Local politics prepares us for higher-level politics

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Zagreb, 27th of January 2014 - "In local politics it is good that results are recognized immediately, and through everyday communication with the citizens they will recognize, both you and your work. The experience of local politics helps us and prepares us for politics on higher levels", said Morana Paliković Gruden, vice-president of the City of Zagreb's City Assembly in the 2009/2013 mandate on the Academy's seminar about the work of elected representatives related to expert field and subjects in PL(R)SG.

"In local communities, you are often in a group of like-minded individuals and it is exactly through this sinergy that you represent yourself and the politics you take part in", continued Paliković Gruden.

"Only when you are in the opposition can you be very creative and build yourself as a political personality, but that doesn't mean that you don't fight for authority the whole time, rather the exact opposite! The opposition represents a great opportunity for expressing everything you can do with the goal of preparing the coming on to the authority you're preparing for", continued Paliković Gruden.

In the continuation the moderator highlighted that the statute and the rules of procedure of the representative body are the basic tools which agreed-upon priorities are realised, and she firther used the example of the City of Zagreb to explain, in great detail, the work of representatives, that is councilmen stopping on the scope of work of the City of Zagreb's City Assembly. Using practical examples she explained the scope of work of the council, the city quarter and the local board in great detail.

"The representative must cooperate with the party on all levels, he must cooperate with other political parties in the council or assembly, as he must take care about the distribution of seats within regularly active bodies, administrative councils and supervisory committees", said Paliković Gruden and in the continuation specially singled out the Committee for spatial planning.

"A prepared list of candidate members of the party for all seats which are, or will be, at disposal must be had. Such a list must be coordinated on all levels of the party", ended Morana Paliković Gruden about the subject of the role and work of the representative in the representative body.

The lecturer stated many practical examples exactly due to her rich experience and knowledge to the participants in order for them to be able to more efficiently do their job in their local communities.

"You must follow the work of other representatives, watch, observe them, because you can learn and find out a lot by observing the actions of others", concluded Paliković Gruden.

The second part of the lecture was subject to talk about new concessional models.

"When we speak about concessions it is actually about the contractual relationship between a public and economic body, and the one that uses the concession, also takes on risks", said Goran Vojković, president of CPP's Interest Committee for legislature, justice and administration, at the start of his lecture.

"In order to obtain a concession, we guide ourselves with a few important regulatives and laws. The concession is, among other things, given according to the Law on public acquisition and the Law on public-private partnership. So, every relevant law must be included", highlighted Vojković and continued glancing on the existing law on concessions.

"The Law on concessions in Croatia hasn't burdened itself too much about who gives the concession, rather, it highlighted what concessions can be given on. It is exactly due to this that with the giving of concessions the political decision on what it is given on is important", continued Vojković.

The president of CPP's Interest Committee for legislature, justice and administration soike in the continuation about the regulatives of the European Union, as well as the criteria for the selection of the best offer when concessions are given out.

"After the expert Committee reviews and grades the offers, the decision about the giving of the concession is given by the giver of the concession. The decision about the giving of the concession is nothing else than an administrative act, and the expert committee gives the concession giver a proposal of the decision about choosing the best bidder. An exception is that the giver can decide to give a concession for economic use of a general or other good without reviewing and grading the bids, when desired by an economic subject, which means only in the case of a concession on demand", said Vojković.

Speaking about the work of elected representatives on the example of managing property in PL(R)SG the deputy Minister of construction and spatial planning Željko Uhlir highlighted that property is a strong source of political management.

"Land in the Republic of Croatia are our most important resource. When this resource is spent, you cannot return it! Will you use a concession, or sell this resource, are political decisions", highlighted Uhlir.

The deputy Minister of construction and spatial planning continued that the purpose, that is the management of property can be divided into mandatory, discretional and income guidelines. He also highlighted that property must be known well.

"Using your property, you must construct a system of management respecting the basic principles of management, and that means that aside from the principle of good management, you also must stick to the principle of sustainable management. That includes economic and social development, as well as environmental protection", concluded Uhlir.