Strategic Services is the term for a group of activities that are central to the management and long-term development of the Bitou Municipality. What we do informs a number of key processes that shape the future of the town, both physically and economically. In terms of the town’s physical development it includes Integrated Development Planning which provides an integrated framework to improve the quality of life for all the people living in the area taking into account existing conditions and the resources available for development. Strategic Services include all town planning functions and spatial development, as well as building control and the management of all municipal property. In addition to the above, Strategic Services is also home to the local economic development office, mandated to foster and facilitate business opportunities in both the formal and informal economy in the Bitou area. The final strategic function is that of service delivery and performance management within the municipality, to ensure compliance with a range of performance standards within the municipal operating environment.
Director of Department: Mr. Ludolph Gericke
Tel: 044 501 3301
Email: lgericke@plett.gov.za
Personal Assistant: Rosie Brakfesi
Tel: 044 501 3301
Email: rbrakfesi@plett.gov.za
Strategic Services Department is split into five sections:
1. Town Planning
The Town Planning Section includes town planning as such, the control over signage, management of the Geographic Information System (GIS) and spatial planning (SDF).
The function of the section is to regulate land use in terms of all legislation relevant to land use.The daily administration of the section includes applications for land use changes, departures, rezoning, removal of restrictions, subdivisions, consent uses as well as the administration of current land uses. Furthermore, the section is also responsible for the administration of the Spatial Development Framework as spatial planning tool in terms of the Integrated Development Plan (IDP), from involvement of compilation thereof to amendments/updating and implementation of identified projects. The administration of signage/adverts in the municipal area is also dealt with by this section. This includes the urban areas as well as along the rural roads. The section also is responsible for the GIS, developing it and structuring it, reflecting all salient information such as erf numbers, size, services infrastructure, etc. The GIS will serve as land management system as prescribed by the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act, 2013.
Senior Manager: Mr. Chris Schliemann
Tel: 044 501 3324
Email: cschliemann@plett.gov.za
Follow link to view Town Planning Documents
2. Performance Management
Responsibilities:
Manager: Vacant
3. Property Management
Responsibilities:
The property management section is tasked with looking after municipal properties and it making ensuring that municipal buildings are being maintained and the value being preserved. The section also ensures that all non-residential municipal properties occupied and leased by other parties are compliant in terms of the relevant legislation and lease agreements entered into with the municipality.
Project Manager: Planning and Design:
Tel: 044 501 3301
Email:
4. Local Economic Development
Responsibilities:
The local economic development section is tasked with facilitation of economic opportunity within the Bitou area, and covers a range of interventions.
On an individual level the section identifies, develops and maintains suitable trading sites for informal trading, as well as the supervision and licensing of the traders. It also identifies small-scale initiatives for job creation within the community, as well as looking at municipal properties with the potential for business development and manages the processes needed to activate them.
It also functions as a point of contact for potential investors into the Bitou area, as well as conceiving suitable local projects to take to the investment community.
Lesley Jacobs
MANAGER LED
Tel: 044 501 3301
Email: ljacobs@plett.gov.za
Alicia Klein
LED Officer- Informal trading/ LED Forum secretariat
Tel: 044 501 3301
Email: aklein@plett.gov.za
Jofré Lottering
LED Officer – Community Development & Business Support
Tel: 044 501 3301
Email: jlottering@plett.gov.za
Lenhard Jonas
LED Officer- Asset Realisation
Tel: 044 501 3301
Email: ljonas@plett.gov.za
5. Building Control
Responsibilities:
The Building Control section is mainly responsible for the enforcement of statutory provisions regulating buildings. It also ensures that the relevant legislation and other applicable standards are complied with.
The vision of the Building Control Department is to strive to the best of its abilities to comply with the vision of Bitou Municipality, “To Be The Best Together”, by playing an active and leading role with regard to service delivery and to the development of the community.
Creswell Basson
Building Control Manager
Tel: 044 501 3301
Email: cbasson@plett.gov.za
6. Integrated Development Planning
Responsibilities:
The purpose of this department is to manage, monitor and ensure the development and effective implementation and monitoring of the Integrated Development Plan (IDP). An IDP, adopted by council of a municipality, is the key strategic planning tool for the municipality.
As one of the key departments in the municipality the IDP section has many responsibilities that are linked to the success of Bitou Municipality. Some of the department’s key responsibilities are: Manage and coordinate the process of developing, implementing, monitoring and reviewing the Integrated Development Plan (IDP); Monitoring and overseeing the alignment of sectoral plans with the IDP; ensuring that the municipality gives effect to and conducts its affairs in a manner which is consistent with the IDP and achieves the strategic development priorities and objectives as reflected in the IDP. This then ensures that the IDP is compliant with legislated requirements, strategic and integrated; and linked to the resources of the municipality.
Ultimately, the IDP is agreed between local government and residents of Bitou municipality, and thus a fine balance needs to be struck in allocating scarce resources.
Thembinkosi Henge
Manager: Integrated Development Planning
Tel: 044 501 3301
Email: thenge@plett.gov.za
7. Aerodrome
Manager: Position vacant
Last published 09 April 2021