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Public participation is a
process that enables individuals and organisations to be continuously or
repeatedly involved in the development of decisions that affect them.
Participation means that people take part in issues regarding economic and
social progress, etc. It must be considered as an essential element of the
City’s action plan. At the same time it should be considered as a means to
promote social cohesion and integration, as well as to promote a change towards
the sustainability.
From the City of Seville’s point
of view, participation of citizens in the decision-making process is essential
and is key to legitimize, advocate and ensure the
implementation of policy and public actions. Environmental matters should be
integrated throughout the whole action plan and decisions in this particular
field should be approved by the community because these decisions often have a
direct impact on the day-to-day life of citizens.
The Public Administration has
taken concrete steps in order to increase citizens’ participation in the
decision making process, for example, through the creation of associations, or
by means of municipal councils.
In Seville there
are several tools that are being used in order to facilitate the participation
of the citizens in the decision making process:
- The adoption of a ‘Rule’ to promote the
participation of the citizens in the decision-making process.
- The creation of the Local Sectorial
Council for the Environment and Sustainability (CSLMAS) on 22nd
January, 2001, to act as a “consultative and consensus-driven body whose
aim is to channel and promote the participation of the general public,
public associations and other interested bodies in the conception,
planning and management of all those matters which, being related to the
Municipality, pertain to the defence of Nature, the protection of the
environment, the improvement of the quality of life and the increase in
habitability and sustainability of the municipality of Seville”. For the
moment, this body for public participation consists of 74 members, amongst
whom are representatives of Neighbourhood Associations, Professional
Bodies, Ecological Associations, the Public Administration, Consumers' and
Users' Associations, Political Parties, Trade Unions, Universities,
Housewives' Associations, etc. Each of these bodies contributes by
providing its own vision on a particular issue. The debates generated in
the CSLMAS make it possible to tackle issues from multiple points of view
and the adoption of consensual decisions makes it possible to seek
alternative solutions in a more effective way.
- The creation of Working Groups as an innovated
initiative within the European context. These working groups as well as
the Environmental Council give the opportunity to a wide range of
stakeholders to give their opinion on environmental issues in a permanent
way and from the first phase of the environmental diagnosis.
- The creation of a website (www.agenda21local.com), which
provides citizens with all relevant information and documentation about
the local agenda 21 process, and where stakeholders can include their own
suggestions.
- Finally, Seville is
also organising informational sessions in the different districts of the
City. These are made possible thanks to an agreement reached between the
Seville City Council and the Neighbourhood Associations.
The chosen tools to promote the
participation of the citizens, should take into account all relevant local
agents in order to achieve the aims of the local agenda 21. However, actions
have to be taken in order for these participation mechanisms not to become a
protest platform. Finally, citizens and other stakeholders should not feel
obliged to use or participate in these workshops or fora.
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