08 Dec 2016

The reduction of Central District Council (CDC) revenue support grant is likely to impede efficiency, says the council chairperson, Mr Peter Williams.

Opening the last council sitting for the year recently, Mr Williams said the district revenue support grant had been cut by P7million.

He stated that on November 2016, the council secretary was notified by Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development that revenue support grant had been cut.

“Take note that this cut is made on the 2016/17 approved budget, which we already committed in various ways that include service level agreements, tenders and others,” he said.

The chairperson said the same ‘tragedy’ had befallen other districts, adding that he had been informed that at the time of the cut, most votes had already been depleted. Due to this, he said the treasurer had stopped all procurement with immediate effect.

Mr Williams added that the situation called for finance committees to ensure that belt tightening measures were implemented, with only crucial procurement being authorised.

The chairperson updated the council about the request made through a motion passed during June 2015 sitting by councillor Jeremiah Frenzel that people from Makobo and Jamataka villages who were currently receiving services from Tutume be transferred to Tonota.

He said the consultations with the concerned villages were carried out as per the response of that motion and the villagers unanimously supported the motion.

He stated that the strategic plan management committee had written to all concerned stakeholders being the land board, tribal administration, council, office of the district commissioner and central government regional offices to align their boundaries.

He said once the consultations had been concluded the issue would be forwarded to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development for a final decision to be made.

Mr Williams raised a concern about the apologies of absent council members received, especially on the first day of the session, saying it was the most crucial setting.

“You cannot send apology of going to the hospital as it provides a 24 hour service, one should have had a chance to go to the hospital prior to the session,” he stated. ENDS