Electoral Support Programme

Electoral Support Programme

Legalizing buildings without construction permits – closing a historical process or perpetuating a never-ending story?

This initiative will monitor the legalization procedures implementation in the municipality, while mobilizing citizens to contribute to the prevention of illegal construction. Specific community mobilization activities will include: mapping the illegally constructed buildings in several pilot neighborhoods in the municipality of Kisela Voda; collecting data on the number of submitted legalization applications, number of cases resolved and the processing dynamics, as well as the number of decisions of construction inspectors to remove illegally constructed buildings; awareness-raising activities for citizens and similar.

The subject matter of the local monitoring refers to activities taken by the municipality of Kisela Voda to deal with illegal buildings.

Implementer
Animal and Environment Protection Association EQUALITY, DIGNITY, EMPATHY, NATURALISM Skopje
Location
Kisela Voda, Skopje
Budget
300000 denars
Status
Active

MONITORING MATRIX

November 2022

December 2022

January 2023

February 2023

March 2023

April 2023

May 2023

June 2023

  • I. Status of the monitored item
      Monitoring criteria Status Brief description and comments Source of information
      1 Implementation
      1.1 A decision has been reached to start the implementation of the monitored item N/A For this project, no decision was made regarding the start of the implementation process, it is rather an ongoing process within the Local Self Government.
      1.2 A procurement process is being/has been carried out related to the monitored item N/A The project is not in need of a public procurement process
      1.3 Informative meetings and gatherings with stakeholders have been held Nо No informative meetings were held in April The website and social media of the municipality of Kisela Voda https://www.kiselavoda.gov.mk/ https://www.facebook.com/OpstinaKiselaVoda/
      1.4 An implementation plan has been prepared for implementation of the monitored item Yes The municipality is working according to the adopted program for urban planning of the municipality of Kisela Voda for the year 2023, in which the issue is placed under sub-program F1 urban planning for incorporating illegally constructed buildings. Page 48 https://www.kiselavoda.gov.mk/content-data/Broshuri/Sluzbeni%20Glasnici%202023/Sluzben%20glasnik%20na%20Opstina%20Kisela%20Voda%20br.%201-%202023.pdf
      1.5 Necessary prerequisites to start with the implementation have been provided (e.g. permits, preparatory activities, staff, etc.) N/A The matter does not need to fulfill the prerequisites at this initial stage.
      1.6 The municipality is implementing specific activities from the implementation plan Yes In addition to the adopted sub-program regarding the issue, the municipality has actively solved the cases related to the issue. Complete response to the request for public information no. 08-00139 fig. Sub-program on page 48: https://www.kiselavoda.gov.mk/contendata/Broshuri/Sluzbeni%20Glasnici%202023/Sluzben%20glasnik%20na%20Opstina%20Kisela%20Voda%20br.%201-%202023.pdf
      1.7 Initial results from implementation of the monitored item are visible Yes Since the adoption of the Law on treatment of illegally constructed buildings, 14,958 requests for legalization have been submitted to the municipality of Kisela Voda. 2505 requests have been submitted since 2019, and positive responses on all since 2021. Complete response to the request for public information submitted on 27.02.2023
      2 Stagnation
      2.1 Lack of funds in the municipal budget Nо In the adopted program and sub-program, financial funds in an amount of 12 000 000 denars have been provided for a portion of the activities regarding the issue Page 48 and 49 https://www.kiselavoda.gov.mk/content-data/Broshuri/Sluzbeni%20Glasnici%202023/Sluzben%20glasnik%20na%20Opstina%20Kisela%20Voda%20br.%201-%202023.pdf
      2.2 Lack of one/some of the basic prerequisites Nо There are no prerequisites for the implementation of the project.
      2.3 The implementation of the monitored item is no longer a priority Nо The issue regarding the illegally constructed buildings is included in the program and sub-program of the municipality of Kisela Voda for the year 2023. Page 47-49 https://www.kiselavoda.gov.mk/content-data/Broshuri/Sluzbeni%20Glasnici%202023/Sluzben%20glasnik%20na%20Opstina%20Kisela%20Voda%20br.%201-%202023.pdf
      2.4 Halted due to an inspection, investigation, etc. Nо No inspection, investigation or similar activates were implemented for this matter.
      2.5 The reasons for the stagnation of the implementation of the activity are unknown Nо There is no stagnation.

  • II. Transparency and accountability of the municipality related to the monitored item
      Monitoring criteria Status Brief description and comments Source of information
      1 Information about the status of the monitored item is available on the municipality's website and social network Yes Information regarding the meetings with stakeholders as well as the adoption of work programs in the municipality are available on the website as well as the mayor's profile on various social media networks. https://www.facebook.com/100052298961760/posts/pfbid02fr6jNSwb4nA7By9WEBwqmTLkKKoMYTCBWF1pFQqwLayMSPL8opHJNsTqF9p1MJLgl/?mibextid=cr93526-2023u03 https://www.kiselavoda.gov.mk/index.php/component/content/article/2-uncategorised/3526-2023
      2 Information about the status of the project is obtained through a Request for Access to Public InformationInformation about the status of the monitored item is obtained through a Request for Access to Public Information Yes The mobilizers from the organization E.D.E.N. received a partial answer to the request sent on 08.02.2023, within the specified deadline, the complete answer was received in the beginning of March. Association for animal and environmental protection E.D.E.N. Complete response to the request for public information no. 08-00139 fig
      3 Information about the status of the monitored item is shared with stakeholders by municipal officials (via e.g. interviews, focus group discussions, meeting requests etc.) Nо Due to the complexity of the issue, information regarding to this matter is shared exclusively via a response to a request for access to public information. Municipal official tasked with mediating public information at the municipality of Kisela Voda
      4 There is practice of informal information sharing by the municipality with affected citizens (e.g. via informal discussions etc.) Yes The municipality operates by means of an informal channel of sharing information via the Viber group chat, as well as through the mayor who contacts interested citizens through via an informal telephone conversation. https://invite.viber.com/?g2=AQBKVmsL9JsoXE4QRUFhgKbAe4JFnoVHwWaqANpBRSF2mF1h5kNcug5Bl3ZBhXIU https://www.facebook.com/100052298961760/posts/pfbid02MkVMwJyfJ5jUX4fUravuExDQ6ceBNWimdaagn6SSzaPag7ECJuee6F4GKCa1qxgkl/?mibextid=cr9u03

  • III. Citizen participation in decision-making related to the monitored item
      Monitoring criteria Status Brief description and comments Source of information
      1 The municipality has involved the citizens in decision-making related to the monitored item Nо The municipality of Kisela Voda only receives requests for defining the legal status of illegally constructed buildings, and it does not involve the citizens in the decision-making and legalization processes in any way and does not intend to in the future. Complete response to the request for public information no. 08-00139 fig
      2 Citizens have filed an initiative for participation in decision-making related to the monitored item Nо Our observation regarding the lack of interest in addressing this issue by the citizens and the community is because they are discouraged by the complex process itself and the lack of receptiveness and openness for collaboration from the municipality. Complete response to the request for public information no. 08-00139 fig
      3 Citizens participate in the implementation of the monitored item with their input and resources Nо In the municipality, citizens do not participate in the realization of the electoral promise with by contributing with their resources, unless we consider the mechanisms for illegal construction or locating and reporting illegal buildings as contributions Complete response to the request for public information no. 08-00139 fig
      4 Mechanisms utilized by the municipality to ensure citizen participation, specifically as related to the monitored item:
      4.1 Public gatherings, debates and forums Nо No public events were organized regarding this issue. Website and social media of the municipality of Kisela Voda https://www.kiselavoda.gov.mk/ https://www.facebook.com/OpstinaKiselaVoda/
      4.2 Possibility for e-participation via mobile apps, website(s), electronic templates, etc. Yes There is a mechanism for electronic participation, in which citizens can submit proposals on the municipality's work performance and the budget's allocation on the platform budzet.mk, by selecting the municipality of Kisela Voda, and opening a discussion. https://budzet.mk/ https://www.kiselavoda.gov.mk/index.php/glavnidiskusii
      4.3 Open days of the municipality Yes The municipality organizes open days - every day, in which citizens can participate by pre-scheduling appointments by calling the phone number 02/2785-401 https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2F1OrceGj%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0VzTXpgYhCwq85UEdfec6ict7mpgeoGvMyfZ1MUetoFo458ZZUKGAEzVpZqjJj7cDl&show_text=true&width=500 https://www.facebook.com/100052298961760/posts/pfbid02MkVMwJyfJ5jUX4fUravuExDQ6ceBNWimdaagn6SSzaPag7ECJuee6F4GKCa1qxgkl/?mibextid=cr9u03
      4.4 Citizen initiatives Nо Our observation regarding the lack of interest in addressing this issue by the citizens and the community is because they are discouraged by the complex process itself and the lack of receptiveness and openness for collaboration from the municipality. Complete response to the request for public information no. 08-00139 fig