PUBLIC meetings on the City's Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and budget for the year 2010/11 were wrapped up at Gompo Hall in Gompo on 3 May, where over 50 residents attended the hearing.

The meetings began at Cambridge Location on 14 April. Discussions included the upgrading and rehabilitation of roads, housing provision, electricity, water services, indigent services for the disadvantaged and aged, the upgrading of mobile clinics and waste management projects.

The last meeting in Gompo followed the same pattern, though adding other service delivery issues such as water supply, employment opportunities for the youth and disabled, and illegal electricity connections.

According to Simpiwe Seti, the City's IDP, budget and policy manager, the public meetings proceeded without hitch and the turnout and participation of the general public was good.

This year's IDP has the theme "Working together to make a difference in service delivery".

It was also decided to change the strategy of public meetings. This year, each ward was visited separately and not as a cluster, as was the case in previous years. The hearings were part of the municipality's public participation process, and allowed ordinary citizens to give their input on the IDP for the year. As such, they were a platform to encourage residents to play a major role in becoming authors of their own development.

Seti also confirmed that attendance at most of the meetings was satisfactory. "Gompo was a good example, where the hall was full to capacity. Mzoxolo School in Mdantsane was also overflowing with community members who wanted to be part of the meetings."

The IDP department acknowledged that there were a few hiccoughs during the public meetings, with one being postponed because of a power outage and another, in Ward 28, because of poor attendance. That ward includes some areas in Beacon Bay and Mzamomhle.

"In terms of turnout and inputs during the meetings almost all meetings had lively and interesting discussions with members of the communities engaging Buffalo City on matters affecting their wards."

He added that they were up to the City's expectations. "As this was the first time the City held hearings in each ward, [it] was not too sure of this new approach but things worked out according to plan."

At the gatherings, members of the public were able to raise and discuss development issues and praise the municipality for its efforts. He assured residents that there would be a comprehensive assessment of the hearings and a report would be submitted to the council that reflected the inputs from each ward.

The report would also be presented at a council open day, which the broader public and external stakeholders could attend.