THE proposed reform of local government in Cyprus is based on three pieces of legislation, amending laws of the Municipalities and Communities laws and the enactment of the Establishment and Operation of District Complexes Law. According to the introductory report, which accompanies the aforesaid bills, the strategic objective of the reform is the effective and efficient supply of services so that citizens can enjoy higher quality and a larger number of services with the lowest possible cost, irrespective of place of residence, sustainably, transparently and fairly.
For this to be achieved, competences such as the issue of planning and building permits, irrigation services, sewerage and the management of solid waste will be transferred from central government and other local authorities to district complexes. Moreover, encouragement of citizens to get involved and participate in the affairs of district complexes is explicitly safeguarded by the proposed legislation. Each council encourages and promotes measures for the participation of inhabitants in the affairs of the relevant area and in the search, identification, recording and solution of problems.
Each council has the obligation to inform inhabitants of the problems and actions as well as relevant decisions which are taken for their solution, to deliberate with local entities and interested groups of inhabitants both during the preparation and the passing of decisions, safeguard the right of all inhabitants to access the services provided and make arrangements for the improvement of the transparency of its activities and the enhancement of social cohesion. From the other end, inhabitants and the local entities within the boundaries of each district complex may submit to the relevant council memos and or queries and ask for an update and information for any decision taken and or issues of the council’s competence.
The relevant council responds to the queries, the update and the requested information within 30 days. Furthermore, a group of at least 30 inhabitants and local entities may submit written proposals to the relevant council for the resolution of problems of its competence, which are discussed in a meeting and the interested parties are informed of decisions, the council reserving the right to call representatives of the said group for clarifications. Transparency is further enhanced by the imposition of the responsibility on the president of each council to post on its official website without undue delay decisions that relate to the issues of general interest, the budgets and or the relevant financial accounts, balance sheets of the council, the annual audited account and the report of the Auditor General for the district complex and the regulations issued by the relevant Council.
The proposed law also provides for the formation of a Citizens’ Service Bureau for the purpose of providing the public with information on district complexes and their services. Additionally, the Citizens’ Service Bureau will receive complaints and requests from the public, allocate them for examination to the competent service of the council and inform in writing the interested parties of the outcome of their examination. The proposed Municipalities and Communities amending laws mirror the provisions of the proposed Establishment and Operation of District Complexes Law regarding the encouragement of citizens’ participation in local affairs. Reforming the current system of Local Democracy in Cyprus is not an easy task and time will inevitably be required for reaching a successful conclusion. Nevertheless, the proposed reforms are definitely a step forward, signifying the willingness of the government and local authorities to bring about the necessary changes for the benefit of the society.
George Coucounis is a lawyer specialising in the Immovable Property Law, based in Larnaca, Tel: 24 818288, [email protected], www.coucounislaw.com
