"Each municipal council must, within a prescribed period after the start of its elected term, adopt a single inclusive, inclusive and strategic plan for the development of the municipality which -

• (a) links, integrates and co-ordinates plans and takes into account proposals for the development of the municipality;
• (b) aligns the resources and capacity of the municipality with the implementation of the plan;
• (c) forms the policy framework and general basis on which annual budgets must be based;
• (d) complies with the provisions of the Chapter; and
• (e) is compatible with National and Provincial development plans and planning requirements binding on the municipality in terms of legislation."

As far as the status of an integrated development plan is concerned Section 35 of the MSA states that an integrated development plan adopted by the council of a municipality -

"(a)      is 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;

•(b)             binds the municipality in the exercise of its executive authority, except to the extent of any inconsistency between a municipality's integrated development plan and national or provincial legislation, in which case such legislation prevails; and

•(c)             binds all other persons to the extent that those parts of the integrated development plan that impose duties or affect the rights of those persons have been passed as a by-law".

Section 36 furthermore stipulates that -

"A municipality must give effect to its integrated development plan and conduct its affairs in a manner, which is consistent with its integrated development plan".