The Department reported that Cabinet took a resolution in 2012 that most departments' baseline 2012 MTEF allocations would have to decrease by 1, 2, and 3 per cent for each year over the MTEF. In addition, Cabinet decided that there must be limits on increases in personnel budgets thus the department's personnel budget has been capped over the MTEF. Therefore, the Department has only been able to fund an additional 17 posts over the MTEF. This will increase the staff establishment from 197 in the 2012/13 financial year to 214 over the MTEF. The Department stated that this will impact negatively on the number of municipal assessments to be carried out and the number of evaluations to be conducted or supported.