ISSUE No. 9/1999

Kurdjali And East Staffordshire:

Continued Exchange Of Democratic Practices

On September 5-12, 1999, in the framework of the second stage of the Democracy Project, a delegation from Kurdjali Municipality, composed of seven council members from different political groups and one municipal officer, visited their colleagues in East Staffordshire to get acquainted with British democratic practices at the local level and to acquire experience, that would be useful and applicable in Bulgarian context. The varied and dynamic schedule of the visit included both a large number of meetings and direct observation of the constituency work of the UK councilors. An important output of the visit is a Best Practice Manual For Council Members, containing key references, methods and tips for more effective work and relations of council members with citizens. Following are the immediate impressions and comments of three Kurdjali councilors about the visit.

What are your impressions of the UK system and ways of local self-government?

Bahar Palova, Councilor (MRF[1]), Municipality of Kurdjali:

British self-government allows municipal councilors to perform better. They are responsible for specific wards and work for the benefit of the entire electorate. Councilors are directly committed to the problems of the members of their own constituency.

Angel Kodjamanov, Councilor (BSP[2]), Municipality of Kurdjali:

Through legislation and financial commitment, the State takes constant care of the development of local self-government and enables the exercising of actual local authority in the municipalities. Central government's attitude and approach are not related to political priority or party affiliation. Civil society and individual initiative are in the focus of local self-government. This is undoubtedly a result of the principle of majority representation at the elections for municipal councilors.

Pavel Petkov, Councilor (BBB[3]), Municipality of Kurdjali:

From what I knew beforehand, I assumed that UK local government is conservative, but my impression is that it also changes so as to bring self-government closer to the citizens by emphasizing the majority election principle. It allows municipal councilors to solve problems of both individual citizens and their constituency in general. I was impressed by the atmosphere of dialogue among councilors belonging to different political groups.

Which element of the visit was most valuable and useful to you?

B. P.: We acquainted ourselves on the spot with the activity of municipal councilors, their work regulations, the way in which they are elected, their influence on the public, their communication with officers, work with ethnic minorities, the implementation of the Community Plan.

A. K.:I was very impressed by the constant search for various approaches and ways for establishing effective dialogue between the municipal council and the citizens. We learned about good ideas and successful actions of support to small and medium businesses for the purpose of new job openings. It was very impressive to witness the willingness of councilors for training and improving their capacity as important public political figures. This in turn contributes to increasing the image of the council as an institution.

P. P.: I assess the useful things from the visit in the following order: council committee work, mechanism of individual casework (solving particular citizen problems), relationship between councilors and officers, working conditions of councilors in East Staffordshire.

What would you apply in your own work?

B. P.: The approach to solving problems of the constituents (individual casework), the ways to influence other councilors in the decision-making process, the informal networking with citizens!

A. K.: In spite of the different legislative environment of local self-government in Bulgaria and the UK, Kurdjali Council can use ESBC experience related to: the services provided by municipal administration to councilors, training of newly elected council members; introducing more elements of the UK Code of Conduct for elected members in the Standing Orders of Kurdjali Municipal Council.

P. P.: First, the ways for dialogue between councilors of different political groups, as well as the mechanism of relations with municipal officers for the sake of solving problems of Kurdjali citizens. Second, maintaining a data base on resolved citizen cases and their coverage in the media. Third, I shall insist before the Council that we equip an office* for use by municipal councilors in Kurdjali.

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Neli Bukleva, Head, Administrative & Organisation Services, Municipality of Kurdjali:

The Democracy Project allowed us to receive first-hand impressions of the UK local self-government system. The world s oldest democracy captivated us with its traditions in local self-government, established in the course of centuries, with its simple and clear rules regulating relations between citizens and institutions. The existing codes of conduct for councilors and officers outline the framework of ethics at UK council, which I find most valuable and useful. The Code of the municipal officers in East Staffordshire, with which I acquainted myself, helps staff members to maintain and raise service standards and, simultaneously, protects them from misinterpretation and undue criticism.

The decision-making system in ESBC is also interesting. The decisions, graded by importance, are adopted at four levels - the Council, the Executive Cabinet and special committees and staff. The distinction between the different levels of authority helps to build an effectively operating system of local self-government.

Politicians in East Staffordshire have long ago become aware of the need and advantage to having a strong executive power, based entirely on high professionalism, which is valued and maintained for the sake of citizens well being.

Led by the desire to provide quality services to citizens, the ES local government pays serious attention to the information, requested by the population on various matters. There are municipal centers, where every individual can receive information and free consultation, concerning a personal problem or a matter of personal interest. I was impressed by the municipal health center where, apart from numerous brochures about various diseases, medications, etc. a citizen can receive information and advice on health insurance, medical institutions and also assistance in some cases of poor financial status.

I took great interest in the ESBC Information Center, where one can receive detailed information about the different aspects of social life in East Staffordshire - state institutions, service desks, culture agencies, trade centers, schools, even about night life in the town of Burton.

The program of our visit to East Staffordshire was varied and very dynamic. We had the opportunity to meet many council members and officers. We visited several rural wards, and the second-largest town in the borough - Uttoxiter (population of 12,000). We also visited a farm, a small food-processing factory, a hospital and a primary school.

Our East Staffordshire partners had kindly organized our stay in a way that allowed us to get a complete picture of the manifestations and forms of local self-government and the mechanisms for resolving various problems. That really helped us identify the successful and useful know-how. It is our turn now to put those into practice also in Kurdjali.