Community Improvement Projects Committee or CIPC funding is an important source of government grants for improving HDB estates. CIPC projects cover basic infrastructure, recreational facilities and communal amenities, including playgrounds, fitness areas and linkways. On multiple occasions in this House, I have asked about the quantum of CIPC funds given to each Town Council so there is a clear, quantifiable data point to indicate how much taxpayer money has been given to each Town Council.
In 2017, the then Minister for National Development said that MND does not prescribe any standardised way for Town Councils to present the CIPC quantum. When I asked the same substantive question last year, the Minister replied that the amount of CIPC funding disbursed to each Town Council each year is based on works completed by the Town Council as the Implementing Agent. This disbursement is reported in the respective Town Councils’ annual financial statements. The annual disbursement to the Town Councils includes CIPC projects approved over multiple years, as projects may take years and excludes CIPC projects implemented by Citizen Consultative Committees or CCCs.
Even though the disbursement is reported in the annual financial statement of all Town Councils, without a standardised way of presenting the information, tracking the absolute amount of CIPC funding channelled to each Town Council can be challenging and inaccurate, particularly if one compares the amounts disbursed by MND to PAP and opposition Town Councils.
Prior to 2021, opposition Town Councils had to seek the agreement of the various CCC sunder the charge of unelected People’s Association Advisers, including losing PAP candidates. In 2021, MND correctly changed the process for making CIPC nominations, and TCs, in addition to CCCs were allowed to propose projects for funding. Opposition TCs need not get the buy-in and support from CCC’s that work exclusively with People’s Association grassroots advisers.
In view of the change of approach since 2021, may I ask the Minister to answer these questions relating to all new CIPC proposals from 2021 to date? Could the Minister please name the top five Town Councils in terms of CIPC funds granted, and the quantum extended to each Town Council respectively over the same period? Please also name the bottom five Town Councils and the quantum of CIPC funds granted to each respectively. Please include projects regardless of whether they came from the TC directly or through the CCC. How does the committee decide which project proposals are approved and which are rejected by the CIPC? And in this regard, would MND meet with elected opposition Town Councillors to discuss projects which it rejects?
