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The role of auxiliary units in the Tricity was discussed yesterday by local government offcials and experts during the Metropolitan Seminar organized by the Metropolitan Institute. The main speakers of the seminar were Andrzej Witkiewicz (Chairman of the Management Board of Strzyża District), Paul Brutel (Councillor of the City of Gdynia) and Dr. Marcin Gerwin (from Sopot Development Initiative). The discussion was attended also by other district councilors, activists and politicians. The meeting took place within the walls of Uphagen’s Court in Gdansk Wrzeszcz
The meeting began with a short lecture by Mr. Karol Ważny form the Metropolitan Institute and councilor of Osowa District. He outlined the idea of the meeting: confrontation of different experiences and views of Tricity towns on the functions of district councils. Elżbieta Rutkowska then referred to the meeting held at the headquarters of the Political Critique [Krytyka Politycza – red.] of 18 March which touched similar subject – in order to introduce for a discussion. She pointed out that at this previous meeting, which was attended by town and district councilors and residents were able to identify the main problems influencing the cooperation between these three sides. It turned out that it is lack of proper communication.
Firstly, Mr. Andrzej Witkiewicz spoke. He started with criticism of statutory provisions on auxiliary units: – The Act, which forms the backbone of the district councils provisions is not too fresh. It does not give sufficient competence to districts councils – he mentioned. Further he pointed to the difficult relationship with the authorities of Gdansk, primarily in terms of giving opinions on various documents. – Often we get prints that are discussed on the city council’s session one or two days before the session of the district council. It is not possible to gather so quickly – he argued. As a blemish of the Gdansk district councils he also pointed to the lack of grant competitions, and the lack of treating district councils as representative of the residents by the city. Moreover he pointed out a lack of proper IT support or irrational division of the city into districts. Finally he said that in Gdansk did not respect the constitutional principle of subsidiarity, which requires the higher body to act only when the lower one is unable to deal with the case. As a positive Witkiewicz pointed out the electoral system for district councils which promotes the districts where turnout was higher.
The next speaker was Paweł Brutel, city councilor of Gdynia – who presented quite a different picture of cooperation on the line district council – city council. He started with the information that districts in Gdynia are given approx. 20 million zlotys to be disposed by them in their sole discretion. Those funds are usually utilized for road repairs, and street and for the lighting. Separation of the money between particular districts is carried out according to a pattern (which takes into account the number of inhabitants and the size of geographical area of the district). As the biggest problem Brutel also pointed to the lack of proper communication between districts and the city. Then the discussion focused on the competence Gdynia’s district councils to advice on local spatial development plans. Brutel indicated that the statutes of the district councils lack of such a provision, however – the practice is the town council informs districts about the commencement of works on a plan.
The last speaker was Dr. Marcin Gerwin of Sopot Development Initiative. – In Sopot there are districts at all – he began. – I myself was once an opponent of those – he went on. He proved that at the time when a resident can turn to the housing cooperative, and also affects the distribution of funds through the civic budget voting [Budżet Obywatelski – red.] – the district councils seem unnecessary. Eventually he pointed that those councils may also be a factor activating the locals and this is their main role he admires. – They should be a hotbed of urban activists – has summed up.
After the speeches of the main guests the discussion on urban issues flared. The first speaker was Jadwiga Kopeć of Upper Wrzeszcz District Council, who advocated for increasing the competences of district councils in influencing urban space. Karolina Rębiewska, councilor of Olszynka also focused on that topic. She was interested in hearing how council districts are trying to influence the planning process. Paweł Brutel claimed that local planning is a difficult matter, often not understood by the public. The topic was ended by Mr. Marcin Gerwin who pointed out that cities should use visualizations of plans to facilitate possible public consultations.
The discussion included further issues – Arkadiusz Kowalina of the Board of Upper Wrzeszcz District was interested in Gdynia’s district councils’ competences in terms of cleaning. Brutel indicated that it is not in districts’ competence. Then, the discussion focused on cooperation between individual district councils. Andrzej Witkiewicz pointed out that the main platform for exchanging experiences of particular councils in Gdansk is the association ‘District Councils Forum’ [Forum Rad Dzielnic – red.] Paweł Brutel said that in Gdynia council districts cooperate with each other mainly in joint projects. Agnieszka Ważna, former district councilor of Osowa, spoke about her experience in cooperating with councils of bordering districts. Finally, Ewa Lieder from Gdansk Civic Group [Gdańsk Obywatelski – red.] announced the new initiative – the group on facebook “Now Districts” [Teraz Dzielnice], which is another channel for contacting between the councilors of particular districts.
Discussants also focused on improvement of efficiency or position of district councils. Karolina Rębiewska the main source of eternal status quo recognized in limited rotation of city presidents, who for years can form a political base that is impossible to fight with. Krzysztof Iwanow of Residents for Sopot [Mieszkańcy dla Sopotu – red.] advocated for strengthening relations with the residents with the district councils. Halina Człapińska of the Board of Upper Wrzeszcz District focused on the electoral system, which links the funds with the turnover of a district. The question was whether this system is fair. Elżbieta Rutkowska, defining the main difference in the functioning of district councils in Gdansk and Gdynia, pointed out the will of the authorities. Bolesław Słociński of the Metropolitan Institute considered that authorities of Gdańsk recognized district councils as a treat and potential political competition, hence the lack of cooperation with the town hall. Andrzej Witkiewicz recapped: – Sometimes I think that the city recognizes district councils not as auxiliary but enemy units.
The event was a part of the series of scientific meetings called Metropolitan Conversatories. They are held monthly. Their aim is to constitute a forum for activists, social activists, academics and politicians to discuss important topics related to urban issues. The organizer of Metropolitan Conversatory is Metropolitan Institute.
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