EFFECTIVE management, keeping the city safe and clean, modernising all services provided by the city, addressing city parking and vendor issues and developing community development at the grassroots level represent the backbone of Team Benschop’s manifesto for the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE).In a seven-page manifesto, Team Benschop, through its 14 representatives, plans to ensure that a culture of effective community leadership and governance is restored. “Team Benschop’s vision for local government seeks to address issues and to remove the constraints, red tape and bureaucracy that prevent local government bodies from functioning in an effective and efficient manner.”

EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT
Team Benschop believes that by rebuilding and restoring City Hall to make it a safer and compliant structure, hiring more technically proficient staff, improving inter-agency collaboration and intra-agency communication while fostering transparency and accountability, the Georgetown Mayor and City Council will prove to be much more efficient.
According to the Team’s manifesto, an analysis of the current state of City Hall would be done to determine the critical areas of focus for the entity. Additionally, meetings will be held with all departmental heads to discuss challenges, while identifying opportunities for each section. That coupled with staff development training and other measures aimed at enhancing the proficiency of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council will become reality.

SAFE AND CLEAN
Team Benschop, in its bid to ensure that Georgetown returns to its former glory, intends to focus on creating less waste by introducing recycling measures. “Team Benschop wants to use our waste to create jobs by establishing a home-grown recycling industry, which would see us processing recyclable waste, and activating a market for recycled goods.”
According to the manifesto, the Team is committed to providing “a comprehensive solid waste plan” aimed at ensuring that the city and all communities therein are well maintained. “Our plan includes a vision to mitigate the impacts of climate change and the environment. We believe that if our communities are maintained on a consistent basis, they will become resilient to damage and disease caused by flooding and infectious outbreaks. This will result in happier, healthier and more productive communities,” the manifesto stated.
Additionally, it is Team Benschop’s plan to work closely with the municipality’s police and Central Police to implement strategies geared at reducing the incidence of robberies, gang violence, drug use, domestic violence and juvenile delinquency in communities.
“We will task [the] municipal police with the development and promotion of strategies and programmes for public safety in local areas and for solving neighbourhood problems, including a system of regular patrols.”
As such, it is Team Benschop’s plan to ensure there are available and functional street lights, implement efficient and effective garbage collection and safe disposal, provide waste management services that do not inconvenience residents, implement a system to handle commercial waste disposal, introduce child-friendly spaces and oversee the improvement of the city daycare management, provide more resources for the City Constabulary and improve recruitment practices, implement a campaign to control stray animals, and introduce anti-littering campaigns around the city and in schools.

MODERNISATION
Team Benschop believes that the use of technology would ensure that the services provided by the Georgetown Mayor and City Council will be significantly more efficient and effective. “This will augur well for the creation of faster, more efficient service delivery, as well as the creation of opportunities for employment and local innovation.”
According to the manifesto, the introduction of modernised services such as the provision of ICT at the local government level will contribute to a “greener economy by producing less waste.”
“Our team is committed to the introduction of electronic parking meters throughout the city, an online system for tax payments and verification, and the use of management information systems in local government offices.”

PARKING AND VENDORS
Rebuilding improved markets that are consumer and vendor friendly and that are properly managed and regularised by the city is also on Team Benschop’s agenda. The group believes that local farmers make a valuable contribution to the economy and as such, a space must be created and dedicated to their “entrepreneurial expansion and development” that should inevitably lead to increased revenue.
“We are also interested in the provision of a market industry that is fairly competitive, clean and easily accessible for consumers,” the manifesto stated.
Additionally, the group plans to regularise parking throughout Georgetown and introduce parking meters that will allow for a better flow of traffic while making the city safer and more enjoyable for consumers and business owners.
“Our vision for a regularised parking system will also include the provision of parking lots and spaces in strategic town areas,” the group contesting the LGE on March 18, 2016 said.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
The development and empowerment of every citizen are viewed as critical by Team Benschop and as such, the group says it is committed to “grassroot development through a process that is inclusive and sustainable.”
More emphasis will be placed on the education of citizens on the local government processes. “We are specifically interested in the empowerment of our most vulnerable groups: youth, women and children, the disabled and the elderly, to participate in the decision- making processes.”
On that note, the group intends to place special to ensuring that there is an opportunity for participation at every level, for every citizen. “As a local government authority, we will also pay serious attention to sporting initiatives. More specifically, we will ensure that an auspicious environment is provided and maintained to augur health, inclusive recreational opportunities for every community member.”
Team Benschop commits to having an open-door policy as it believes that citizens currently feel excluded from the decision-making process. As such, information and communication is vital and a mechanism will be created by citizens through which needs are made known to local government officials.
Accountability is also critical to ensure success and the group commits to ensuring that mechanisms are in place whereby elected officials are held responsible. “Team Benschop is here to serve the people and we are committed to fostering grass-root leadership and potential through the local government process,” the manifesto stated.