The Tribune

By LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Chief Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Davis administration tabled legislation to establish an Urban Renewal Authority to enhance residents’ quality of life in designated urban communities.

The bill, tabled yesterday, empowers the authority to organise Urban Renewal centres, manage community projects — including clubs, training programmes, and educational initiatives — oversee funds, and acquire or dispose of property.

The authority will be governed by a board of directors consisting of two co-chairpersons appointed by the minister, a managing director, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry responsible for Urban Renewal, and between five and eight additional members representing civil society organisations, also appointed by the minister.

The board will have the power to establish committees, manage contracts, grant loans for community projects and minor home repairs, and identify and report dangerous or dilapidated buildings to the minister.

According to the bill, individuals desiring to establish programmes or projects in urban communities, such as educational initiatives for children or efforts to discourage criminal activity, can apply to the board to approve grants or loans.

After disbursing monetary grants or loans, the board will investigate to ensure the funds are used as intended. It can also assist homeowners or building owners in urgent need of repairs.

To assess eligibility for a grant, the authority will inspect the property, evaluate the urgency of the repairs, and confirm that the owner meets the specified qualifications. If the owner qualifies, the Authority may award a grant in an amount determined by the minister and approve the necessary repair work.

The board may also grant loans for minor home repairs upon application, with loan amounts set by the minister and terms and interest rates determined by the board.

If the board finds that a loan was granted based on misrepresentation by the borrower or circumstances have materially changed, it may cancel the loan without incurring liability.

“The authority may postpone the payment of any sum due to it as principal or interest under a loan, upon such terms and conditions as it deems necessary,” the bill adds. “From time to time, extend the period for the repayment of any loan and compound any interest payable on the loan subject to such terms and conditions as it deems fit; write off any loan or any part thereof with the approval of the Minister upon the Minister being satisfied that all measures have been exhausted for the recovery of the loan.”

All individuals currently serving in the Urban Renewal Commission will be transferred to the Authority, with their consent, for one year, pending their acceptance or refusal of permanent employment with the Authority.

Transferred individuals will receive remuneration on terms no less favourable than those in the Urban Renewal Commission.

A transferred public officer, contract officer, or temporary worker in government service may apply for a transfer to a government ministry or department during the one-year period following their transfer to the Authority.

The bill also outlines financial provisions and property vesting.

The financial year of the Authority will run for twelve months, beginning on 1 July each year. At least six months before the commencement of the upcoming financial year, the Authority shall submit to the minister an estimate of the funding required to maintain operations.

Additionally, the Authority shall prepare a draft procurement plan in writing, by the Public Procurement Act each financial year and revise it as needed.

Any board member interested in a company or entity proposed for a contract with the Authority must disclose the particulars of that interest and the details must be recorded in the meeting minutes at which the disclosure is made.

A notice by a Board member to other members advising that they are a member of a company or entity interested in any contract that may be made after the date of the notice shall be considered a sufficient declaration of interest regarding that contract.

However, the notice has no effect unless presented at a Board meeting or unless reasonable steps are taken to ensure it is brought up and read at the next Board meeting.