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 the specific project, there has been no decision made to start implementation, but it is an ongoing process of the local self-government.
      1.2 A procurement process is being/has been carried out related to the monitored item N/A The project does not require public procurement.
      1.3 Informative meetings and gatherings with stakeholders have been held Yes On the 3rd and 4th of December, informative meetings had held with the residents in the municipality premises, where they had the opportunity to get informed and give their proposals for the municipality's work. Website of the municipality of Kisela Voda https://www.kiselavoda.gov.mk/index.php/naslovna/9-novosti/3482-2022-12-05-13-13-02
      1.4 An implementation plan has been prepared for implementation of the monitored item Yes The activities for the realization of this issue are planned through the annual program of the municipality of Kisela Voda - the programs and sub-programs for urban planning- the process of determining illegally constructed buildings and their integration. Official Gazette of the Kisela Voda Municipality http://www.kiselavoda.gov.mk/content-data/Broshuri/Sluzbeni%20Glasnici%202022/Sluzben%20glasnik%20na%20Opstina%20Kisela%20Voda%20br.%201-%202022.pdf
      1.5 Necessary prerequisites to start with the implementation have been provided (e.g. permits, preparatory activities, staff, etc.) N/A The issue does not require the fulfilment of prerequisites to start.
      1.6 The municipality is implementing specific activities from the implementation plan Yes In December, the decisions made in November, are implemented, as well as acting on the newly taken requests in the municipality received during December following the mayor's appeal "to submit their requests to the municipality by the New Year". Website of the municipality of Kisela Voda https://www.kiselavoda.gov.mk/index.php/naslovna/9-novosti/3467-2022-11-21-16-28-26
      1.7 Initial results from implementation of the monitored item are visible Yes The decisions, from the resolved cases for legalization of illegally constructed buildings that are not in active litigation, are implemented during December, and the requests for legalization are actively received during Dec. i.e until the end of the year Website of the municipality of Kisela Voda https://www.kiselavoda.gov.mk/index.php/naslovna/9-novosti/3467-2022-11-21-16-28-26
      2 Stagnation
      2.1 Lack of funds in the municipal budget Nо The newly adopted budget envisages 16.5 million denars or 3.27% of the budget in the urban planning section. It is important to note that part of this finance is for a 10-year strategy for urban planning that aims to put "order in construction". Website of the municipality of Kisela Voda https://www.kiselavoda.gov.mk/index.php/naslovna/9-novosti/3498-2023?fbclid=IwAR35aLozQ_mC5urAusnanieCTqkB5F8G-aPvgZK-WwRSPret1j6ZXhX4rAw
      2.2 Lack of one/some of the basic prerequisites N/A There are no prerequisites for the realization of the project.
      2.3 The implementation of the monitored item is no longer a priority Nо The project is still a priority for the municipality, which has the budget allocated, and the requests for legalization are still actively received until the end of 2022. Website of the municipality of Kisela Voda https://www.kiselavoda.gov.mk/index.php/naslovna/9-novosti/3498-2023?fbclid=IwAR35aLozQ_mC5urAusnanieCTqkB5F8G-aPvgZK-WwRSPret1j6ZXhX4rAw https://www.kiselavoda.gov.mk/index.php/naslovna/9-novosti/3467-2022-11-21-16-28-26
      2.4 Halted due to an inspection, investigation, etc. Nо There is no inspection, investigation or anything similar with the 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 The mayor has appealed to the citizens "to submit their requests to the municipality by the New Year so that they can act promptly and positively as was the case in the past year and finally end the problem with illegal construction". Website of the municipality of Kisela Voda https://www.kiselavoda.gov.mk/index.php/naslovna/9-novosti/3467-2022-11-21-16-28-26
      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 A response was received within the legal deadline to a Request for Access to Public Information submitted on 06.12.2022. Animal and Environment Protection Association EQUALITY, DIGNITY, EMPATHY, NATURALISM
      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 Official contacts left on the website have not been answered and/or phone numbers are unavailable. https://www.kiselavoda.gov.mk/index.php/kontakti
      4 There is practice of informal information sharing by the municipality with affected citizens (e.g. via informal discussions etc.) Yes The municipality uses the channel of informal information sharing through a Viber Group. ttps://invite.viber.com/?g2=AQBKVmsL9JsoXE4QRUFhgKbAe4JFnoVHwWaqANpBRSF2mF1h5kNcug5Bl3ZBhXIU

  • 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 Yes The citizens during the reception days had the opportunity to submit their proposals regarding this issue, while the proposals related to carrying out a decision for the year 2023 budget adoption through the budzet.mk platform. Website of the municipality of Kisela Voda https://www.kiselavoda.gov.mk/index.php/naslovna/9-novosti/3482-2022-12-05-13-13-02 https://budzet.mk/
      2 Citizens have filed an initiative for participation in decision-making related to the monitored item N/A There is no information provided for the current month; no response has been received after attempts to contact the Municipality and the Sector of Urbanism and Spatial Planning, as well as no response to a Request for Access to Public Information. https://www.kiselavoda.gov.mk/index.php/kontakti
      3 Citizens participate in the implementation of the monitored item with their input and resources N/A There is no information provided for the current month; no response has been received after attempts to contact the Municipality and the Sector of Urbanism and Spatial Planning, as well as no response to a Request for Access to Public Information. https://www.kiselavoda.gov.mk/index.php/kontakti
      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 In December, no organized public meeting, debate and/or forum related to 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 giving proposals regarding the municipality's work and budget allocation through the budzet.mk platform by selecting Kisela Voda municipality, and the website by starting a discussion. https://budzet.mk/ https://www.kiselavoda.gov.mk/index.php/glavnidiskusii
      4.3 Open days of the municipality Yes The municipality has an open day practice - every day, for a pre-scheduled appointment at 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
      4.4 Citizen initiatives N/A There is no information provided for the current month; no response has been received after attempts to contact the Municipality and the Sector of Urbanism and Spatial Planning, as well as no response to a Request for Access to Public Information. https://www.kiselavoda.gov.mk/index.php/kontakti