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about="/news/singapore/all-town-councils-get-top-banding-governance-except-bishan-toa-payoh" typeof="schema:NewsArticle sioc:Item foaf:Document" class="node node-article article-media-on-display view-mode-article_default article-has-media"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-12 "> <div class="story--web-category"><a href="/news/singapore" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Singapore</a></div><h1 class="story-headline">All town councils get top banding for governance, except Bishan-Toa Payoh</h1><div class="field field-name-old-article-warning"><div class="old-article-warning"></div></div><div class="article-row row"><div class="content-block col-md-8"><div class="slide media-wrapper main-carousel" id="article-carousel"><div class="media-group carousel-inner" role="listbox"><div class="item carousel-item"><div class="ds-1col file file-image file-image-jpeg view-mode-media_with_caption clearfix"> <figure itemprop="image" class="group-media-frame field-group-html-element"><img data-borealis-srcs="/sites/default/files/styles/rl280/public/IMG7900.JPG?itok=DqdeBKPf, 281: /sites/default/files/styles/rl380/public/IMG7900.JPG?itok=ycaVwfLy, 381: /sites/default/files/styles/rl480/public/IMG7900.JPG?itok=lUvvE9J5, 481: /sites/default/files/styles/rl580/public/IMG7900.JPG?itok=CUS_K5IC, 581: /sites/default/files/styles/rl680/public/IMG7900.JPG?itok=ywCcu9Gr, 681: /sites/default/files/styles/rl780/public/IMG7900.JPG?itok=hbEsIYLh, 781: https://tnp.straitstimes.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/IMG7900.JPG?itok=Io67aBD1, 1184: " data-state="loading" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" src="https://tnp.straitstimes.com/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/IMG7900.JPG?itok=8G4-fiwH" width="450" height="300" alt="All town councils get top banding for governance, except Bishan-Toa Payoh" title="All town councils get top banding for governance, except Bishan-Toa Payoh" /><figcaption class="group-media-caption field-group-html-element"><span class="caption-text">Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council was the only one of the 17 town councils here that got an amber rating.</span><span class="caption-credit">ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG</span></figcaption></figure></div> </div></div></div><div class="byline-block-with-photo"><div class="field field-name-field-custom-byline">Ng Wei Kai for The Straits Times</div><div class="report-details"><div class="story--published-date field field-name-post-date field-type-ds field-label-hidden" >Dec 11, 2024 03:39 pm</div></div></div><ul class="post-actions"> <li class="post-facebook-share" data-href="https://tnp.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/all-town-councils-get-top-banding-governance-except-bishan-toa-payoh"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://tnp.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/all-town-councils-get-top-banding-governance-except-bishan-toa-payoh&src=sdkpreparse" title="Share on Facebook" target="_blank" ><span>Share on Facebook</span></a> <ul class="save-to-fb"><li><div class="fb-save" data-uri="https://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/all-town-councils-get-top-banding-governance-except-bishan-toa-payoh" data-size="small" ></div></li></ul> </li> <li class="post-twitter-share"><a href="https://twitter.com/share?url=https://tnp.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/all-town-councils-get-top-banding-governance-except-bishan-toa-payoh&via=thenewpaper,&hashtags=readOnTNP&text=All town councils get top banding for governance, except Bishan-Toa Payoh" target="_blank" title="Share on Twitter" ><span>Share on Twitter</span></a></li> <li class="post-whatsapp-share"><a href="whatsapp://send?text=All+town+councils+get+top+banding+for+governance%2C+except+Bishan-Toa+Payoh - https://tnp.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/all-town-councils-get-top-banding-governance-except-bishan-toa-payoh" title="Share on WhatsApp" ><span>Share on WhatsApp</span></a></li> <li class="post-email-share"><a href="mailto:?subject=All town councils get top banding for governance, except Bishan-Toa Payoh&body=All town councils get top banding for governance, except Bishan-Toa Payoh%0A%0Ahttps://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/all-town-councils-get-top-banding-governance-except-bishan-toa-payoh%0A" data-post-title="All town councils get top banding for governance, except Bishan-Toa Payoh" data-post-url="https://tnp.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/all-town-councils-get-top-banding-governance-except-bishan-toa-payoh" title="E-mail this article" ><span>E-mail this article</span></a></li> <li class="share-count" data-toggle="tooltip" data-placement="top" title=""><span class="share-count-figure" data-url="https://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/all-town-councils-get-top-banding-governance-except-bishan-toa-payoh" data-update="1733902849" data-count="" data-nid="148909" data-postdate="2024/12/11" >0</span> Engagements</li> </ul> <div class="fb-quote"></div> <style> body.ipads li.post-facebook-share .save-to-fb, body.iphones li.post-facebook-share .save-to-fb, body.ipods li.post-facebook-share .save-to-fb, body.safaris li.post-facebook-share .save-to-fb { top: -11px; } li.post-facebook-share .save-to-fb .fb-save { position: absolute !important; } </style><div class="body-copy" property="content:encoded"> <p class="lead">Nearly all town councils here received a green rating, the highest score, for their corporate governance in the latest town council management report (TCMR).</p> <p>Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council (BTPTC) was the only one of the 17 town councils here that got an amber rating – the second band out of three – due to multiple instances of the same type of non-compliance, said the Ministry of National Development (MND) on Dec 11.</p> <p>BTPTC did not obtain approval from the authorities before commencing works on three projects and disbursing funds for these works. The town council, which manages estates in central Singapore including Toa Payoh, Thomson and Marymount, retrospectively sought approval and this was subsequently granted.</p> <p>The multiple instances of the same type of non-compliance were considered a medium severity observation, and BTPTC thus received an amber band, said MND. The lowest possible performance band is red.</p> <p>The Dec 11 report is the second part of an annual report released by MND that reflects town councils’ performance on their financial statements, auditors’ reports and compliance with the Town Councils Act and Rules over the last financial year.</p> <p>The first part of the report, released in the middle of the year, rates their performance on operations such as estate cleanliness and maintenance. All town councils received green ratings in the June 2024 report.</p> <div class="big-link-block"> <section id="block-views-articles-story-card-biglink-box" class="block block-views clearfix"> <div class="view view-articles view-id-articles view-display-id-story_card_biglink_box view-dom-id-163da48e4ba36705ac593a7f61713172"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first views-row-last story-card-c"> <div about="/news/singapore/serangoon-residents-fear-safety-ceiling-leaks-worsen" typeof="schema:NewsArticle sioc:Item foaf:Document" class="ds-1col node node-article view-mode-card_story card-category-news card-layout tag--thumb article-has-media clearfix"> <div class="card clearfix"> <div class="card-media"><div class="field field-name-field-media"> <div id="file-193773" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg"> <div class="content"> <a href="/news/singapore/serangoon-residents-fear-safety-ceiling-leaks-worsen"><img data-borealis-srcs="/sites/default/files/styles/rl280/public/NSL1490.jpg?itok=_HNhuNnI, 281: /sites/default/files/styles/rl380/public/NSL1490.jpg?itok=Ve8Rkwgw, 381: /sites/default/files/styles/rl480/public/NSL1490.jpg?itok=DuE8yeHw, 481: /sites/default/files/styles/rl580/public/NSL1490.jpg?itok=8jNHN6Jw, 581: /sites/default/files/styles/rl680/public/NSL1490.jpg?itok=zsvmUgg9, 681: /sites/default/files/styles/rl780/public/NSL1490.jpg?itok=gEEp46GP, 781: https://tnp.straitstimes.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/NSL1490.jpg?itok=V4q3e046, 1184: " data-state="loading" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" src="https://tnp.straitstimes.com/sites/default/files/styles/rl280/public/NSL1490.jpg?itok=_HNhuNnI" width="280" height="187" alt="Roof repair works by the town council have not fixed the issue, which has gotten worse amid the recent rainy weather." title="Roof repair works by the town council have not fixed the issue, which has gotten worse amid the recent rainy weather."></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="card-block"> <div class="card-sub-title"><a href="/news/singapore" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Singapore</a></div> <h2 class="card-title"><a href="/news/singapore/serangoon-residents-fear-safety-ceiling-leaks-worsen">Serangoon residents fear for safety as ceiling leaks worsen</a></h2> </div> <div class="card-footer"><time>Nov 28, 2024</time></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="attachment attachment-after"> <div class="view view-articles view-id-articles view-display-id-biglinkbox_attachment card clearfix card-related"> <div class="view-header"> <h3>Related Stories</h3> </div> <div class="view-content"> <div class="views-row views-row-1"> <div class="field field-name-title"><h4><a href="/news/singapore/sauna-cabin-outside-serangoon-flat-removed">‘Sauna’ cabin outside Serangoon flat removed</a></h4></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-2"> <div class="field field-name-title"><h4><a href="/news/singapore/no-more-eerie-glow-tampines-residents">No more 'eerie glow' for Tampines residents</a></h4></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-3"> <div class="field field-name-title"><h4><a href="/news/singapore/all-town-councils-get-green-rating-latest-report">All Town Councils get green rating in latest report</a></h4></div> </div> </div> <div class="view-footer"> <style> .big-link-block div[class*="story-card-"] .card { margin-bottom: 0; } .big-link-block { margin-bottom: 20px; } .card-related h3 { margin: 0; font-size: 17px; margin-left: 10px; font-weight: 700; padding-top:10px; } .card-related h4 { margin: 0; font-size: 15px; margin-left: 10px; } .card-related h4 a { color: #000; text-decoration: none; line-height: 19px; } .card-related .views-row { margin: 15px 5px } article.view-mode-article_default[about*="/news/"] .card-related.card { border-color: #F58A1f !important; } article.view-mode-article_default[about*="/news/"] .card-related h4 a { border-bottom: 1px solid #F58A1f; } article.view-mode-article_default[about*="/entertainment/"] .card-related.card, article.view-mode-article_default[about*="/lifestyle/"] .card-related.card { border-color: #B5819E !important; } article.view-mode-article_default[about*="/entertainment/"] .card-related h4 a, article.view-mode-article_default[about*="/lifestyle/"] .card-related h4 a { border-bottom: 1px solid #B5819E; } article.view-mode-article_default[about*="/sports/"] .card-related.card { border-color: #EE4056 !important; } article.view-mode-article_default[about*="/sports/"] .card-related h4 a { border-bottom: 1px solid #EE4056; } @media screen and (min-width: 768px) { .card-related .views-row { float: left; width: calc(33% - 10px); } } </style> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div> <p>Besides BTPTC, the ministry also flagged non-compliance by three other town councils in the latest report. But these infractions were of low severity, and the town councils were still banded green.</p> <p>Ang Mo Kio Town Council had incorrectly allocated a portion of its lift replacement fund matching grant to residential property instead of commercial property.</p> <p>Marine Parade Town Council did not obtain the Housing Board’s (HDB) consent prior to its installation of new bicycle racks.</p> <p>Marsiling-Yew Tee Town Council likewise did not get the HDB’s consent before commencing works on common property, in its case the pilot installation of electronic noticeboards.</p> <p>All the cases identified were of administrative oversight that have since been rectified, said MND.</p> <p>BTPTC, which is chaired by Marymount SMC MP Gan Siow Huang, said it has taken a series of steps so as not to prevent the recurrence of contraventions to the Town Councils Act.</p> <p>This includes having an internal review team periodically review, assess, and confirm the accuracy and completeness of project details which have been submitted. It will also ensure that it issues the Letter of Award for each project that requires legal approval only after it has obtained MND’s approval, the town council added.</p> <p>BTPTC has received an amber banding for corporate governance at least twice before – in the 2014-2015 and 2017-2018 editions of the same report – although it received a green banding for the previous governance report released in Nov 2023.</p> <p>Aside from these observations, the report found that town councils had in general improved their financial positions in the last financial year, mainly due to increased service and conservancy charges.</p> <p>Town councils under the ruling People’s Action Party raised their monthly fees for flats, commercial properties and market and food stalls on July 1, 2023, and again on July 1, 2024.</p> <p>Town councils run by the Workers’ Party also followed suit. Aljunied-Hougang Town Council announced two increases in S&CC - with the first one on Oct 1, and the second on July 1, 2024 - while Sengkang Town Council said it would raise S&CC from March 1, 2025.</p> <p>Town council finances were also buoyed by a one-off funding package from the Government. MND said that without the one-off support, more town councils would have incurred operating deficits for financial year 2023.</p> <div class="mid-article-recommendations"><section id="block-block-6" class="block block-block clearfix"> <div id="article-recommendations"></div> </section> </div> <p>The ministry said the support served as a temporary measure to buffer town councils and residents from the full impact of the “sharp and steep operation cost increases” that arose due to external factors in 2022 and 2023.</p> <p>“These measures, coupled with the town councils’ ongoing efforts to raise productivity and improve cost-efficiency, have been necessary to help town councils cope with cost pressures, particularly in the areas of cleaning, maintenance and general administration,” it said.</p> <p>Maintaining financial sustainability meant town councils have been able to continue setting aside funds for improvement projects such as sheltered linkways and disability-friendly ramps, added MND.</p> </div><div class="app-download-links pad-bottom"><p>Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/sg/app/the-new-paper/id949361491?mt=8" target="_blank">Apple App Store</a> or <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sph.mypaperpdf&hl=en" target="_blank">Google Play Store</a> now</p></div><div class="story--keyword"><a href="/tag/town-councils" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Town Councils</a><a href="/tag/bishan-toa-payoh-grc" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC</a><a href="/tag/marymount-smc" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">MARYMOUNT SMC</a></div><div class="footer-buttons"><ul class="post-actions"> <li class="post-facebook-share" data-href="https://tnp.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/all-town-councils-get-top-banding-governance-except-bishan-toa-payoh"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://tnp.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/all-town-councils-get-top-banding-governance-except-bishan-toa-payoh&src=sdkpreparse" title="Share on Facebook" target="_blank" ><span>Share on Facebook</span></a></li> <li class="post-twitter-share"><a href="https://twitter.com/share?url=https://tnp.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/all-town-councils-get-top-banding-governance-except-bishan-toa-payoh&via=thenewpaper&hashtags=readOnTNP&text=All town councils get top banding for governance, except Bishan-Toa Payoh" target="_blank" title="Share on Twitter" ><span>Share on Twitter</span></a></li> <li class="post-whatsapp-share"><a href="whatsapp://send?text=All town councils get top banding for governance, except Bishan-Toa Payoh - https://tnp.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/all-town-councils-get-top-banding-governance-except-bishan-toa-payoh" title="Share on WhatsApp" ><span>Share on WhatsApp</span></a></li> <li class="post-email-share"><a href="mailto:?subject=All town councils get top banding for governance, except Bishan-Toa Payoh&body=All town councils get top banding for governance, except Bishan-Toa Payoh%0A%0Ahttps://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/all-town-councils-get-top-banding-governance-except-bishan-toa-payoh%0A" data-post-title="All town councils get top banding for governance, except Bishan-Toa Payoh" data-post-url="https://tnp.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/all-town-councils-get-top-banding-governance-except-bishan-toa-payoh" title="E-mail this article" ><span>E-mail this article</span></a></li>  </ul></div><div class="field field-name-oubrain-smartfeed-bottom-article"><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-src="https://tnp.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/all-town-councils-get-top-banding-governance-except-bishan-toa-payoh" data-widget-id="AR_1" data-ob-template="TheNewPaper"></div></div></div><aside class="group-aside col-md-4"><div class="ad imu-ad pad-bottom"><section id="block-dfp-imu2" class="block block-dfp ad imu-ad align-center clearfix"> <div id="dfp-ad-imu2-wrapper" class="dfp-tag-wrapper"><div data-test="" id="dfp-ad-imu2" class="dfp-tag-wrapper"> <script type="text/javascript"> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("dfp-ad-imu2"); 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