SALGA annual report 2016/17 SALGA ANNUAL REPORT 201617 PRINTED FINAL | Page 53

Performance information The 27 officials are currently undergoing extensive training under this programme and the project closure is end of June 2017. In March 2017, the officials went to the Eskom operations centre in Western Cape for training on how the renewables are integrated, monitored and operated at the centre. were made to the conditions of the municipal infrastructure grant (MIG) to include provision for refurbishment projects. This responds to the concerns over asset management and non- functional infrastructure. This proposal should help mitigate functionality failures and expand the lifespan of assets. Authority function Infrastructure grant architecture SALGA conducted a baseline survey to identify the service authority support required by municipalities to effectively fulfil their authority functions. The report developed from the assessment has been used to concretise the relevant support to municipalities. A support programme has been developed with implementation phases. The 2016/17 phase focussed on developing the documents that will assist in the support to be provided to municipalities. The following supporting documents were developed: SALGA made a submission to the budget forum with recommendations to improve the infrastructure grant architecture. This was presented to the budget forum on 23 September 2016. The submission recommended that the budget forum note the progress on the review, reaffirm the principles and direction of reforms agreed, endorse the reforms targeted for the 2017 budget, and discuss and endorse the continuation of reform work over the 2017 MTEF. The recommendations were approved by the budget forum. • • • • • • A guideline in regard to the role of municipalities as a service authority for solid waste management; A guideline in regard to the role of municipalities as a service authority for electricity; A model service level agreement for waste management; A model service level agreement for electricity; A model of by-laws for roads and transport and electricity; and Infrastructure investment framework for water. Differentiated support SALGA has previously introduced a differentiated approach to provide support to municipalities based on the different municipal infrastructure challenges with which municipalities are faced, as well as to ensure that SALGA is involved in the back to basic approach. Through SALGA’s provincial offices, coordinated support is provided to municipalities on a range of municipal service issues which are unique to each province. A report was therefore compiled depicting the support provided by each province. Water services, conservation and demand Cost of services In the previous financial year SALGA conducted a cost of service study in partnership with FFC. The primary purpose of the project was to estimate the capital and operational costs of providing basic services, taking into account the diverse characteristics of municipalities. The outcomes of the study were presented to the members of various portfolio committees in Cape Town in September 2016. The findings of the study were also used to lobby relevant stakeholders in terms of grants and equitable share. As part of the pivot in allowing grant funds to be used for refurbishment, and not only the construction of new infrastructure, changes 53 SALGA produced a water services interim benchmarking report that indicates performance improvement of water services authorities (WSA). The report demonstrates performance improvement through systematic search and adaptation of leading practices. It provides each WSA with a report card indicating performance relative to its peers. Of vital importance is for the municipality to develop an action plan through which the gaps identified in the report card can be addressed. In collaboration with the Department of Water and Sanitation, SALGA assisted municipalities in the process. A report highlighting the impact on operations and maintenance as a result of infrastructure SALGA ANNUAL REPORT 2016/17