PO Box 1506 Durban 4000 South Africa; Tel: (031) 335 1000 Fax: (031) 332 1288
E-Mail: – Web Page: http://www.durbanchamber.co.za
SPECIAL ECONOMIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Minutes
of the Committee Meeting held at
Chamber House, 190 Stanger Street, Durban, on
Tuesday, 20 March 2007 at 09:00.
PRESENT: Joshua Thessal Moreland Developments
Peter Bailey PricewaterhouseCoopers
Lulu Tembe Graphicor
Ugo Palmi TimePrint
Xolani Gumede Gumede Development
Srini Naicker Nedbank
Arnold Singh Odyssey Personal Financial Planning
Claudia Pierce SMME Business Consultant
IN ATTENDANCE: Pearl Mzimela DCCI
Denise Chendip DCCI
APOLOGIES: Dana Moore Ithala
Rod Draper R J Draper / Life Member
Gary Ninow Business Clinic
Merle Holden UKZN
Nimmo Naidoo Business Partners
Prakash Silal Ethekwini Municipality
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1. NOTICE OF MEETING
The notice of the meeting was taken as read.
2. APOLOGIES
The apologies, as recorded, were NOTED.
3. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES OF MEETING HELD 23 AUGUST 2006
It was UNANIMOUSLY AGREED that the minutes of the meeting held on 15
November 2006, which had been circulated, be confirmed as a true record of the proceedings subject to the following section:
Apologies: Mr Joshua Thessal tendered his apologies for this meeting.
4. MATTERS ARISING
The 2010 Task Team
Denise reported to the Committee that the 2010 Task team would be a collaboration between the Durban Chamber and the City. Clarity on this issue will be reported at the next meeting following the Board of Management meeting. Denise also mentioned that a lot of international delegation visiting the city were interested in the potential opportunities arising from the 2010 work-streams. The designated person will be the conduit for linking the opportunities with businesses, both local and international.
The vice-chairperson commented that the Committee fully supports an appointment of a 2010 Coordinator. This subject will be a standing topic for future meetings, in order for the committee to be kept updated on relevant matters.
Letters of support: REDS and Umgeni Water Board
It was reported that the letters were forwarded to the relevant authorities. Thus this matter was taken off the agenda.
5. Presentation by KZN Treasury: Dr Warwick Dorning
The presentation was postponed to the next meeting to be held on 18 April 2007. The invitation to the presentation will be open to the rest of the Durban Chamber members as well. Invitations will be sent out via e-mail and posted on the Chamber Digest.
It was suggested that future presentations to the Committee be scheduled after the committee meeting proper. This would allow for a better interaction with the presenter without compromising on time taken up for committee items. The time periods were still to be discussed further in the next meetings.
6. NATIONAL ECONOMIC MATTERS
To keep the Committee updated with the national affairs the vice chairperson requested that economic outlook newsletters from Standard Bank and/or Nedbank be circulated to members of the Committee. This source of information would also allow for current and relevant information to be discussed at a committee level.
Action: Pearl
7. LOCAL ECONOMIC MATTERS
7.1 Proposed Business Levies by the City
It was reported that numerous meetings had been held with Dr Sutcliffe to address members on the proposed surcharge on rates and electricity. It was noted that the apparent reason that the City was imposing the business levy was to close the gap on funding received by National Treasury. A discussion paper on the proposal for a local tax was issued out last year but there has not been any feedback yet. Dr Sutcliffe highlighted comparisons between the previous RSC levies and the proposed surcharges. A letter from the City Manager addressed to the Durban Chamber’s CEO with regards to the surcharge was circulated to members during the meeting.
The city was scheduled to address Chamber members on the surcharge proposal on 27 March 2007. Notices would be sent out accordingly.
City Projects
Chamber is to investigate how procurement opportunities within the City are made available to members. The information will be circulated to members before external businesses get a hold of the information first once it is made public. This topic will be a regular item in the agenda.
8. SUB-COMMITTEE REPORTS
8.1 Taxation
Draft legislation has come through regarding the retirement fund. No current statements or drafts with regards to tax issues had been released thus far.
9. REPORTS ON ISSUES DISCUSSED AT BOARD
Reports were to be forwarded after the meeting. In future reports would be forwarded together with minutes of the previous meeting.
10. TRANSFORMATION
Members of all business backgrounds and genders must be invited to actively participate on the committee. The structure of the agenda should be enhanced to entice members to participate as well. An effort should be made to have prominent stakeholders to sit in such meetings and/or give presentations to keep discussions meaningful. It was mentioned that the committee deals with broader issues whilst members want to focus on narrower short-term issues. It would be helpful if the Chair and Vice chair persons could have a re-look at the Terms of Reference and use them to motivate member participation.
It was suggested that maybe this item should be omitted in the agenda or rather change the heading to Composition and Representation.
11. ELECTIONS: CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR
No elections were held at this meeting. Nomination forms were to be circulated to members and findings presented at the next committee meeting. Action: Pearl
12. GENERAL
It was enquired whether the Chamber is represented at a city level It was then explained that the Chamber and the City already engaged on a regular basis dependent on the relevance requiring that interaction. Any areas of concern and/or improvement are communicated through the board, and then to the City. A more official representation to the City was suggested, however statutorily as per the City’s rules and regulations.
An invitation was extended to committee members to forward relevant articles within their prospective fields that could be of interest to other members for publication in the Chamber’s digest.
13. NEXT MEETING DATE
Chamber House, Ground Floor – Wednesdays
Date / Time18 April 2007 / 08:00am
20 June 2007 / 08:00am
22 August 2007 / 08:00am
24 October 2007 / 08:00am
14. CLOSURE
The Chairperson thanked members for their attendance and there being no further business, declared the meeting closed.
CONFIRMED:
CHAIRPERSON: DATE:
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