Central City Improvement District board members.
Business in the city is back on track, with a bumper season ahead, and office users returning to work, said chairperson of the Central City Improvement District (CCID), Rob Kane.
He was speaking at the CCID’s annual general meeting, held at the Sunsquare Hotel in Buitengracht Street last Monday, November 13, where the organisation also celebrated its 23rd consecutive clean audit.
“For the first time in three years, we walk around the city and feel like we are back on track. Covid was tough but we are starting to see that turn. We are looking good as a city.”
Mr Kane said the organisation’s performance in the first financial year since the end of the pandemic was due to its clear focus, consistency, hard work, and ability “to get the basics right”.
“The four pillars of our CCID mandate have remained unchanged over many years, namely safety and security, urban management, social development and communication. However, the CCID has retained its relevance to its community by constantly evolving and adapting to circumstances on the ground,” said Mr Kane.
The CEO of the CCID, Tasso Evangelinos, said the CBD had made an excellent recovery post-Covid.
“While the CCID proved its mettle in delivering a crucial and stabilising service during the pandemic, the CBD’s post-Covid recovery demanded even greater effort and agility to support a growing inner city.”
Mr Evangelinos said while the AGM was themed around success, the 2022/23 financial year was not without operational challenges on all fronts, as the recovery of the city brought with it more footfall, and the CCID had to step up its crime-prevention measures.
The Urban Management department had also been busy dealing with ever-increasing amounts of litter and illegal dumping in town, especially in pedestrianised areas, because of increased footfall, and more homeless people on the streets of the city.
However, he said, despite the increased workload, the CCID remained successful. “This year has proved that no matter what happens, that we remain focused with all hands on deck.”