Portugal / Setúbal

Hearing the Population, Building the Future

The main goal of this project is to cultivate direct contact between the municipality and the local population, organisations and others, and to collect information in order to find solutions to the problems that these groups face.

This project began in February 2010, with councillors, including the Mayor and Vice-Mayor (who is a green member) visiting all 8 of the local Freguesias in Setúbal (a Freguesia is a smaller administrative unit within a Portuguese municipality, the number of which can range between one and eighty-nine). During the visit, meetings took place with the local population, the elected members of the Freguesias, and local organisations. The visits allowed the municipality members to get in touch with the daily problems of the population.

There was a varied scope of problems raised at these meetings, such as: unfinished sewage or rain drainage by local constructors, a lack of trees in a public park, a school with a defective roof and a damaged bus stop. For each problem, the city council produced a brochure for each Freguesia, with a description of the problem, the solution, and its current status. The brochure details whether the problem has been already resolved, if it is in the process of being resolved, or anticipated future steps to resolve the problem.

The Result

The project cultivated good links between the members of city council, the population, and various local organisations; enabling these groups to more fully participate in the political life of their Municipality.

The project was well accepted by the local population, and has successfully compiled an exhaustive list of the main problems identified, which represents a basis of work for the city council to pursue in the future. This will help ensure sustainable development.

 

Implemented by the City Council of Setúbal, in a partnership between the Citizen Participation Office, and the local support office, both part of the City Council. Came into effect in February 2010.

Further Reading

  • http://www.mun-setubal.pt/noticias/projectoouvirpopulacao
  • http://www.mun-setubal.pt/actividade%20municipal/participação%20cidadã/projectos/autarquiaparticipada
  • http://www.mun-setubal.pt/noticias/destaques/ouvirpopulacaosantamaria
  • http://www.mun-setubal.pt/noticias/destaques/ouvirpopulacaossimao

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