About the Integrated Development Plan

The Integrated Development Plan (IDP) is a municipality’s principal strategic plan that deals with the most critical development needs of the municipal area (external focus) as well as the most critical governance needs of the organisation (internal focus).

The IDP –

• is adopted by council within one year after a municipal election and remains in force for the council’s elected term (a period of five years);

• is initially drafted and thereafter reviewed annually in consultation with the local community as well as interested organs of state and other role players;

• guides and informs all planning and development, and all decisions with regard to planning, management and development;

• forms the framework and basis for the municipality’s medium term expenditure framework, annual budgets and performance management system; and

• seeks to promote integration and coordination of actions across sectors and spheres of government.

The centrality of municipal IDPs is articulated in section 35 of the MSA which describes IDPs as “the principal strategic planning instrument which guides and informs all planning and development, and all decisions with regard to planning, management and development, in the municipality.”

Since 2001, as required by the MSA, all municipalities have been developing and implementing IDPs with the aim of -

• providing household infrastructure and services where it is most needed;

• creating liveable and integrated cities, towns and rural areas;

• building vibrant and inclusive local economies; and

• facilitating community empowerment.