After operating the two-level local government model, People's Council delegates at commune and ward levels need to further promote their roles and responsibilities.

Affirming the role of elected representatives from the grassroots

On the very first day of implementing the new model, the People's Councils of 40 new communes and wards in the city simultaneously held their first session for the 2021-2026 term. This is no longer a routine administrative activity, but an important political event that begins a new, more streamlined and effective stage of management and organization. The urgent and serious atmosphere spread from the plains to the mountains. The completion of key personnel, the announcement of resolutions, and the establishment of People's Council committees were carried out in accordance with procedures and in a timely manner, demonstrating careful preparation.

It is easy to see that people have high expectations for the People's Councils at the commune and ward levels in the new model. They want to be listened to, to be reflected, and to see resolutions that are truly feasible. That is what forces each session to be organized more closely and with better quality. "I hope that the People's Council delegates will discuss issues that are close to the people, such as land, clean water, roads, etc. What the people propose, if correct and reasonable, must be resolved thoroughly," said Mr. Nguyen Van Minh, a voter of Phong Phu ward (1).

In the localities, in the early days of operating the 2-level local government model (CQDP2C), hundreds of administrative procedures were received and processed. However, the biggest change was not in the administrative procedures, but in the sessions of the People's Council at the commune level. From an institution that was considered "close to the people but with little power", the People's Council of the commune and ward has now become the decisive link in the organization of state power at the local level.

Mr. Truong Quang Trung, Party Secretary and Chairman of the People's Council of Huong An Ward (2) affirmed: "Each delegate must have a clear opinion. The Commune People's Council now not only supervises the work of the Commune People's Committee, but also has to reflect the reality directly to the City People's Council. This pressure requires rapid growth in the delegate's capacity."

Before organizing the first session of the People's Councils of communes and wards, the City People's Council organized many training sessions to guide the organization and operation of the People's Councils of communes and wards newly formed after the administrative unit arrangement. Therefore, many localities were proactive in the first session, from the stage of issuing documents, dividing delegates into specialized groups, and arranging legal staff to support the People's Council Committee. Many localities used software to manage meeting documents, thereby shortening the presentation time.

Improving the quality of commune-level parliaments

According to the leader of the City People's Council, in order for the People's Council at the commune level to truly change in quality, the arrangement of key leaders for the People's Council at the commune level is a prerequisite. The officials with previous experience in district-level management being assigned to the role of Chairman of the People's Council at the commune level is an important step to maintain continuity, while creating momentum for stability in the organization at the commune level during the initial period of operation.

Member of the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of the City People's Council, Mr. Nguyen Quang Tuan said that the arrangement of administrative units and the organization of CQDP2C is a big step in reforming the state apparatus, aiming at streamlining, efficiency and better serving the people. After the merger, the People's Councils at the commune and ward levels play an extremely important role in ensuring the smooth operation of local governments.

In fact, not only is it a transformation of organizational form, the CQDP2C model is promoting a profound change in management thinking at the grassroots level. Typically, in Phong Phu ward, the orientations for developing small-scale industry and services are clearly stated in the agenda. In Dan Dien (3), the issue of exploiting the lagoon economy is also a key content, aiming at coordination between the government and businesses and cooperatives in the coming period. This shows that the expectation that the People's Council at the commune level will truly become a place for "proposal - debate - decision" is gradually being realized.

The atmosphere of excitement and consensus among the people on the first day of operation of the new apparatus is a positive signal. However, initial success is not the destination. Ensuring smooth, substantive and effective meetings of the People's Councils at the commune and ward levels will determine the quality of operations of the entire government system at the grassroots level. Each resolution must be put into practice. Each delegate must be a worthy representative of the voice of the voters. And each meeting must be a truly democratic space - where policies start from practice and return to serve the people.

“The People’s Councils at the commune and ward levels play an extremely important role in ensuring the smooth operation of CQDP2C after the administrative unit arrangement. Each delegate must grasp the policy, proactively institutionalize it and truly be a bridge between the government and the people,” emphasized Mr. Nguyen Quang Tuan, Standing Vice Chairman of the Hue City People’s Council.

(1) Merged from Phong Phu and Phong Thanh wards and communes

(2) Merged from An Hoa ward, Huong So ward, Huong An ward

(3) Merged from the communes of Quang Thai, Quang Loi, Quang Vinh, Quang Phu

Article and photos: Le Tho

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/chinh-tri-xa-hoi/dam-bao-thong-suot-cac-ky-hop-hdnd-cap-xa-phuong-155462.html