City District Advisory Board
The committee of the city district advisory board is a local political instrument that is only used in the cities of Leipzig and Dresden .
Every citizen can participate in local political work as a city district advisory council. Leipzig and Dresden have been divided into ten city districts each since 1992/1991 . The city district constitution was passed by the Leipzig council in 1995 . Dresden followed suit in 2018. The ten city district councils began their work in 1996/2019. In addition to the chairman appointed by the mayor and coming from the ranks of the city administration, each advisory council has between 11 and 24 members who are each nominated by the parties represented in the city council. The election results of the last local elections in the respective city districts are taken into account. This guarantees an equal distribution of the seats in the council meeting.
Responsibilities
In order for the administration and the council assembly to take more into account the suggestions or concerns of the citizens in the process of their decision-making, the committee of the city district councils was introduced. According to the Saxon Municipal Code (SächsGemO), the city district constitution and main statute clearly define that the city district councils are to be heard on all important matters that affect their city district. These issues include:
- the establishment and modification of development plans,
- Naming streets, squares and communal facilities,
- Conception, conversion or abandonment of municipal facilities,
- Location and design issues in construction and renovation projects for public sports, green, recreational and play facilities,
- Traffic calming and traffic management measures (as far as they do not fall under the jurisdiction of the Lord Mayor as general regulatory authority),
- Questions relating to social or cultural issues,
- Honoring people;
- Changes in boundaries between the boroughs and suburbs within the boroughs.
It is important that a two-thirds majority - but at least six members of the city district advisory board - declare an issue to be an important matter. A representative of the committee can then take part in the meeting of the responsible technical committee in an advisory capacity and explain the facts and the opinion of the advisory board.
Working method
As a rule, the city district councils meet once a month. The conference locations and times as well as the agendas are published in the Leipzig Official Journal. The focus of the sessions is of course on the problems that play a special role in the city district. Competent representatives from the respective specialist offices are often invited to explain plans and decisions made by the city administration. Important matters of a city district council can also be referred to one of the committees of the council assembly. A member of the city district advisory board can then present the matter to this committee in an advisory capacity. The city district councils do not have their own decision-making authority; their main right is the right to be heard.
composition
After each local election - i.e. after the election of the council assembly - the parties or electoral associations represented in the city council from among the residents in their city district can nominate members for the city district councils. Often these people are themselves members of the appointing party. But also non-party citizens can register their interest in working on a city district council. However, their candidacy must be supported by a party. You should be in alignment with this party's ideas and goals. Working on a city district advisory board is a voluntary activity.
City council and citizens' opinion
Few citizens take part in the public meetings of their borough council. It is also possible to point out problems or convey constructive suggestions by letter. Everyone can hand in their "problem letter" in one of the 17 citizens' offices, which is then forwarded from there to the respective city district advisory board. The letter should include the name of the addressee and a sender.
Public meetings
The Leipzig practice that city district councils meet in public is officially confirmed: In a letter to the Saxon interior minister, Lord Mayor Wolfgang Tiefensee expressly warned on behalf of the city council that the advisory bodies should continue to have public status. Since the introduction of the city district constitution, this practice was common in the interests of citizen-oriented work. Clarity between city and regional council controversial interpretation of the law brought the beginning of 2001, a reply of the Saxon Interior Minister. It says u. a .: "Since the principle of the public is a supporting pillar in the communal decision-making process and the participation of residents and citizens in communal life and there are no obvious reasons for a ban on public meetings, the public meetings are generally permitted."
For the districts Böhlitz-Ehrenberg , Burghausen , Engelsdorf , Hartmannsdorf - Knautnaundorf , Holzhausen , Liebertwolkwitz , Lindenthal , Lützschena-Stahmeln , Miltitz , Mölkau , Plaußig , Rückmarsdorf , Seehausen and Wiederitzsch are local councils responsible.