In response to the private security initiative that has recently been proposed for the Meadows area, I thought it is a good time to update the owners on the progress of the various other security and community initiatives in the pipeline.
I applaud Rob and Dylan for taking action, but I’m concerned that their approach might not be effective long-term and that it could do more harm than good by splitting funding and efforts.
If you’re not interested in the long read, in short, my opinion is that we should:
- Support the HBCIA (to be formally launched on 30 November 2017).
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Support the establishment of an SRA (Special Rates Area) for Hughenden/Meadows as this will secure funding for initiatives over the long-term.
- Support the Hughenden/Meadows Sector of the HB Neighbourhood Watch as they have a well developed Security Plan for the area.
- Support the HB Ratepayers Association as they have their finger on the pulse w.r.t. the City’s development plans (IY expansion and Triangle Site) and have already developed action plans to mitigate risks, as they arise.
Detailed information is available below if you’re interested.
HBCIA (HOUT BAY COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION)
HBCIA aims to improve coordination and cohesion between all crime-fighting efforts in Hout Bay. HBCIA is a partnership of most of the various organizations in HB and plans to drive one holistic integrated safety and security plan across Hout Bay. The HBCIA will be officially launched on 30 November 2017. We will circulate more info as it becomes available.
HB RATEPAYERS ASSOCIATION
They are actively engaged and communicating frequently with the city and with our Ward Councillor. There’s not much to feed back on at this stage, but I’ve seen evidence of communications going to the highest levels of local government and having attended their feedback meetings I’m comfortable that Brett Nussey and his team are extremely competent and rational.
HUGHENDEN-MEADOWS SRA
The steering committee for the Oakwood Hughenden-Meadows Special Ratings Area is currently completing the Draft Business Plan based on the Urban Management survey and guidelines for Community Improvement Districts for submission to the City of Cape Town.
The volunteer steering committee consists of Norman Brook, Chris Tisdall, Christian Stewart and Henriette Sparkes who are working closely with Hout Bay Neighbourhood Watch and other residential areas in Hout Bay to create a sustainable solution to public safety and community improvement.
Once the City of Cape Town has checked the business plan is compliant it will be circulated to residents for comment. The first public meeting should be held towards the end of January or early February. It will be advertised widely.
I think that this is the best vehicle to get sustainable funding for any local initiative, whether it is security related, new access roads to Main Road, or anything else.
HB NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
The Hughenden/Meadows Sector of the HB Neighbourhood Watch has developed in 2016, in accordance with a ‘best practice’ international security standard, a neighbourhood “Security Plan”. This security plan incorporates the guidance of a wide range of specialists.
The implementation of the HB/Hughenden-Meadows Security Plan is currently a work in progress.
- Old/outdated equipment is being phased out;
- New CCTV and night-capable cameras are being installed in accordance to the priorities that have been identified;
- Some elements of the plan is dependent on the installation of the new Fibre Optic IT network and can thus only be installed once the network is in place and fully operational.
- The long-term success of the plan, from a financial point of view, is dependent on the establishment of the SRA for the area.