Last week a recommendation was made to the Drakenstein Municipal Council that the Public Safety Division of the Drakenstein Municipality be established as a stand-alone department.
Consequently, it will be moved from the Community Services Department and a new post of Executive Director of Public Safety will be established.
According to the municipality the changes are being made to increase the focus on the safety of the community and the successful candidate will be required to meet the strategic objectives of the municipality.
According to information provided by the council meeting agenda of 26 April this year, it was resolved that the position of Executive Director of Planning and Development would be abolished and rendered vacant on 1 April.
This then provided the municipality with an opportunity to establish a department that will have a dedicated focus on public safety.
It further stated the Drakenstein area faced numerous and complex challenges when it came to public safety.
According to information also provided by the agenda, the micro-changes that will take place include seeking to re-organise the existing staff in the current Public Safety division in a manner that will provide dedicated resources over two precincts in the Drakenstein area.
“Since this is a new department, the Executive Director of Community Services, to whom the Public Safety Division reports, will continue to be responsible for duties until the post of Executive Director of Public Safety is filled.
“This will allow management and accountability over the next few months and allow administration to finalise the changes to the micro structure for the public safety function.”
The matter was unanimously adopted by all councillors and the position will be advertised in the media.
