The City of Cape Town’s Council has reduced the tariffs for the monitoring of electronic signs in response to feedback from the industry. The new reduced tariffs will apply for the rest of the current financial year and will assist the business sector with economic recovery.
The reduced tariffs were approved at the Council meeting on Thursday, 27 January 2022, on recommendation of the City’s Directorate for Spatial Planning and Environment.
‘The lower tariffs will assist our local business community and non-profit organisations with their economic recovery. We have said numerous times before that we will do everything possible to assist the business community during these difficult times brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic. Economic recovery is pivotal to Cape Town’s prosperity. We need our local economy to grow and to create jobs. The lower the cost of doing business, the better the chances of this happening,’ said the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.
The reduced tariffs for the monitoring of electronic signs in terms of the Outdoor Advertising and Signage By-law of 2001, are as follows:
- R52,50 per m² per month for the business sector (down from R315,10 per m² per month)
- R31,50 per m² per month for non-profit organisations (down from R189,70 per m² per month)
The reduced tariffs apply immediately, following Council approval.
The City’s Directorate for Spatial Planning and Environment made this recommendation to Council after the City received numerous comments about the hardship it causes to an already financially strained business sector. These comments were submitted in the latter part of 2021, during the public participation process about the proposed Outdoor Advertising By-law.
‘A responsive government is accessible to its communities, listens, and makes concessions where possible. This is a clear example that the City is responsive, and willing to act to assist our local business community,’ said Alderman Andrews.
The tariffs are intended to cover the costs for the additional human resources, overtime and travel charges related to the monitoring of illuminated signs. These are in essence large electronic screens that display commercial advertising.
The City is compelled to check these signs regularly to ensure the brightness, graphics and the transition time between graphics comply with the provisions of the Outdoor Advertising and Signage By-law and conditions of approval.
‘It may seem strange that we need to monitor these signs, but most of the signage complaints that the City receives relate to this type of signage because it may have a direct and significant impact on the environment, residents and the surrounding road network. Also, the monitoring often happens after sunset so that officials can measure the impact,’ said Alderman Andrews.
According to the City’s data, the Covid-19 lockdowns had a significant impact on the local business sector, in particular during the 2020/21 financial year. For example:
- Event poster applications to advertise events on City property declined from 414 in 2018/19 and 302 in 2019/20 to only 70 in 2020/21
- Estate agent registrations to advertise on City property declined from 1 356 agents in 2018/19 and 1 374 agents in 2019/20 to 477 in 2020/21
- Only business premises and third party advertising signage remained more or less stable during this time
‘At this point in time it is critical that we contribute to Cape Town’s economic recovery and continue to provide relief as far as possible,’ said Alderman Andrews.