Social consultations
Z Encyklopedia Administracji Publicznej
SOCIAL CONSULTATIONS – a process in which representatives of public authorities (government, local government) present their intentions to citizens, social and professional organisations concerning, for example, legal acts (their amendments or adoptions of new ones), investments or other projects that will affect the daily life of citizens . S.c. are not limited to presenting these plans, but also to hearing opinions, modifying them and informing about the final decision. S.c. as a form of participation is a way of getting opinions, positions, proposals, etc. from institutions and people who in some way, directly or indirectly, will be affected by the effects of actions proposed by the public administration. The basis for conducting the s.c. in the local government are provisions of acts on the local-government system and on public benefit and voluntary work. The rules and procedures for conducting consultations with residents are set out in the resolutions of the councils of relevant local-government units (municipalities, cities, counties, voivodships). The rules for consulting the draft local law acts with non-governmental organisations must be obligatorily included in the relevant resolution of the decision-making body of a local-government unit. The basis for conducting the s.c. in the government are provisions of acts on government administration actions, on the council of ministers and on trade unions and on employers’ organisations. The general wording of the legal basis for s.c. allows to use various methods in a relatively flexible way, for example: public meetings, submission of written comments, public hearings, appointment of local consultative bodies [ S. Mazur ].
Literature: D. Długosz, J.J. Wygnański, Obywatele współdecydują. Przewodnik po partycypacji społecznej, Warszawa 2005 ■ Jak prowadzić konsultacje społeczne w samorządach? Zasady i najlepsze praktyki współpracy samorządów z przedstawicielami społeczności lokalnych: przewodnik dla samorządowców, red. A. Ferens, Warszawa 2010 ■ R. Marchaj, Samorządowe konsultacje społeczne, Warszawa 2016.