The Planning Department
Functions:
To promote the sustainable social, physical and environmental development of KSAC
To facilitate the orderly development of land
To ensure that developments are in conformity with environmental management, public health, public safety and disaster mitigation standards and guidelines
To manage the development of application process to ensure applications are dealt with speedily
To ensure that citizens adhere to development regulationsStrategies:
Managing the Development Application Process
Interfacing with the public in an advisory capacity e.g. pre-application consultation
Assessment of development applications
Assessment of subdivision applications
Assessment of billboard applications
Collaboration with other agencies involved in the development process
Enforcement
Working with the KSAC/PDC, NEPA and the other partners in the preparation of the Sustainable Development Plan for KSAC – the Cities Alliance Project
Attendance and participation in community meetings
Representation and participation on Committees that impact the planning and development process e.g. the review of the Town and Country Planning Bill, the Planning Development Committee of the Business Improvement District
Laws and Regulations:
The Town and Country Planning Act 1957 amended 1999 – defines inter alia development, role of LPA and TCPA
The Town and Country Planning (Kingston) Development Order 1966 – outlines policies and guidelines, zoning for area covered by the Order and density for developments
The Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisement) Regulations 1978
The Local Improvements Act of 1914 governs the subdivision of land. All applications must be referred to the Government Town Planner and the Chief Technical Director, Ministry of Works, now the CEO of NWA.
The Manual for Development – a developer’s guide
Operational Procedures – Development Application Process
Ensure that plans and all accompanying documents are presented by applicants
Check plans to ensure that all pertinent information is included
Ensure accurate calculations of fees
Assignment of Universal Number which follows the application to all agencies
Referral to relevant agencies
Advise applicants and agencies on status of applications
Preparation of statistics on development applications. See Report for April 2001 - March 2003
The Development Application Data Management System (To be implemented)Operational Procedures – Development Applications
Site inspection to ascertain appropriateness of proposal in terms of surroundings and to ensure accuracy of site
In house assessment to ensure conformity with accepted planning standards e.g., zoning, density, setbacks, access, parking, layout, sewage disposal
Collaboration with other agencies e.g. NEPA, NWA, Fire Department. It is mandatory that certain applications are referred to certain agencies
Recommendation with conditions to the Building and Town Planning Committee
If refused, applicant has the right to appeal to the Minister in charge of planning
Operational Procedures – Subdivision
10 lots and over, sent directly to NEPA which will be considered at Subdivision Committee and recommendations sent to KSAC than be reviewed and presented to Building and Town Planning Committee
9 lots and under – site visit, in house assessment, circulation to all relevant agencies, consideration at meeting of Technical Committee chaired by the Director of Planning, recommendations made to Building and Town Planning Committee with conditions
Majority of applications are 9 lots and under
Operational Procedures – Billboards and Cell Sites
Planning aspects of cell site applications dealt with by TCPA as per Telecommunications Guidelines, structural aspect considered by City Engineer
In respect of Billboards; site inspection to ensure appropriateness of location and accuracy of site; safety and structural aspects considered by City Engineer. LPAs have no legal power to assess or rule on message being advertised. New guidelines for Advertisement are now being prepared and the Director of Planning is part of this team
Change of Use and Retention of Use
These are decided on by the TCPA as set out by Section 12 of the TCP Act 1957.
Applications submitted through the KSAC and our recommendations are sent with application to the TCPA
TCPA on making a decision advises KSAC and the applicant
Any modification or addition has to be approved by KSAC
Enforcement
Site inspection to verify alleged breach
Warning letter
Revisit
Stop and Enforcement Notices. Offender has right to appeal to Minister in charge of planning
Injunction
Court Action
Staff Complement
Director of Planning
3 Field Officers
1 Temporary Trainee Field Officer
1 Building Officer (deals with subdivisions)
Challenges and Opportunities
The rapid pace of development of KSAC, which in itself speaks to its social and economic development
The nature of the development of KSAC to be addressed by proposed Sustainable Development Plan
The rapid increases in breaches of the Planning law and regulations
The lack of knowledge of the planning laws and processes by members of the public speaks to the need for the public education. This is being addressed in the community meetings and through the preparation of Citizens Guides by the Functional Area Group comprising the Directors of Planning from all the LPAs
Already there is a Draft Citizens Guide for Subdivisions
For further information, please contact:
Miss. Andrine McLaren
Director of Planning
director.planning@cwjamaica.com
922 9990
Poor Relief
Introduction
The Poor Relief Department of the parishes of Kingston and St. Andrew is a welfare agency of the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation. It was established as a result of the Poor Relief Act, which was enacted on April 29, 1886 and modified a number of times over the years.
The department was located at the Old Wolmer’s Ground (now an Arcade) – 65 Church Street, Kingston. It was relocated in the fifties to 65 Hanover Street – its present location.
Functions
The Poor Relief Department is the welfare of the Ministry of Local Government, Youth and Sports and is administered by the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation under the Poor Relief Act. Its aims and objectives are to alleviate destitution in all its forms. Under Poor Relief Act, all persons who are physically or mentally disabled and unable to work and earn a livelihood and who are destitute are entitled to receive Poor Relief benefits.
Manning any shelters established, registering persons to be accommodated therein, and ensuring that food, bedding and health care are provided.
Investigation of persons who are reported to have suffered in the disaster.
Rehabilitation of disaster victims
Mission Statement
To serve as a catalyst for our clients, by alleviating destitution, to improve their standard of living and enhance their quality of life through counseling, rehabilitation and the use of available resources. All that we do will be in keeping with our motto “Show You Care; Do Your Share”.
Management Structure
The Board of Supervision is the legal body that supervises Poor Relief islandwide. The Poor Relief Committee (a sub-committee) is the manager of the poor on behalf of the Corporation as stipulated by the poor on behalf of the corporation as stipulated by the Poor Relief Act. The department is administered and operated by a group of social workers known as Poor Relief Officers. The chief among them is the Inspector of Poor. Others are the Deputy Inspector of Poor, the Senior Assistant Inspector of Poor and Assistant Inspectors of Poor. The Assistant Inspectors of Poor or Field Officers are in charge of one of the 13 zones that exist with the parishes of Kingston and St. Andrew.
There are also some support staff that assist in carrying out the functions of Poor Relief Department. The Poor Relief Officers are guided in their work by Laws and Regulations governing the system. Some of the Laws are:-1. Poor Relief Act
2. The Status of Children Act
3. The Married Women’s Property Act
4. The Affiliation Act
5. The Vagrancy Act
6. The Offenses Against the Person Act
7. The Children Adoption Act
8. The Maintenance Act
9. Mental Health Act
10. Juvenile Act
These functions are carried out through interviewing, investigating, counseling, visiting, reporting, rehabilitative intervention and referrals. Monitoring is done through domiciliary visits (follow-up) to evaluate client’s progressPrograms
Poor Relief Assistance; Institution and Non-Institutional
Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation
Street People
Feeding Program
Indigent Housing
“Adopt a Child’
Shelter
Home Care
Eligibility
The criterion for eligibility is dependent on the program. For Poor Relief Assistance, “The persons entitled to relief are the persons within the parish who are wholly destitute of the means of subsistence, and are at the same time due to mental or physical causes, unable to work and earn a means of subsistence” (Poor Relief Act Section 29).
There are two forms of Poor Relief Assistance – the institutional and Non-Institutional.1. The Institutional – care is available to destitute persons who are;
a. Without a dwelling place
b. Ailing and have on one to care for them
a. The Non-Institutional – care relates to those who need Poor Relief Assistance and can manage outside of an institution.
c. Those who become destitute because of circumstances such as catastrophe, which makes them entitled to Disaster relief and Rehabilitation is assisted as described in the Poor Relief Act.
Street People Program is administered to those persons who are homeless and are in need of shelter, daily meals, medical attention and the opportunity to have a bath and change of clothing.,
The Marie Atkins Care Center for Street People was established in November 1993. The purpose of the center is to improve the quality of life for the Homeless. Clients are able to reunite with their families in U.S.A., Canada, Great Britain and here in Jamaica.
The Feeding Program is available to destitute persons who are able to provide a meal on any given days. Food packages are provided to registered clients monthly and a hot meal at some pay stations on pay days.
The Indigent Housing Program is available to an indigent who is in need of a house or who is in need of repairs to be done to his/her dwelling. This is facilitated through the Member of Parliament/Councilor S.E.S.P. allocation. The department in collaboration with the Food for the Poor also builds housing units.
The Adopt a Child Program is an outreach initiative, which seeks sponsorship from organizations and individuals to provide a scholarship for destitute children who are doing well in school but are failing financial deprivation.
Shelter
Assistance and Services
The Poor Relief Department by virtue of the Poor Relief Act is the primary agency to relieve destitution and in all disaster it stands prominent as the authoritative body to make assistance readily available prior to committee approval. Assistance is given in the form of money, food, clothing and shelter inter aliaFor further details, please contact:
Mrs. Elaine Walker, J.P.
Inspector of Poor
june_walker84@yahoo.com
967 3470 or 924 9277
City Engineer
The department is headed by the City Engineer, the Chief Technical Officer and one
of the four (4) statutory head of the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC).
He has full responsibility for all civil, structural and building works that take place in the
Parishes of Kingston and St. Andrew in the country of Jamaica.
Functions of the Department
• The City Engineer’s Department is expected to deliver high quality cost effective and responsive service to the public and communities of the Municipality.
• To ensure significant improvement in the public’s perception of the role and functions of the City Engineer’s Department.
• To exercise the powers vested in the Council under the development Order and by virtue of the Town and Country Planning Act.
• To deal with Building Applications, applications for sub-division of land, housing schemes and matters related thereto and to exercise all the powers exercisable by the Council by virtue of the provisions of the Building Act and the Regulations, the Local Improvements Act and Regulations, the Housing Act, also sections of the Town Nuisances Prevention Acts as it relate to dangerous structures.
• To deal with matters concerning road, approved programme for construction works including gullies, drains and municipal buildings, properties and award of contracts.
• The City Engineer as Chief Technical Advisor, provide recommendations as they relate to disaster that may occur i.e. hurricane damage, flooding and structural matters, also recommendations on all buildings, Town and Planning, Subdivision applications submitted to the Local Authority, roads, gullies, drainage works, building development and designs.
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Services Provided by the City Engineer’s Department
• Development approvals and monitoring.
• Investigation and Enforcement of Building Breaches.
• Monitoring and Control of Dangerous Structures.
• Municipal Properties
• Advising on Municipal equipment.
• Roads, drains and associated infrastructure
• Processing of Bill Board Applications with regards to the structure.
Functions and Responsibilities of the Building Inspector
The Building Inspector is present at all stages throughout the development of the building. His input is required through the following three stages of development:
• At the checking of detailed designs and drawings for the granting of building permit.
• During construction process of the building.
• After the building has been completed, occupied and being used by it’s occupants.
Overall, the Building Inspector is here to safeguard buildings and to guarantee the design life of the structure.
Statutory Role of Building Inspectors
• The Building Inspector is the assistant to the ‘Surveyor’, whom under the Building Act is responsible for effecting all the rules and regulations under the Act and causing them to be duly observed. The Building Inspector is therefore guided by the Building Law in carrying out his duties of regulating building developments in compliance with the Order, Regulations and codes.
Objectives and Strategy for Proper Management
• Improvement in the monitoring of construction activities with a view to detecting breaches and ensuring compliance with all relevant Laws, Regulations, Development Order and Codes.
– One day per week policing by Building Officers of their respective zone as per scheduling for action.
– Media coverage of selected breaches to be covered once per month.
– Listing of construction breaches in the media along with approved applications.
For more information, please contact:
Mr. Norman Shand, PE
City Engineer
city.engineer@cwjamaica.com
967 4195 ext 280
948 7554
Human Resource Management
Role and Objectives of Human Resource Management
Ensuring the effective and efficient operation of the Personnel and Administration Section of the KSAC by:
Training and Development
Organizational Development
Career Development
Organizational Job Design
Performance Management System
Employee Assistance
Selection and Staffing
Compensation/Benefits
Union/Labour Relations
Formulating policy proposals and maintaining high levels of effectiveness in the delivery of services entrusted to the Corporation by various laws and regulations e.g. Public Health, Building and Town Planning.TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT
There are two types of employees at the KSAC.
Municipal Officers – Employed based on recommendation from the Municipal Service Commission. Minimum qualification for entry level is four (4) CXC subjects at the General Proficiency Level.
Council Employees – Employed by the Establishment Committee based on the Town Clerk’s recommendation. These employees are not subject to a qualification bar.
All permanent employees become pensionable after serving ten (10) years, persons become eligible at age 60.