Bulk levies scrapped
2010-02-18
THERE is good news for home-owners who are planning an extension to their property. The bulk infrastructure contribution levy (BICL) instituted by Drakenstein Municipality last year, has been scrapped. The Municipality received fiery reaction from the Boland Chapter of the South African Institute of Architectural Technologists (SAIAT) after announcing this levy. This new form of taxation which was implemented last year on short notice, has been cancelled, said a representative of Drakenstein Municipality. This cancellation can lead to an increase in the submission of building plans, but the public must still follow correct procedures when submitting plans. A building control official at Drakenstein Municipality’s building control office (now situated on the corner of Main and Market Street), said that the same application procedures are still in place. “For any building work from what is classified as minor building work up to your New Buildings council`s approval is required.We only accept applications where all administrative requirements are adhered to. Applications must be in triplicate for us to determine the scrutiny fee payable on the application.Other fees can also be added. “Circulation of the application begins soon after payment is received and the circulation process can take 6 to 8 weeks.Submissions are circulated to all relevant departments for their comments. If there are comments from the various departments, the building control office will compile an ammendment letter after which the applicant will be notified. “When the ammendments are addressed the application has to be resubmitted and recirculated to those departments for further scrutinising. Applications for our rural area have to be submitted at the Wellington Office. It will ease the administrative logging, but it will be accepted at the Paarl Office. “In some areas in Drakenstein additional approval is required from other Govermental Departments. This can put a time delay on the application,” he said A local draughtsman said that the scrapping of the levies was a great relief and that those who had paid, should be refunded.
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