Ban on serving of refreshments at council and other meetings

01 Feb 2016 | Admin Author

A ban has been placed on the provision of catering and refreshments at Council workshops, retreats, strategic sessions, committee and Council meets unless approved by City Manager Mpilo Mbambisa.

Only tea/coffee and biscuits or rusks may be provided.

The ban is to be imposed in terms of the Operational Efficiency Work Plan/Cost Containment Measures that are in line with an instruction from National Treasury.

A report to the Municipal Public Accounts Committee that meets next week lists a number of measures that “must be consistently implemented with immediate effect”.

The control measures states that Mbambisa has the discretion to approve catering and refreshments for meetings with overseas visitors and other spheres of government with offices outside the metro.

However, before he approves the expenditure Budget and Treasury must confirm that the required budget is available.

The control measures state that where councillors or staff are supplied with tea, coffee, sugar and milk “only the cheapest available brand must be purchased”.

In addition, all requisitions for these items must be signed off by Budget and Treasury accountants “in the first instance”.

The measures also provide that the City Manager must ensure that team building exercises and social functions, including end of the year functions are not financed from the municipal budget “or by any suppliers of sponsors”.

A ceiling of R2 000 a year has been placed on entertainment allowances for people qualifying for this.

Further, the serving of alcohol is banned except at state banquets, events involving the promotion of South Africa and its goods and services or the hosting of foreign dignitaries.

The report says that as this is a National Treasury instruction “the municipality must comply” and previous resolutions in conflict with this are nullified.

Source:Metrominute