Description
The project seeks to solve the problem of a limited access to information on the performance of borough councils in the city of Lublin and their apparently poor performance standards - 10 local community inspectors will monitor the borough councils. The project will ensure that documents related to the borough councils operations (minutes, resolutions) and recordings of their meetings are published online. Freedom Foundation will process the accumulated data to develop recommendations on streamlining the operations and improving the transparency of borough councils and they will attempt to influence the local government to follow up on these recommendations. The project will also increase the general public's understanding on how borough councils operate.
Summary of project results
"Since 2006, there have been 27 district councils operating In Lublin. Their tasks are mainly consultative, but they make decisions about the allocation of the specific reserve (currently PLN 129 thousand). Their activity used to be largely unknown to the city's residents. There was little information about the auxiliary units on the magistrate's website. This resulted in low electoral attendance (a few percent), low number of council candidates, and no residents participating in council sessions. The objective of the project was to start public discussion about district councils in Lublin, initiate their reform, including solving the problem of limited access to information about the councils' activity. 10 people monitored the work of district councils. They observed sessions, took minutes, talked to council members. They prepared recommendations. District councils' resolutions were published, as well as lists of implemented investments, and recordings from sessions (in total, 50 films on a YouTube channel). Five discussion meetings were held and attended by 15 experts and more than 130 residents. 14 infographics on the councils' activity were developed, as well as 12 articles published in the local press. The councils were provided with recommendations on improving their operation and increasing transparency and public character of district councils. The radydzielnic.lublin.pl website was created, where all the collected information was published. The observations and recommendations from the monitoring were delivered to city authorities. Thanks to the project, council members changed their approach to public character of their work. They recognised the fact that the residents ought to have easier access to their councils, and that sessions may be recorded. The magistrate commenced preparations to change the districts' statutes, started to notify the public about council sessions, and at the moment it is preparing websites for each of them. The beneficiaries of the project were district council members, local activists and city councillors."
Summary of bilateral results