A plan that will see Newlands property owners pay a fee to a non-profit company for top-up municipal services is being put to the vote.
The property owners have until Friday September 29 to back the proposed Newlands Community Improvement District (CID).
The Newlands CID will function within the boundaries of the M3 highway, Princess Anne Avenue, Klipper Road, the Main Road and Protea Road. It also includes Newlands Avenue and Kildare Road.
“Supplementary public safety services will be the priority of the Newlands CID,” said March Turnbull, the CID’s steering committee chairman.
Maintenance and cleansing as well as social and environmental development would also fall within the CID’s remit, according to the Newlands CID draft business plan.
Mr Turnbull said building strong relationships with the Claremont police, the community police forum, the neighbourhood watch and councillor’s office would also be important.
“These relationships are already in place for existing community structures, and we are in great shape to strengthen them further. The CID itself will bring more management, funding and influence to bear on the issues that matter to the residents of our area.”
Members of Newlands CID presented their draft business plan to some 200 residents at a public meeting last month.
“The plan was well received, and we have had quite a lot of feedback,” said Mr Turnbull.
Mr Turnbull said property owners would be asked to pay about 10% of their existing rates bill for the top-up services.
The feedback would be worked into a final version of the business plan and presented to property owners, at the scout hall in Greenford Road, on Thursday September 28, at 6pm, for them to vote on.
Mayoral committee member for spatial planning and environment Eddie Andrew said a 30-day public participation period followed the presentation of the draft plan at last month’s meeting.
“Should the steering committee manage to obtain support from at least 60% of the property owners then an application can be submitted to the City for validation,” he said.
Property owners can vote online at newlandscid.org.
“Please take the time to do this,” said Mr Turnbull. “Either way, the outcome will have a profound effect on the future of our area.”