On February 21st, President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko signed Decree No. 74 On Strengthening the Role of Chairpersons of Basic-Level Executive Committees to Promote Regional Development, sb.by reports with reference to the Head of State’s press service
Local authorities play a key role in ensuring a high quality of life. Direct interaction with people allows district and city (cities of regional subordination) executive committees to know deeply the needs of the population, to react promptly to emerging problems and to solve the whole range of tasks for the development of subordinate territories.
The decree defines new tools to improve the welfare of regions and the well-being of citizens by strengthening the status of local executive committees and their chairpersons, as well as increasing the efficiency of local authorities.
In particular, the financial capacity of basic-level executive committees to develop territories and meet citizens’ needs has been expanded.
In order to carry out the activities as part of the Year of Improvement, rights have been granted to actively involve citizens and organisations in the common cause of restoring order in the country.
The rules are being simplified for the sale of widespread mineral deposits, mainly sand, to citizens for their own needs and to organisations for the improvement and maintenance of territories and agricultural facilities.
In co-ordination with the district and city executive committees, decisions should now be made to stop the operation of facilities important for the district or to suspend the activities of organisations. This will prevent ill-considered job cuts and liquidation of socially important facilities, such as ATMs, post offices, public transport stops and others.
The strategic socio-economic tasks facing the country and the global challenges that have to be overcome require an increase in the quality of management at all levels. Therefore, the decree significantly expands the personnel powers of local executive committees and their chairpersons in relation to government agencies and other organisations operating in the relevant territory.
Strict performance discipline is now the most important condition for successful development. Therefore, chairpersons of district and city executive committees, in addition to issuing orders, have the right to issue written demands (instructions) to eliminate violations of legislation and to bring employees to disciplinary responsibility. The demands (instructions) may be addressed to heads of lower executive committees and other organisations in the relevant territory.
Failure to fulfil such demands (instructions) will entail administrative liability.
At the same time, chairpersons of basic-level executive committees are personally responsible for the issued orders, decisions on personnel approvals, other decisions (regulations) and written demands (instructions).
All these measures will make it possible to strengthen the influence of local authorities on the situation in the region, increase the efficiency of the work of executive committees and their chairpersons, as well as unlock reserves for qualitative growth of living standards in the country.
The decree will come into force on March 1st, 2025.
