permanent work once EPWP employees have been skilled.

In response to the Cllrs comments and concerns, Ms Michael stated the following:

She will gladly engage with Cllr Kleinschmidt with his request.
Edith Stevens a safety net for the children of the surrounding areas. They even have night activities which are very safe. The facility is also used by

SAPS as a neutral ground for peace talks for gang violence.

The facility is also used for workshops and they never had a safety incident as yet.
The only challenge they have is transport for the children.
She said that the skills development programme was quite extensive and that they work in such a way that people do not come back into the system. She said that they have models that is SETA accredited.
She will forward the percentage to the Cllrs and will be arranging a joint sleep over / site visit for SC 11 and 17 to their facility soon.

Ald March thanked the official and said that he looked forward to visiting their facility again.

RESOLVED that:

The content of the presentation for Biodiversity be noted.
Ms Michaels forward the permanent employment percentage to the Cllrs.

Action: Ms S Michaels

PRESENTATION: PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE OF ENERGY - OVERVIEW OF SEM

Mrs L Weideman, Director: Sustainable Energy Markets (SEM), gave a detailed presentation on Preparing for the future energy: Overview of SEM. She mentioned the following:

They work towards energy security and energy diversification and to drive innovation in energy supply in the City.
Look at how the City can provide / support access by low income households to the best possible energy services which are sustainable.
They will be looking at the energy for the future – the City needed to look at all the options and be pro-active in implementations of electricity projects.

To co-ordinate and drive the City’s climate change mitigation and transversal work.
They a fairly new department and their budget is limited.
They have a very informative website where anyone can get information on load shedding, solar systems, generating electricity, etc.
They did some research on the low income level and non-electrifiable areas – they will work closely with Electricity with the role out of solar geysers.

Cllr Y Adams wanted to know whether the City was compelled to generate its own electricity because of Eskom’s instability. He also wanted to know if the City was getting off the international grid and when can the City go on its own. He said that Eskom cannot find solutions due to corruption and there would probably be more load shedding.

Cllr Kleinschmidt said that the SC had a very informative site visit to Koeberg Power Station and must commend the officials as they are working very hard to keep the lights on. He said that the climate change affect all of us and that a holistic approach was very important.

Mrs Weideman responded that there were some issues around Eskom and that there will always be a risk of load shedding. She said that the City was looking at innovative ways to supply electricity. She also said that the City will not be going completely of the grid and that it would be cheaper if there was a national solution.

Ald March thanked the official for the informative presentation and said that he was pleased to hear that the City would be assisting consumers to install solar geysers. He agreed that it was important to work together as the Cllrs also know the needs of the people.

RESOLVED that:

The content of the Presentation: Preparing for the Future of Energy - Overview of SEM be noted.