Item 1: INTRODUCTION
The chairman opened the meeting at 17:00 and welcomed the committee. The purpose is of a general nature and to understand more about SDF.
Item 2: ATTENDANCE AND APOLOGIES
Executive Committee
1. Wayne Jackson (Chairman & Membership) Present
2. Amund Beneke (Vice Chair & Engineering) Present
3. Hannelie Coetzee (Treasurer) Apology
4. Julia Frylinck (Administrator & Secretary) Apology
Essential Services
5. Rob Boyd (BEST) Present
6. Jorika Rabie (Fire and Rescue) Present
7. Francois Lesch (Neighbourhood Watch) Apology
8. Elsa Stofberg (Conservation) Apology
Community Services
9. Abigail Davids (Community development) Present
10. Shameez Joubert (Markets) Present
11. Claudele Jackson (Crassula Hall) Apology
Communications
12. Vivienne Von Der Heyden(Editor) Apology
13. Wendy Lucas (Website custodian) Apology
14. Tersia Starke (Website assistant) Apology
Oversight
15. Theresa Els (Ward 10 Councillor) Apology
16. Andre Kotze (Rondevlei Rep) Apology
17. Calan Bennett (Central Rep) Present
Item 3: CONFIRMATION OF THE PREVIOUS MINUTES
The previous minutes were:
Approved by Amund Beneke
Second by Calan Bennett
Item 4: MATTERS ARISING AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
a. With no matters arising from the previous minutes, the meeting was opened for community input.
b. Sally Ferguson expressed her desire to create a database of reputable and unreliable builders to assist homeowners in selecting the right builder, as many residents in Betty’s Bay have reported being taken advantage of. The chairman clarified that the BBRA maintains a similar database, managed by the chairman due to the sensitivity and potential legal ramifications of sharing such information.
c. Sally mentioned that REMAX is interested in sponsoring a project. The chairman acknowledged that this presents an excellent opportunity for the BEST team, which is in urgent need of a new patient monitor machine. Sally was connected with Rob, who serves as the portfolio principal for BEST, to move forward with this initiative.
d. Peter Weeks raised concerns regarding the speed of vehicles on Clarence Drive, advocating for a reduction in speed limits. The chairman informed the attendees that this matter has been addressed, and the provincial department responsible for the R44 is currently exploring solutions to mitigate speeding and enhance safety in Betty’s Bay. The local municipality and the province are collaborating on this issue. A provincial traffic engineer has conducted a site visit and discussions with the municipal traffic team. Attendees were encouraged to remain patient as the outcome will be determined in the future, with this topic being a permanent agenda item for Ward 10 committee meetings.
Item 5: FEEDBACK FROM PORTFOLIOS
a. Town Planning and Property Development:
i. Presentation by Amund on the Spatial Development Framework (SDF) for the Betty’s Bay Area. During a discussion between Amund and Riaan Kuchar regarding the Draft Technical Report, Riaan emphasized the significance of the 2020 SDF version and the 2010 Growth Management Strategy (GMS). Amund referenced the document currently circulating within our groups, which proposes updates and amendments to the SDF for the Overstrand Municipal Area. He informed members about the process for updating the SDF for Overstrand (Betty’s Bay), which includes:
(1) A status quo report will be made available for review in mid-2025.
(2) A draft SDF for the area, including Betty’s Bay, will be presented for review, input, and comments towards the end of 2025.
ii. The GMS is relevant as it will provide input for the SDF amendment process. The BBRA team will work on providing inputs for the SDF on behalf of Betty’s Bay. Andre and Amund, both practicing town planners and members of the BBRA, will compile input to be discussed in an open meeting with all residents.
iii. It is essential to preserve the sparse development within Betty’s Bay, as indicated in the original town planning guidelines.
iv. Maintaining the village character is crucial. Most properties are approximately 1000 square meters or larger. While larger plots may allow for additional dwellings, this could negatively impact our landscape. Amund explained the challenges of developing more than one residence per property, emphasizing the need to sustain a low-density village environment.
v. Amund expressed concern regarding the low attendance at the meeting, perceiving it as disrespectful. The chairman acknowledged this concern but noted that as volunteers, attendance is not always feasible for everyone. The point was duly noted.
vi. Ann Bradshaw expressed a strong interest in gaining further insight as she was working on this concept as a member with the Betty’s Bay Conservancy Group (BBC). Amund provided clarification on the distinct processes involved and offered guidance on the matter.
b. Treasurer:
i. Although the treasurer was unable to attend the meeting, BEST had an inquiry that will be discussed with the treasurer at a later time.
ii. Jorika proposed that we consolidate the two sub-accounts for the fire book and the fire truck, naming the combined account “Fire Truck.”
iii. We were unable to obtain any feedback regarding PayFast; therefore, this item will be deferred until the next meeting.
iv. We also did not receive any feedback concerning the NPO process, so this item will likewise be postponed until the next meeting.
v. The chairman encouraged BEST, along with the Volunteer Fire & rescue, and the Neighbourhood Watch teams, to establish their own bank accounts and manage these accounts independently from the BBRA account.
c. Secretary:
i. Our secretary was sick at home.
d. Volunteer Fire and Rescue:
i. Jorika informed the committee that they are in the process of registering as reservists with OM, which will provide them with a stipend and include them on a watch bill. The Betty’s Bay volunteer firefighters will maintain a separate group that is not registered, tasked with handling logistics during a fire in Betty’s Bay.
ii. It was also conveyed that the crew is expanding.
e. BEST:
i. Rob has submitted the monthly report to the chairman for review and statistical analysis.
ii. Following a discussion regarding scenarios involving fatalities, protocols were established. The chairman will include a segment in the Newsletter to clarify these protocols for everyone’s understanding.
f. BBNW:
i. Francois is moving house and cannot attend.
g. Conservation:
i. Elsa was caught up at work and could not attend.
h. Community Development:
i. Abigail reported that they are currently engaged in an Empowerment program that involves collaboration between crèche teachers and youth participating in various activities scheduled for this year. Assistance is required.
ii. A monthly community market will begin at the end of March, taking place on Saturdays from 12 PM to 3 PM at Mooiuitsig.
iii. The Business Forum meeting held at Crassula Hall saw strong attendance and support from the community in Betty’s Bay.
iv. It was proposed that Tourism and Business be integrated into a single entity. Abigail further elaborated that the Hermanus Business Forum has seen success, and a similar initiative is desired for Kleinmond, Rooi Els, Betty’s Bay, and Pringle Bay.
v. A questionnaire will be distributed to gather feedback for a needs analysis, inviting input from all participants.
vi. A committee will be established, and an Annual General Meeting (AGM) is scheduled for April 15th.
i. Markets:
i. Markets have been slow recently.
ii. It was noted that the markets brought in R15313 over the past three months.
j. Crassula Hall:
i. Claudel was unable to attend due to a gathering being held at The Hub in memory of a beloved friend who recently passed away.
k. Media and Web Page:
i. Tersia was unable to attend the meeting due to travel commitments returning from Cape Town.
l. Councillor:
i. Theresa is out of town.
m. Newsletter:
i. Viv was out of town, however the chairman reminded the committee members that all items for the newsletter needed to be in by 15th .
n. Rondevlei Rep:
i. Andre tended his Apology.
Central Representative:
i. Calan expressed concern regarding the low attendance and proposed the utilization of available technology, such as Microsoft Teams or similar platforms, to enhance communication with committee members. He emphasized the importance of leveraging modern tools for participation. This suggestion was positively received by the members in attendance and was noted by the chairman.
ii. Calan also recommended employing technology to facilitate the recording of minutes, as he observed the chairman balancing the responsibilities of both chairing the meeting and managing the secretarial duties. This recommendation was acknowledged by the chairman.
Item 6: ADDITIONAL NOTES
a. There was a broad discussion regarding a meeting with the Engineering and Planning Directorates of Overstrand Municipality focused on water-related matters. Amund and Wayne attended the meeting, and Wayne will provide a summary of the discussion in a newsletter article.
Item 7: CONCLUSION
The chairman thanked everyone for attending and ended the meeting at 18:20.
Next meeting: 17:00 Crassula Hall 9 April 2025
(W R JACKSON) Date: 12 March 25
BETTY’S BAY RATEPAYERS’ ASSOCIATION: CHAIRMAN
Attachments
A: Draft Technical Report
B: OM Growth Management Strategy
C: Compilation of a Spatial Development Framework for the OM