Involvement of the inhabitants in the budget allocated to developments and events in their district.

Since 2002, the Liège federal Political Programme for Large Towns has focused on eight districts identified as priority areas. The entire operation is based on participatory democracy. The district projects are proposed by the community (inhabitants, committees) and approved by the local authorities. These projects involve developments to the public area aimed at embellishing the surroundings (pavements, green areas, sports areas, waste land, road markings, etc.) and improving security (public lighting, pedestrian crossings, etc.), and also public activities or events intended to strengthen social cohesion within the districts (between cultures, between generations, etc.).

A “diagnostic” team has been set up in each district. This consists of different agents taken on by the Town as part of the federal plan, and for each district includes: a socio-sporting co-ordinator, a “youth and inter-cultural” co-ordinator, an “inter-generational” co-ordinator, an representative of the cleaning service, an representative of the sports areas, a representative of the works service, a school mediator and a buildings inspector. In addition to these are the police commissioner, the manager of the local public social welfare centre, the district security contract negotiators and a number of local community representatives. Together with a district co-ordinator, this team will encourage the population to become involved in the process, select the projects and support their achievement.
The district co-ordinators lead and co-ordinate the work of the teams. They are also responsible for developing awareness-raising, consultation and participation programmes which are original, durable and suited to the diversity of populations in the districts.

Mobilisation of the community and long process of consulting inhabitants about the participatory budget.

the inhabitants of the eight priority districts of the Liège Political Programme for Large Towns: Saint-Léonard (North), Sainte-Marguerite, Outremeuse-Amercoeur, Burenville-Glain, Bressous-Droixhe, Centre, Sainte-Walburge, Angleur-Kinkempois-Vennes.

-Human resources: 8 district co-ordinators (+ 1 from 2005, attached to the zones neighbouring the priority districts).
-Material resources: participatory budget.

Ville de Liège, Service de la Participation
Liège
Belgium
http://www.liege.be
Mr. Marc Dehin, tel. +32 4 221 65 90

01/01/2002

case

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration > Community development

Citizens' participation