MINSK, 6 February (BelTA) – Most of the new powers envisaged by the bill on the status of heads of basic-level executive committees will be given to executive committees who will take decisions collectively, not to chairpersons individually, Head of the Belarus President Administration Dmitry Krutoi said at a meeting hosted by the head of state on 6 February to discuss legal regulation of the status of chairpersons of district executive committees and city executive committees, BelTA has learned.
As Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko noted, the meeting is meant to discuss plans to increase the role of basic-level district and city executive committees and their heads. The bill under consideration had been previously discussed at the meeting of the Presidium of the Belarusian People’s Congress in November 2024. Back then, many proposals were made, one of them suggested adopting a law instead of a presidential decree to regulate this matter.
Dmitry Krutoi explained that the bill was prepared together with parliamentary specialists. A previous version of the bill was taken as a basis; the remarks and proposals that were made earlier were also taken into account.
As Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko noted, the meeting is meant to discuss plans to increase the role of basic-level district and city executive committees and their heads. The bill under consideration had been previously discussed at the meeting of the Presidium of the Belarusian People’s Congress in November 2024. Back then, many proposals were made, one of them suggested adopting a law instead of a presidential decree to regulate this matter.
Dmitry Krutoi explained that the bill was prepared together with parliamentary specialists. A previous version of the bill was taken as a basis; the remarks and proposals that were made earlier were also taken into account.
The bill contains two fundamentally important points, the head of the Belarus President Administration noted. Firstly, its effect extends to all executive committees of the basic level, not just district ones as was the case previously, and to their heads. “And the second point is that most of the new powers are to be given to executive committees for joint decision-making, and not to chairpersons for taking decisions on their own,” he explained.
For example, the bill suggests giving local authorities more powers in the field of economy and finance. Thus, they will be able to make changes to budget expenditures within the approved annual budget. “In other words, after an annual budget for a district is approved, an executive committee will be able to make certain changes during a year, depending on the situation with income and spending; it will be able to transfer funds from one budget item to another,” the head of the Belarus President Administration clarified.
The bill also regulates the use of unspent budgetary funds (if a district has performed efficiently and some funds were saved). “This is the right and responsibility of a head of a district executive committee, not an executive committee as such. This is viewed as a kind of incentive. Naturally, not all districts of the country will be able to use this incentive, but only those that perform well and achieve good results,” said Dmitry Krutoi.
The bill empowers executive committees to involve businesses in landscaping and maintenance works in respective communities. Earlier, this applied only to clean-up works, but now landscaping and maintenance will be interpreted in a broader sense. Tax deductions are proposed for expenses incurred by businesses. “The expenses associated with landscaping and maintenance works will be compensated by certain tax benefits,” Dmitry Krutoi explained. According to him, these decisions will be made by executive committees and their heads.
Another provision of the bill concerns the demolition of abandoned, dilapidated buildings, including structures having no design documentation. “This will also be the right of executive committees, not their heads,” clarified Dmitry Krutoi.
The bills suggests wider use of minerals extracted in a district. Such decisions will be made collectively by a district executive committee. “To avoid any violations, including corruption, a price for these minerals will not be higher than their production cost,” said the head of the Belarus President Administration.
The bill also regulates the use of unspent budgetary funds (if a district has performed efficiently and some funds were saved). “This is the right and responsibility of a head of a district executive committee, not an executive committee as such. This is viewed as a kind of incentive. Naturally, not all districts of the country will be able to use this incentive, but only those that perform well and achieve good results,” said Dmitry Krutoi.
The bill empowers executive committees to involve businesses in landscaping and maintenance works in respective communities. Earlier, this applied only to clean-up works, but now landscaping and maintenance will be interpreted in a broader sense. Tax deductions are proposed for expenses incurred by businesses. “The expenses associated with landscaping and maintenance works will be compensated by certain tax benefits,” Dmitry Krutoi explained. According to him, these decisions will be made by executive committees and their heads.
Another provision of the bill concerns the demolition of abandoned, dilapidated buildings, including structures having no design documentation. “This will also be the right of executive committees, not their heads,” clarified Dmitry Krutoi.
The bills suggests wider use of minerals extracted in a district. Such decisions will be made collectively by a district executive committee. “To avoid any violations, including corruption, a price for these minerals will not be higher than their production cost,” said the head of the Belarus President Administration.
Follow us on:
