Comprehensive Study Notes on Integrated Development Plans

Definition and Scope of the Integrated Development Plan (IDP)

• An Integrated Development Plan is the primary strategic tool utilized by a Local Municipality.

• It functions as a comprehensive municipal plan that provides essential information to citizens, investors, and visitors. This includes data regarding the population, socio-economic challenges, economic opportunities, and the specific level and type of services available in a given area.

• The document introduces the municipality’s political and administrative office bearers, outlining their respective portfolios and specific business units.

• It serves as a central hub for collaborative planning, acting as a single, coordinated reflection of the local sphere of government.

Legislative Framework and Statutory Requirements

• The existence and preparation of IDPs are mandated by the Local Government Municipal Systems Act ($2000$), specifically Chapter $5$, Parts $1$, $2$, and $3$.

• Part $1$ (General Requirements) stipulates that municipal plans must align with and complement the development plans and strategies of neighboring local municipalities.

• Municipalities are required to consult with national and provincial governments, as well as parastatals, during the preparation process.

• National and Provincial Governments have a reciprocal duty to inform local municipalities of new policies and provide the necessary financial assistance and capacity for implementing such policies.

• Section $24(1)$ defines municipal planning as a cooperative government process.

• Section $25(1)$ requires the adoption of a new IDP every $5$ years, coinciding with the term of a new Local Municipal (LM) Council.

Core Objectives and Key Issues

• Integrated development aims to harmonize different aspects of the built environment to create a coordinated, sustainable human experience described as "LIVE-WORK-PLAY."

• An IDP encompasses all strategies and objectives for social and economic development in the short, medium, and long term.

• There are $5$ key issues covered by IDPs:

  1. Basic Service Provision.
  2. Infrastructural Development and Housing.
  3. Economic Growth and Employment Opportunities.
  4. Public Transport and Amenities.
  5. Disaster Management.

Administrative Responsibility and Preparation

• IDPs are prepared by the Town Planning Department, which is typically housed within the Municipal Manager’s office.

• This department serves as the strategic information and data center for the entire municipality.

• The Town Planning Department drives the entire preparation process, including development and public participation, guided by statutory timeframes. Failure to follow these steps can result in an audit query, which is a highly undesirable outcome.

• The department must ensure that the current and future plans of every municipal business unit, as well as all $9$ National and Provincial Government departments, are reflected in the IDP.

• IDP preparation is a continuous process that persists even after adoption as landscapes change and new development applications are presented.

Procedural Steps in Producing an IDP

• Adherence to statutory timeframes provided by the Municipal Systems Act is mandatory.

• The process begins with a formal Council resolution stating the intention to draft an IDP.

• Public notification of this intention is required.

• The municipality must develop and advertise a Process Plan, which outlines the proposed approach and methodology.

• An elaborate consultation process is undertaken, involving:

  • The family of local municipalities and the District municipality.
  • National and Provincial government departments.
  • Ward-level meetings with community members.
  • Parastatals.

• The draft IDP is collated and advertised for public comment.

• The final IDP is then adopted, with hard copies placed at public facilities such as municipal libraries for accessibility.

Goals and Investor Appeal

• The IDP is intended to represent the highest version of seamless government, responding to citizen needs through effective participation and good governance within a single inclusive plan.

• In its ideal state, the document serves as the portal to the entire municipality.

• It provides public and private investors with critical data to determine if a specific space will yield a high and sustainable Return on Investment (ROI).

• It informs citizens of future plans for their immediate and surrounding areas, allowing them to make informed investment and socio-economic decisions for their families.

• The plan aims to enhance the appeal of local areas for destination visits by local and internal tourists, citing examples such as Drakenburg and the Maphumlo hot springs.

Stakeholder Investment and Community Impact

• Citizens should be invested in the IDP because it expresses the municipality’s strategic and spatial future, which directly impacts lived experiences.

• The plan can trigger tariff increases, which are often argued as necessary for the sustainable delivery of services.

• The IDP affects the physical environment by zoning areas for non-residential land use, which may impact residential neighborhoods positively or negatively.

• Municipal plans also influence the environmental integrity of neighborhoods.

Shortfalls and Criticisms of the IDP Process

• A common criticism is that IDPs are often compliance-based exercises that fail to effect the changes actually needed on the ground.

• The document is sometimes not taken seriously by citizens or other organs of state.

• The high frequency of development planning can exhaust communities, especially when residents perceive that no tangible changes have occurred between cycles.

• Public participation is frequently viewed as a political exercise rather than an authentic effort to address community needs.

Spatial Development Frameworks (SDF) and Land Use Management

• The Spatial Development Framework is a key component of an IDP and is a requirement under both the Municipal Systems Act and Chapter $4$, Part $1$ of the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (SPLUMA: Act $13$ of $2003$).

• An SDF provides a visual expression of the municipality's strategic plans, using colors and symbols to indicate current and future land uses, such as residential, commercial, and industrial zones.

• The SDF is a high-level, municipal-wide plan.

• More focused, community-level plans are known as Precinct Plans; these provide greater detail on planned land uses.

• A Land Use Scheme Map identifies the specific legal development rights for individual plots of land.

Case Study: Mandeni Municipality and Precinct Planning

• The Mandeni Land Use Scheme currently covers zones including Residential Uses, Mixed Use (Low Impact), Place of Worship, Public Open Space, and Municipal and Government zones. Historically, the majority of the area has been zoned for residential purposes with limited commercial or social zones.

• The Sundumbili Precinct Plan ($2023$) emphasizes the creation of commercial space, which is considered essential for any Central Business District (CBD).

• Because there is limited residential space within the Sundumbili city center, it creates an opportunity for Kingfisher to become an integrated urban node.

• The Kingfisher Precinct Plan ($2023$) is divided into Phase $1$ (a $5$-year development) and Phase $2$ (a $10$-year development).

• Phase $1$ Residential Development includes:

  • Residential High Impact: High-rise buildings, shelters, rehabilitation centers, crèches, and places of public assembly.
  • Medium Impact Residential: Medium-density housing and dwelling units.
  • Special Residential: Detached dwellings.

• Phase $1$ Mixed-Use Development includes:

  • Health and Welfare: Community care, medical centers, and day clinics.
  • Municipal and Government: Disaster management services, $24$-hour emergency services, municipal offices, and license centers.
  • Institutional: Retirement villages and art galleries.
  • Medium Impact Mixed Use: Coffee shops, stationary shops, and market stalls.