Sharing lessons from sreemangal municipality on urban governance by md zahurul islam

‚‘Sharing

Lessons from Sreemangal Municipality on Urban Governance‘‘ Prepared by: Md. Zahurul Islam,Expert-Municipal Finance

Standing Committee Lesson-1 Where Mayor is supportive the standing committees are proactive.

Meeting of Standing Committee on Establishment and Finance took decision on ‘’Municipal Adequate Staff Structure’’ as below.

Standing Committee

Lesson-2 If the funds are arranged for standing committee activities, the members of standing committees however show much interest towards their responsibility assigned.

Ward Committee

Lesson-3 Ward committee members become active if they are given pocket expense, such as for transport or use of cell phone or stipend to serve as an incentive for the community work .

Ward Committee

Lesson-4 If a municipally allocates budgets to each ward and where Ward Committee’s decision is honored to spend budget, then affiliation between Ward Committee and the Municipality will be geared up.

Town level Coordination Committee (TLCC)

Lesson-5 ‘In the municipality where

Mayor has dynamic leadership, the TLCC is well-built and can perform the due roles.’

The 23st TLCC meeting held on 31st March 2014 in Mayor’s room of Sreemangal Municipality. Major decisions took in the meeting were :Sanctioning meeting expresses for Ward Committee ; Budget Allocation for Poverty and Gender for the upcoming budget at minimum 5% and 2-3% respectively increased than present year; Removal of footpath-shops under supervision of CBOs; Completion of O&M activities of drains and roads before the rainy season starts.

Town level Coordination Committee (TLCC) Lesson-6

Meeting of TLCC is effective, when the members have clear understanding about the purpose of TLCC

Revenue Enhancement

Lesson-7 Technical assistance and trainings help the Municipality to make tapping their untapped revenue potentials in various ways

Revenue Enhancement

Lesson-8 Where municipality maintains their billing and collection functions within computerized system and all collections are received through banks, revenues increasing become sustainable over the period.

Revenue Enhancement

70 60.76

60

56.29

Lesson-9

50

51.57

50.00

48.85

40

Where complaints and grievances relating to holding tax are resolved hand to hand, helps in restoring the trust of the citizens toward municipality is visible by the increased tax collection.

36.58

38.32 34.58

30 24.24 20

Annual demand 21.14

Annual collection

10 0 FY 2008- FY 2009- FY 2010- FY 2011- FY 201209 10 11 12 13

Holding Tax Demand and Collection of Sreemangal PS over the years (in BDT lakh)

Revenue Enhancement

Lesson-10 The public communication media, in particular local news paper and cable network helped bring attitudinal change among the citizen to pay municipal taxes.

30

Revenue Enhancement Lesson-1 1 Strong commitment of political leaders is a key pillar for municipal financial sustainability.

26.45

25 20.24

20 15

10

14.28

10.28

10.66

5 0 FY 2008- FY 2009- FY 2010- FY 2011- FY 201209 10 11 12 13

Raising water tariff collection of Sreemangal Municipality over the years ( BDT. Lakh) helped the water section to exit from its operational losses ,because of the council ‘s decision on increased water tariffs.

Financial governance Lesson-12 Incorporating citizen participation in budget

process makes the budget more realistic

Citizens took part in the Workshop on Preparation of Municipal Budget FY 2014-15

Financial governance Lesson-13

Public discloser of financial information makes the municipality closest to the citizens.

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For further information contact please: zahir.ucep@yahoo.com