Public Participation in Tampere T A M P E R E E N K A U P U N K I Mr. Antti Leskinen Head of Local Democracy Unit City of Tampere, Finland

T A M P E R E E N K A U P U N K I 2 City Of Tampere Founded on 1 October 1779 by King Gustav III of Sweden Tampere is located between two lakes, Näsijärvi and Pyhäjärvi The third biggest city in Finland The biggest inland city in the Nordic countries

T A M P E R E E N K A U P U N K I 3 Tampere in brief Inhabitants Inhabitants in the nearby region Surface area 688 km 2 Population density ca. 400 people/km 2

T A M P E R E E N K A U P U N K I 4 The management model of Tampere is based on: 1)politically elected mayor 2)multi-provider model 3)development of public participation

T A M P E R E E N K A U P U N K I 5 Why do we develop public participation? To develop customer-oriented services and possibilities for the residents to influence on their environment and life. Openness of planning and decision-making is an important aim of public organisations. National laws require public participation

T A M P E R E E N K A U P U N K I 6 Public participation and the Tampere City Organisation The chair of the city council, the mayor and four deputy mayors promote local democracy, public participation and user-oriented services. Local Democracy Unit in the Central Administration

T A M P E R E E N K A U P U N K I 7 The main tools Advisory citizen workgroups (Alvari) in four of the five districts Valma –eParticipation system Top politicians / residents’ meetings 10 times a year Various youth and children’s forums Neighbourhood web pages “Mansetori” to increase information exchange and co-operation between inhabitants.

T A M P E R E E N K A U P U N K I 8 Advisory citizen workgroup nominated by the City Board for two years to four sub areas of ca inhabitants free access for residents, representatives of associations and businesses works mainly in subgroups members of the city council cannot be members of the advisory workgroup but may work in subgroups members are recruited by the Local Democracy Unit.

T A M P E R E E N K A U P U N K I 9

10 the Valma – forum (1) eParticipation to make the city’s decision- making processes more transparent: increase citizens´ possibilities to follow decision-making process via Internet Official documents accessible trough the Valma The units have to use of Valma.

T A M P E R E E N K A U P U N K I 11 the Valma forum (2) The city officials insert issues at an early stage of preparation/planning and ask for comments Everyone can look at the issues, all official documents and other peoples comments and insert a comment.

T A M P E R E E N K A U P U N K I 12 Other possibilities to participate Land use planning Possibility also to influence the planning process! A participation and impact assessment plan is obligatory by law Children’s council meeting once a year Youth forum’s general meeting once a year Two representatives of youth in two city committees Various hearings, “gåturs”, visits, participative groups and GIS-based participation organised by the administrative units.

T A M P E R E E N K A U P U N K I 13 Challenges Motivation of officials and residents: New, user friendly eParticipation tools needed. Public participation standard for the City Training of officials and participants Feedback for the participants/NGOs about their influence on plans & decisions.

T A M P E R E E N K A U P U N K I 14 We are not alone! The Ministry of Justice with few other ministries, cities and communities in Finland launched a democracy development program in The Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities develops public participation according its new strategy The biggest cities in Finland have a network of public participation professionals. Many authorities have experience in public participation e.g in over 500 EIA processes.

T A M P E R E E N K A U P U N K I Thank you!