Open government in spatial planning, strategic planning, and environmental management of the city (SKBBA0001)

Commitment ID

SKBBA0001

Commitment Title

Application of open government system in processes of spatial planning, strategic planning, and environmental management of the city, building up skilled employees of the BB Municipal Authority in the application of the open government system.

Problem

The commitment responds to the problem that is the deficit of culture of open government and the use of its system (principles such as participation, communication, transparency/information), namely the processes and creation of policies in areas that are crucial for residents and overall development of the city. These areas are namely spatial planning, strategic planning, environmental management, and processes that have an environmental impact. These processes are characterized by complexity not only in their content security but also in procedural security. The application of open government principles in these areas is deficient, which leads to unwelcome surprises, frustration, polarization, possibly also anger - i.e. factors that can negatively impact the relationship between the city and residents and the prospective development of open government and the overall development of the City.

Status quo

We are currently increasingly encountering that the municipality applies the principles of open government. However, the implementation of these principles - e.g. Participation, communication, and transparency - is not always properly managed, be it due to insufficient skills, capabilities, and attitudes for the applying of open government principles. For example, in the area of ​​participation, even though there are various public involvement instruments, reality shows that participatory procedures are not always properly applied. In the area of ​​communication, we perceive an insufficient scope of the communication channel and dialogue (citizen - city - experts, or between individual departments) and the absent communication strategy, which can result in the emergence of tense relationships. In the field of transparency, we also perceive the space for expanding the availability of open information and the development of a system for notifying citizens.

The deficit of the use of open government's principles is evident in particular in key policies and processes for residents - spatial planning, strategic development, environmental impact processes.

Action

The commitment aims to set up and improve the open government system and strengthen the skills, capabilities, and attitudes of the Municipal Authority's staff towards implementing open government, which will include: Creation and regular meeting with an analytical-work group composed of officials who will be in specific live, or running processes/projects (in fields of spatial/strategic planning/environmental management) analyze and identify key places and phases, where and how to use the principles of open government - specifically participation, communication, and transparency. Following this work, it will also be experimented with organizing communication meetings of the municipality with citizens about living urban themes. The meetings will be combined with relevant experts' entries and educational activities. Design, meeting activities, and some learning inputs will ensure the coordinator of participation/open government, with the help of other employees of the administration and relevant experts for professional inputs and education.

How will the commitment contribute to solving the public problem described above?

The commitment will help understand the open government system and set it up with an emphasis on aspects of communication, participation, and informing citizens in areas that they perceive as important. The commitment will result in (methodological) recommendations and proposals of institutional improvement of the implementation of the open government system and partial documents for the communication strategy between the Municipal Authority and citizens, or between departments, and in the processes relating to spatial, strategic, and environmental planning. The commitment will also contribute to strengthening the skills, capabilities, and attitudes of the Municipal Authority's staff in the implementation of open government. The long-term commitment can contribute to the elimination of conflicts between the city and residents that sometimes arise due to the lack of public engagement, unclear and inappropriately timed communication, and notifying about projects relevant to residents. This will improve the relation of municipality and citizens, and support sustainable development of open governance and sustainable city development as such.

What long-term goal as identified in your Open Government Strategy does this commitment relate to?

Given that our municipality is a beginner in the open government initiative and is forming its historically first action plan of open government, long-term goals, namely the strategic vision of open government, are all in the process of creation (see more at commitment no. 2 & 1st part of the action plan - strategic vision). Nevertheless, it is clear that the long-term goal is to accept the culture of the open government - concerning abilities, skills and attitudes - for all population of Banská Bystrica city (as needed and possible, with regard to their position, activation, etc.). The proposed commitment is cross-cutting of important principles - participation, communication, and transparency - in the open government system. It reinforces the understanding of this system and the ability to apply it, thus sowing the first seeds of the open local-government culture in our city and we will create conditions for its further development.

Primary Policy Area

Right to Information, Other/NA

Primary Sector

Cross-sectoral, Public Services (general)

What OGP value is this commitment relevant to?