Camps Bay Neighbourhood - Up To Date

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03November

Hosted by: Trudi Groenewald
Where: The Rotanda at The Drive, Camps Bay
When: between 07:00pm and 09:00pm

1 Member accepted, No members rejected, No members tentative

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General Meeting of the Camps Bay Ratepayers and Residents Association

Our previous Chairman, Chris Willemse, completed his three year term of office at the AGM in June. We all need to acknowledge the immensely valuable contribution Chris has made to the well-being of our suburb and the tremendous amount of work this required. The new chairperson, Trudi Groenewald, will preside at the coming meeting.

Since our Annual General Meeting in June 2008 many important developments have taken place.

1) The City Council has issued two draft policy documents, the proposed Animal Bylaw 2008 and the Draft Boundary Walls and Fences Policy on which your views are sought, and there are other activities being planned of which you ought to be informed.

2) Superintendent Thomas of Camps Bay police station, who did sterling work in motivating and organising her staff, has been promoted to a position elsewhere. Her replacement, Superintendent Rudman has already taken up his position and will address us for the first time regarding the local safety & security situation.

3) Our secretary for many years, Ann Caras, has taken “early retirement” after years of unpaid voluntary service, and we are in dire need of a replacement. We would appreciate members' assistance in finding a candidate. Jane Bodin, our newest Committee member, is taking care of Mancom minutes and agendas and Mary Lloyd is still doing the bookkeeping, but there is more to be done to keep the affairs of the Association in order.

The past three years has seen enormous building activity and several proposals involving infringements of zoning scheme regulations or title deeds have been identified or are being contested. Numerous negotiated agreements had been put in place to the benefit of neighbouring property owners. This involves a great deal of work by members of the planning sub-committee led by Chris Willemse. It also requires substantial funding for legal expenses.

There are many demands on the Association's funds, for instance to contribute to worthy local community initiatives, to obtain expert opinion where needed on legal issues, new bylaws, rates issues, etc and to fund administrative costs, including a proposed stipend for a future secretary. Unfortunately, after costly court cases, funds are severely depleted. We appeal to all members who are in arrears to pay their subscriptions soonest, and to those who can or who benefitted from planning agreements, to contribute over and above their subscriptions.

Your Committee has been seeking additional means to augment the finances and received an advertising proposal which could generate substantial income over a number of years. If successful this proposal will put CBRRA and Camps Bay Watch on a financial footing which will allow us to continue protecting Camps Bay. Tractor Outdoor, an advertising agency, has been invited present their proposal to the meeting for public comment.

We urge you to raise matters of concern to the community at the meeting. This is your opportunity to air your views and obtain information. To be more effective, the Association needs as many residents and property owners as possible to be members. If you know of anyone who is not yet a member, try to bring them with you to the meeting.

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