Broader opportunities for local communities to get involved in the work of the municipality and more effective tools for hearing the opinions of local residents – this is what the new Law on Municipalities, which came into force in January of this year, promises. One of such tools, for which the President Egils Levits expressed special support, is the possibility to create elected residents’ councils in local government territories to represent the interests of local residents. There are indeed many benefits from citizens’ participation – more informed municipal decisions and more efficient use of resources, promotion of citizens’ cohesion, greater trust in municipalities and resilience in crisis situations, and others. However, how to ensure that citizens’ participation does not remain only “on paper”?
Rēzekne district is one of the few in which consultative councils of residents have been operating in most of the parishes since 2011. British Council representative offices in Latvia and think tanks Providus within the framework of the implemented project, I have had the opportunity to work with the representatives of the residents’ advisory councils of Rēzekne region and to understand what is needed in practice for the effective operation of the residents’ councils. I have gained several insights that could be useful for local governments where the establishment of councils is currently still being planned.
Residents of municipalities are not a homogeneous group of people, but representatives of different communities and people with different life experiences and needs. Therefore, it is essential to provide the opportunity to speak and be heard, as well as to involve different groups of citizens in the participation processes. In order for the residents’ council to be able to represent the interests of its territory in a qualitative way, its candidates and, accordingly, the members of the council should be as equally represented as possible women and men, as well as different groups of society – seniors, working residents, young people, entrepreneurs and representatives of other groups. In order to maintain a connection with the represented territory and to identify the needs of its residents, it is desirable for representatives of residents’ councils to regularly communicate with local residents, hold meetings, and conduct surveys of residents. This would contribute to the representation of the opinion of all residents, including the less active.
It is in the interest of the municipality that the representatives of the residents’ councils become competent cooperation partners who help to make better decisions.
Therefore, after the establishment of residents’ councils, it is desirable for the municipality to continue investing resources in the development of the councils. An important role in it is the exchange of information and the education of citizens about the work of the municipality.
The better we know someone, the easier it is to approach them with a question, a suggestion or a request for help – this insight could also be applied to the connection between the municipality and the residents. Often people have the motivation to act, but lack the knowledge, and as a result engagement is less effective. It is desirable for the representatives of the residents’ councils to be familiar with the functions and activities of the municipality at least at the basic level. In order to promote this, the municipality can, for example, organize seminars for representatives of residents’ councils, – explain the municipality’s decision-making process, development and budget planning, as well as opportunities for residents’ participation.
Information exchange is the lifeblood of residents’ councils, helping to ensure their long-term success. Therefore, it is worthwhile for the municipality to invest in regular communication with residents.
For example, in a newsletter, news publication or other convenient and easy-to-understand form, disseminate information about current events in the county, while giving representatives of residents’ councils the opportunity to inform the municipality about developments in their parishes. It is desirable that there should be one specific employee in the municipality who is responsible for public participation, to whom the residents’ councils can turn in case of need. When successful cooperation is formed, residents’ councils can serve as an information exchange point or a communication “bridge” between the municipality and local residents.
It is no less important to find opportunities for face-to-face conversations and exchange of experiences. For example, to regularly plan meetings in which representatives of residents’ councils, heads of parish administrations, county deputies and representatives of the municipal administration participate. Constant communication can help to create a common understanding of the duties, responsibilities and limits of each involved party, as well as the benefits of mutual cooperation. It is also worth organizing more extensive meetings, for example, providing funding to organize a citizens’ forum at least once a year, in which current issues in the county are discussed. In such a model, local governments can act as a moderator, bringing together citizens from time to time and providing a platform for conversations and exchange of experiences.
If the municipality regularly informs the citizens about whether their wishes and proposed solutions will be implemented, or explains the reasons why a recommendation has not been taken into account, people become more motivated to cooperate in the long term.
Therefore, it is essential to provide feedback to representatives of residents’ councils. It is more likely that the resident, seeing the results of his work and having a positive experience of participation, will continue to work, get to know how the municipality works, and over time will trust it more, feel a greater sense of belonging to the parish and county.
Participation tools, including citizens’ councils, should not be introduced and neglected. Then there is a risk of ending up in a situation where only the most active and knowledgeable get involved, while the majority of the population remains unheard. In order for residents’ councils to function as a modern participatory tool in practice, the support of local governments is especially important in the initial stages, facilitating the creation and operation of well-thought-out residents’ councils. Once a successful model of cooperation has been established, it is important to continue investing in communication with residents – to promote residents’ understanding of the work of the municipality and the exchange of information, to organize regular meetings and to provide feedback on the decisions made by the municipality. The investment of local governments will give them a return in the long term, as residents’ councils become in practice a tool that promotes self-organization of residents, mutual cooperation and coordinated action for the common good.
The author is British Council community development consultant of representative office in Latvia
