Camps Bay Neighbourhood - Up To Date

I have a question about CBCSI

Dear Members,

 Herewith some detailed FAQ's and answers surrounding CBCSI.  Many of the questions below have already been answered comprehensively in the original flyer we sent out to the residents, however herewith in more detail.

 Please see answers below from Bernard as Ops Director for CBCSI and Ian Merrington as Chair of CBW below

1.     How many households in Camps Bay have agreed to pay the top up fees?

Answer by Ian:

We do not yet know how many households have agreed to pay top up fees but initial indications are that this is in excess of 90% of existing ADT and Bay Response subscribers. In addition a number of households who do not subscribe to either Armed Response company, have requested their willingness to contribute to the CBSCI top-up. CBW will be pursuing the collection and enrollment of all non armed reponse clients

Answer by Bernard:

We will only know for sure once we have gone thru the initial stabilizing 3 months - there are those that will opt in / opt out and membership should level by July or so, but public involvement to date has indicated 90% in favour of contributing financially and 100% in favour of initiative.

2.     Why have residents been asked to "opt out" rather than "opt in"?

Answer by Bernard:

As it was the community that initially requested and subsequently endorsed this initiative, we are simply carrying out the wishes of the public.

At all the public meetings, the decision was unanimous and, as such, the public have already indicated their vote to "Opt In".  The ensuing execution of their wishes was merely administration of nature, and the "Opt Out" option was built in for obvious reasons to allow for change of mind at any time.(Bernard)

Answer by Ian:

The CB Community Security Initiative came about at the request of the residents of Camps Bay. The bulk of these are members of the Camps Bay Watch. The mandate that was given by the members was that they wanted ease of administration. Based on many public participation meetings and once it became evident that the majority of residents wanted to participate, the decision was taken for the default option to be subscription to CBCSI as those opting out appear to be less than 10%. It therefore made practical sense to cater for the wishes of the 90%

3.     Is this "opt out" method or approach legal? Motivate your answer.

Answer by Bernard:

CBCPF & CBW are bodies that exist for the community, and as such, are obliged to meet the communities' requirements.

Various public CBW meetings were held, Public CBRRA meeting, numerous Street and CBW Sector meetings as well as discussion for 3 months on CBCPF Forum and at CBRRA Exco level not to mention articles written - including Atlantic Sun - and flyers distributed.

 Answer by Ian:

As this is a community initiative which appears to be supported by 90% of current ADT and Bay Response subscribers as well as general public, this was the most practical from an administrative perspective for the residents wishing to contribute to CBCSI. For those not wishing to subscribe, their security service provider (ADT or Bay Response) will cancel their subscription with immediate effect and refund any top-ups that may already have been debited to their accounts. Residents who do not wish to contribute toward the Camps Bay Community Security Initiative need only contact their service provider to tell them, this can be done by e-mail or fax.

4.     What is CBCSI's structure classified as? Is it a business or NPO, etc? Please explain.

Answer by Ian:

CBCSI is a community initiative which is a partnership between the residents of Camps Bay, CBW and the security companies which operate in the area.

 Answer by Bernard:

We could have approached outside companies, however, the whole idea is to enable a cohesive security network, where everyone is talking on the same channel and working together to address crime.

As the existing companies were already chosen by the public and therefore were trusted by the public, we asked them to partner with us on this initiative.

5.     Under what authority is the CBCSI?

 Answer by Bernard:

This was clearly spelt out in the original flyer - see additional copy attached again

Answer by Ian:

CBCSI is accountable to the residents of Camps Bay. Each sector's residents are represented by a CBW management committee (three sectors) which is collectively represented by the publicly elected CBW Executive committee. The CBW Executive will have oversight of CBCSI. The CBCPF has oversight of the CBW executive.

6.     The top up fees are paid to the two armed response companies. What is each of the companies going to use the funds for?

 Answer by Bernard:

 Again - this was clearly spelt out in the original flyer and previous article in Atlantic Sun

All monies collected will be converted into resources and services for the community, and based on our upfront budget of collections from each company we agreed to the following:

• ADT will supply the huts
• ADT will supply the resources for the huts on a 24x7 basis
• ADT will supply the tactical vehicle
• ADT will supply the resources for the tactical vehicle on a 24x7 basis
• ADT and Bay Response are jointly responsible for supplying operational management
• Bay Response will supply the Specialised Dog units
• Bay Response will supply the Control Room staff 24 x 7
• CBW will supply the Control Room and oversight

Any over or under collection after 3 months will be adjusted via resources provided. 

7.     Is it legal for ADT to be handling the funds on behalf of CBCSI?

As CBCSI is a community initiative, we have to rely on partners to effect the operational and administrative bulk of our operation.  It is either this, or yet another ineffectual non-profit project where the majority of funds collected are absorbed for admin purposes.

ADT are not "handling funds" - ALL partners are playing their role with contribution collection and overall oversight will be by CBW/CBCPF

ADT and Bay Response were therefore mandated as collection agents only in so far as their own subscribers are concerned, as this facility already existed. CBW will collect from all other remaining residents that choose to participate.  The requested donation is R175 per household, or alternative amount, as is affordable. As this is a voluntary contribution, we will welcome any and all support.

Bank : Absa
Branch : Sea Point - use universal code for ABSA - all branches
Account name - CBCPF
Account type : Savings
AC # : 9180 215 097

Public can use above bank account - please to put reference as "CBCSI + Surname" 

8.     Hypothetically, if there is a mismanagement of CBCSI funds from either the armed response companies or the CBCSI itself. Who and how will this matter be addressed?

Armed Reponse companies are using a separate and easily auditable debit order system

All planning and resource procurement has been transparently discussed by all parties, and any over or under collection will be monitored monthly and resources and services adjusted immediately.

At the end of the year, this account will show "Zero", as there is no mandate for profit - every sent collected has to be converted into resource delivery to the community.

Oversight will be through the CBW and CBCPF executive committee as detailed in the flyer.

9.     How (and how often) will the residents be updated on how the top up fees are used?

All funds collected are immediately converted into security services and resource as planned and communicated. 

Once the initial stabilizing first quarter is over, we will analyse all collections and adjust the services offered either way.

CBW & CBCPF We will be holding Quartely Public meetings (as we have done) to give feedback to residents on all current initiatives including CBCSI.

Answer by Ian:

At least annually but initially after the first six months of operations, a detailed report will be compiled.

10.  Who will audit the books?

 Answer by Ian:

A firm of independent auditors vetted by the Executive committee of the CBW and also the CBCPF

11.  You mentioned that the community felt that another level of security was needed so CBCSI was implemented. As a result, the residents are paying top-up fees to ADT who are providing the resources. Why is an extra security body needed? Why don't the armed response companies just employ the extra resources at the same cost as the CBCSI, without having the extra structure of the CBCSI?

 Answer by Bernard:

Not just ADT - Bay response too.

Answer by Ian:

There is an incorrect assumption that residents are only paying top up fees to ADT. As explained above ADT are acting as a collection agent where they already have a contractual relationship with the residents, Bay Response are acting as a collection agent where they already have a contractual relationship with the residents, and CBW via the CBCPF accounting structure will serve as a collection agent for residents who do not subscribe to ADT or Bay Response.

CBW needs additional help to carry out its crime prevention mandate. It is accountable to the community and the suburb as a whole. The armed response companies are legally obligated to serve only their subscribing households, at their place of residence. CBCSI addresses the need for an intigrated security solution which covers the green belts and all the areas of the neighborhood. In addition the CBW, through the community, has raised in excess of R650 000 for the new camera project and, through the CBW patrollers forms a critical component of the CBCSI. In order to integrate all of these participants, the most practical (and accountable route) was through a public/private partnership which is accountable to the community through the CBW.(Ian)

 Answer by Bernard:

Again - this is all detailed in the original flyer I sent you:

The whole concept of this initiative is that we do NOT rely on ADT or Bay Response to dictate where and when resources are utilized.

Current Armed Response resources are only utilized for private contracts to homes and any assistance they give us (CBW) and the general community is as a fovour due to our good relationship with them.

CBCPF have long ago identified the need for an additional layer of security (as was vehemently echoed by the community following the recent violent house invasions) that addresses public security needs and supplements the SAPS.

CBCSI resources will not be encumbered by individual house alarms but will be there to react to any public requirement, CBW Patroller backup, safety and security matter affecting residents of Camps Bay.

SAPS are clearly under-resourced for this area, and CBCSI helps to plug that gap.

In fact the word GAP is the very name JHB has used for similar projects embarked upon.

12.  As requested before, we would like a financial breakdown of the CBCSI's expenditure. This includes salaries and resources.

 Answer by Ian:

CBCSI will release annual audited statements which will be open to public inspection. As explained above the CBW executive will have ongoing oversight of the utilization of the funds.

This information cannot possibly be available before we have even begun.  CBCSI will be transparently managed by the publicly elected CBW Exco & CBCPF Exco and all financials will be reported on at Quartely meetings and Annual meetings.

13. WHAT do the HUTS and resources in the huts accomplish?

 Answer by Bernard:

The HUTS and GUARDS in the huts accomplish the following:

• They pose a fantastic visual deterrent - crime figures show a Drop already for the 1^st week they were deployed.
• They are eyes and ears for the neighbourhood at all 3 entrances and exits
• They alert us to suspicious vehicles and individuals entering and leaving the area
• They are used to spot and report on specific intel. when directed to - e.g. partial description of vehicle given after crime committed - they can immediately notify us of which entrance vehicle has left allowing SAPS and other neighbour resources to be alerted and take action.
• Each hut will have a base radio - this dramatically improves communications for all residents with hand-held CBW radios, as well as the official sector patrols, as it gives them improved coverage at the outermost borders of Camps Bay.
• CBW Patrollers have automatically now "decentralized ops rooms" in each sector.

14. I live in Clifton - does this scheme help me?

 Answer by Bernard:

Yes it does:

• 2 of your entrances will eventually be manned by huts and 24x7 guards
• Cameras will be installed in Kloof, Lower Kloof and Victoria roads. And monmitored in our new control room at CBHS
• Dog units patrol nightly in your area - amongst the myriad of lanes and steps
• Dog units patrol the bushy overgrown servitudes and landscapes between Victoria and lower kloof st.
• Tactical unit patrols and responds to all incidents in Clifton - has already done numerous cases
• As more Clifton members come on board, so we can increase resource to this area - unfortunately Clifton have not come on board officially with CBW in the form of citizen patrols, so there are definitely fewer eyes and ears to direct the tactical response units and patrols to this area.

This article applies to: CPF